Let’s Go to the Polls

Continuing my practice of sharing highly unscientific, but informative polling data from LinkedIn, here’s what people are saying.?

What’s more effective for a new CEO: a hands-on approach to specific issues or a broader focus on company culture?

• Hands-on approach: directly addressing specific problems 27%
• Culture focus: shaping and improving the organizational culture 14%
• A balanced approach: combining hands-on action with cultural changes 55%
• Neither: a different leadership style is more effective 5%

When the culture is right, anything is possible. When the culture is in the tank, everything is hard.

As we head into 2025 and the post-election, what do you see as the biggest challenge for your defense company?

• Navigating?budget ?and funding uncertainty 89%
• Adapting to emerging technologies and innovation 0%
• Securing and retaining top talent 11%
• Managing supply chain disruptions and logistics 0%

The delayed?budget?was predicted here months ago. Appropriations have passed on time once in the last 15 years. Budget uncertainty is certain.

How would you rate the effectiveness of your current sales and business development methods?

• Highly effective 15%
• Moderately effective 31%
• Somewhat effective 46%
• Very effective 8%

77% acknowledge that their sales and BD effort is less than it should be. Get your people signed up for?Capture it From the Start ?before the price goes up again. It addresses this specific problem [details below].

Do you think the size of your company impacts your ability to secure defense contracts with the federal government?

• Yes, smaller companies have more challenges 40%
• No, size doesn’t significantly impact success 0%
• Yes, large companies have a competitive edge 20%
• It depends on the specific contract requirements 40%

Let’s shift to a different demographic and topic.

My students in a 4000-level?public policy ?class at Florida State University this semester were asked at the end of September to identify what they believe is the top policy issue in the presidential election.?

In a class of 50 students (27 women, 23 men), most of whom will enter the workforce within one year and are voting in their first presidential election, here are what they see as the top issues of this presidential election in order:

1. Immigration reform and border control
2. The economy, including inflation and tax policy
3. Abortion rights
4. Gun control and regulation
5. Voting access

Early voting and mail-in voting has begun in many states. Please vote.

Join Kate Robb and myself in Orlando on January 17th, 2025, for a one-day intensive on capturing sales success from the very beginning. Learn proven strategies to outshine your competitors and achieve unprecedented results. Don’t miss this opportunity to transform your sales approach!?Learn more and register here