CCM Consultancy

ON STAGE: APPRECIATE OTHER PEOPLE'S VALUE AND IMPORTANCE It's very easy to lose one's self on stage, delivering to a large audience of highly respected professionals. Just because someone has the microphone, does not make them the most important person in the room! When you're asked to speak at an event, you've clearly been sought out for your knowledge, talent and expertise...and I'm not trying to diminish any of that or make light of the well-earned reputation. However, I want to stress the importance of remembering one's role...and HUMILITY. One's priority must always remain on everyone in that room, be it an audience of 50 or 5000. Two weeks ago, I had the privilege of speaking at a medical conference in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, with an audience of 150 healthcare professionals from across South East Asia. Before getting on stage, I did my "rounds" or routine: AV Team - When getting wired up, I let them know that I tend to be loud, in case they'd like to adjust the audio so as to avoid any "feedback" or echo. When things go wrong, the audience unfairly looks to blame the AV team., so be kind to them and work with them for a great experience. Cameramen - I then go over to the cameramen to let them know that I move around a lot and hardly ever stand at the podium. I apologize in advance for this as I know it's makes their job harder. They're always appreciative of the heads up. Your Client - A key stakeholder that ultimately made the decision to hire me. Despite having already discussed the objective, I like to get another sense of how the conference has been going and what I can do to elevate the experience (and make them look good). The Audience - By far, the most important group in the room! They've taken the time to attend the event and may have been seated there for some time. They can choose to fiddle with their phones, grab a coffee as I start speaking or step out to "take a call". Or, I can do my very best to engage them, stay relevant and deliver value. That "choice they make is a direct reflection of the importance you give them. The ability to effectively and effortlessly address a large audience is a blessing. Appreciate those gifts, be grateful for the opportunities and always remain humble...you owe a lot to everyone in that room! #motivation #leadership #personaldevelopment #publicspeaking #keynote #innovation #conference #speaker #dubai #uae #mena #vietnam

A Strategy Meeting with Inspirational Surroundings! A few weeks ago, one of our clients in Saudi Arabia - a Public Investment Fund (PIF) company - asked us to run the leadership team's 3-Day Strategy Retreat. This would be an intense few days, with the CEO and his 9 Chiefs, where we would quickly review the past year and more importantly, map out plans for 2025 (and the following 4 years). Having facilitated similar strategy meetings, I know how quickly they can turn into a presentation marathon and/or ego-stroking showmanship. We'd been working with this client long enough to know this would not be the case but rather, it would be a "no-nonsense, let's get things done" type of meeting. And that's all because of strong leadership! The energy in the room was phenomenal and contagious. For 3 days straight, you could sense the commitment and dedication that every leader possessed, and how focused they were on succeeding. While my colleague, Dr. Rock-Antoine Mehanna and I, put them through various business scenarios and difficult discussions, they would emerge with new ideas and commit to actions that would propel the business forward. Simply put, it was exhilarating! I have to admit, the choice of destination could have easily been a distraction. The Desert Rock Resort by Red Sea Global is an architectural marvel that blends right into the natural beauty of its surroundings, with unparalleled luxury. A truly must visit destination! If anything, the location for this strategy meeting served as an inspiration to the leaders in the room, that just about anything is possible!! A big thank you to our client for their trust, and to the CCM Consultancy team for their behind-the-scenes and on-site support. #leadership #strategy #innovation #management #personaldevelopment #training #learning #motivation #culturetransformation #dubai #uae #saudiarabia

The CCM Consultancy team dove right into 2025 and it's been non-stop since! Over the last 7 weeks, the team has completed multiple projects in Dubai, the Red Sea (resort area), Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, Istanbul, Abha and Jeddah. Each project brings with it a unique and differentiated approach, but there are some things that remain constant - the team's dedication, effort and energy! A particular project really stood out, and it's the one in Istanbul. We conducted our highly popular team-building activity - The Amazing Race - for 60 people leaders. This one was with a twist: the GM asked if we could add a relaxed, business element to it. So we renamed it Walk With Purpose, dividing the group into 10 teams of 6 (each with different colored, branded scarfs...it was cold in Istanbul), and had them set out across the city to different meeting points. From museums to architectural marvels, they were met by one of our team members who provided them with the questions to ponder and answer via the app on their phones. They had an opportunity to reflect on business results, ways of working and areas they can improve. The participants came back full of energy (despite the city trek), filled with a sense of purpose and a renewed commitment to even better results. - Mix It Up: team meetings do not always need to happen in a stuffy room...get creative - Healthy Competition: you can still promote togetherness by getting everyone to compete a little (all in good fun). - Breathing Space: allowing your team members to be themselves and enjoy what they do can yield tremendous results (and boost energy). These type of events wouldn't be a resounding success if it weren't for our clients' trust in our ability to deliver wow experiences and the CCM Consultancy team's enormous efforts to make the impossible a reality. I am grateful for both! #teambuilding #leadership #corporate #culture #management #personaldevelopment #innovation #training #dubai

A few days ago, I had the pleasure of travelling to my motherland, Vietnam, with the team at CCM Consultancy. Our client, a global pharmaceutical company, engaged us to deliver a workshop for healthcare professionals in South East Asia as part of their annual training conference. The workshop covered important topics such as Enhancing Value Through Patient-Centric Care, Building Trust Using the TRUST Equation, Effective Communication Styles, and more. It was a great experience to be able to do deliver value to our client (whilst practicing my Vietnamese!) and sharing unique memories with the team at the same time. #CCMConsultancy #HealthcareTraining #PatientCentricCare #BuildingTrust #EffectiveCommunication #LeadershipWorkshop #ProfessionalDevelopment

When A Microphone Is Your Suit of Armor Some of my team members at CCM Consultancy claim that I get all giddy and excited when the AV team is getting my mic in place for a speaking engagement. While that may be the case, I prefer to think of it more akin to the feeling of getting suited up for battle and the microphone is my suit of armor. That's not to say that the battle is with my audience (it certainly isn't), but rather about the state of mind one must be in. When it comes to public speaking and keynote speeches, there are three similarities that I can draw on between getting ready for a business-world battle and getting up on that stage. 1) Preparedness - I've attended too many conferences where the speaker has not sufficiently prepared for their talk...be it reading off the screen behind them, looking down at notes or lacking that extra pep in their step! Prepare like your life depended on it! You have a responsibility to your audience (and/or client) to deliver above and beyond their expectations and that means being ultra-prepared. 2) Be Alert - When on stage, it's very easy to get into your own "bubble", missing certain cues or audience reactions, and even misreading the room. You have got to remain alert and in the moment, fueling the energy in the room as much as you feed off that same energy. While you remain focused on your topic and message, be sure to keep an eye out for audience reaction and interaction. 3) Engage - While you may be the keynote speaker and the person they've come to hear, this isn't a one-directional lecture where you deliver a set of prepared notes and leave the stage. You need to engage and connect with the audience in a manner that places them at the heart of your presentation. Make it personal, pose questions that allow for easy interaction and make eye contact across the room, so everyone feels your presence. When that microphone gets clipped on and you walk on stage, it's showtime!! That said, don't forget to always have fun and believe in the value you're about to deliver. #leadership #motivation #keynote #speaker #learning #innovation #training #personaldevelopment #communication #publicspeaking #uae #ksa

Yesterday, several CCM Consultancy team members and I facilitated a highly interactive and hands-on session on Critical and Design Thinking for one of our clients. We used a rather unique toolkit to delve deeper into each of the business unit's challenges/opportunities and come up with innovative business ideas. To ensure a fresh approach and mindset, the groups were cross-functional and even cross-pollinated amongst the business units. This eliminated the bias that often comes from being too close to a certain issue. The session introduced the 5i model for design thinking, allowing them to apply the methodology back at the office. And we even ran our famed The Apprentice activity for an extra dose of fun (and innovation)…yes, "The Donald" made an appearance! We all have it in us to be innovative and think differently, we just need a nudge in the right direction. A big thank you to the on-site team: Caissa Domilies, Cenk Tasanyurek and Wasseem. Your efforts, dedication and enthusiasm made sure the session was a success. #leadership #development #learning #management #innovation #people #skills #designthinking #personaldevelopment #dubai #uae

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A TRANSFORMATION LEADER Ever wondered what sets great leaders apart from other leaders? I have the privilege of interacting with C-Suite leaders from just about every industry and from across the globe, through my work at CCM Consultancy (as well as through my personal network). When speaking with transformation leaders, I've found that they have a few common traits. From early morning reflections to strategic decisions and everything in between, these leaders exemplify what it takes to drive real change. Here's what I found they have in common: 🔍 Morning Rituals: It starts with clarity. Transformational leaders begin their day with intention - be it through meditation, strategic planning or a simple moment of reflection. This sets the tone for the challenges ahead. 📈 Decision-Making in Action: The morning is all about high-impact decisions. Whether it’s navigating a crisis or steering the team towards new opportunities, these leaders are adept at weighing risks and making bold moves. 🗣️ Inspiring the Team: By midday, it’s about engagement. Transformational leaders know the power of communication, taking time to connect with their teams, sharing the vision, and ensuring everyone is aligned. 💡 Continuous Learning: The day doesn’t end without growth. From learning new skills to seeking feedback, these leaders are always looking to improve, setting an example of lifelong learning. 👥 Building Relationships: As the day winds down, it’s about relationships. Whether it's mentoring a team member or connecting with peers, transformational leaders know that leadership is as much about people as it is about strategy. Despite this "routine", each day brings its own challenges and transformational leaders are up to the task! What does your daily routine look like? #transformation #leadership #motivation #development #innovation #personaldevelopment #dubai #riyadh #uae #ksa #saudiarabia #vision2030 #people

OVERCOMING THE PITFALLS IN CULTURE TRANSFORMATION INITIATIVES Last week, I highlighted that transformation an organization’s culture is a journey, not a destination, and shared the 5 most common pitfalls in such initiatives. If you’ve missed the post, you can find it in the comments section. Here are 5 ways to overcome and/or avoid these pitfalls: 1. Lay Out a Clear Vision – take the time to craft a clear vision that resonates with ALL levels of the organization, and communicate it consistently 2. Consistency in Leadership – ensure that leadership (that means everyone, not just a select few) is fully committed and trained to embody the culture shift 3. Embrace Employee Feedback – create channels for regular feedback and involve employees in shaping the transformation (they will pleasantly surprise you) 4. Resistance is Normal – acknowledge and appreciate the inevitable resistance to change, address concerns and provide support throughout the transition 5. Keep Your Eye on the Long Game – balance short-term achievements with a focus on sustainable, long-term change. The quick wins are important, but there’s a long road ahead with a bigger pay-off at the end of it I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: proper planning and anticipating the needs of your internal stakeholders can go a long way in achieving a successful transformation. Your leadership team must be on board and share your vision for a better future. More importantly, your employees want to be a part of something great, keep them informed and excited!! Feel free to reach out to me directly or a CCM Consultancy team member for more details or to share your input of what has worked for you when it comes to culture transformation.  #culture #transformation #leadership #management #people #personaldevelopment #innovation