The formal definition of a stakeholder is an individual or an organization who is actively involved in the project, or whose interests may be positively or negatively affected by the project execution. In short, if they stand to win or lose, they need a voice. Stakeholder collaboration is also a way to describe the level of engagement of any group, community, or even the general public if this is, say, a municipal project. I always think of stakeholders as being the ‘Influencers’ on the project. They bring vision, impact, and contributions to the final outcome. While project managers can often find themselves mired in the details, the critical path, and the busy deliverables, it is the stakeholder collaboration portion that is in fact vital to a successful project. Collaboration with the stakeholders results in value creation for the company. Their participation often ensures that the deliverables fully meet the project's mission or vision. In short, if they stand to win or lose, they need a voice. Let’s look at some examples of how stakeholder collaboration can make a project stronger and more robust. Catch Potential Risks A key benefit of stakeholder collaboration is early detection and ultimately resolution of issues. Collaboration with the stakeholders can help identify problems that may be missed. The stakeholder's, perhaps, loftier, or strategic view can be invaluable when details get in the way of the bigger picture. The more engaged the stakeholders are right from the start, the more improved the outcome of the project will be and the more on-time its execution. Support from Stakeholders Stakeholders typically want to have a deeply vested interest in a project. They may have strong views or precise requirements that need addressing. By involving them throughout the project, the team will be able to obtain invaluable input from them on an ongoing basis. I have found that using collaborative software is the most useful method to incorporate valuable information that, in most cases, proves helpful to the successful and timely completion of a project. The more engaged the stakeholders are right from the start, the more improved the outcome of the project will be. Perception of Quality Stakeholder collaboration can also help the overall perception of project quality. When stakeholders are involved from the beginning and their input is valued, their role will impact the greater audience as they will have a positive perception of the project. Sponsorship is Stewardship and Stewardship becomes Advocacy. Managing Project Cost One of the primary goals of a seasoned project manager is to manage the budget, the cost, and any potential overruns. Collaborating with the stakeholders can help achieve this goal. Reducing the risk of cost overruns is a prime directive and will ultimately result in improved profitability for the company. Stakeholders have insight from their vantage points that contribute to budgets and costs and/or can influence funding to support the project. Their role is vital to cost management. Project Speed to Completion A key reason for project cost overruns is delays. Some delays are extraneous to the project and all the risk management in the world cannot avoid them. However, delays caused by not taking stakeholder advice into consideration can put project execution at risk. When the stakeholders are involved from the start, the likelihood of a timelier closure of the project is set in motion. When a project stays ON TIME ON SCOPE and ON BUDGET the cost savings benefit all involved. Seeing a project successfully cross the finish line is rewarding and satisfying. At the risk of sounding trite, stakeholder collaboration is essential. The greater the stakeholder engagement the better the quality of project outcomes. The repeated success of projects, large and small, builds a company’s muscle; it drives financial success, improves relationships, and builds trust and respect with each successful outcome. Using the right tools and employing the best-of-breed standards will always bring a project to a conclusion, however, having stakeholder collaboration allows the project to be perceived as successful by a greater audience. The lobbying and stewardship that is driven at the hands of the stakeholders is immeasurable. Stewardship that comes at the hands of the stakeholders is immeasurable. Project management is both a science and an art. From finance to interpersonal skills, the project manager crosses into many territories and brings a wide range of skills to every project. Knowing how to build teams and honor contributions is of equal importance to juggling Excel spreadsheets and managing budgets. Always bear in mind that a project truly is a team endeavor, and your stakeholders are one of your most valuable assets. Enjoy the collaboration! ABOUT THE AUTHOR: DINA O'REILLY Dina is 4xi's growth lead, project management office and ghostwriter in residence all in one. To learn more about 4xi, you can contact Dina directly at dina@4xiconsulting.com or visit our website to learn more about who we are, what we do, and how we inspire a brighter future, together: www.4xiconsulting.com 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is a team of talented leaders from both the client-side and service provider side, impacting the Human Experience (HX) for people at work, in education, rest, and at leisure. We believe in a people-first, experience-led philosophy. Whether client, employee, or guest – their experience is the fundamental foundation of success. We work with corporations, service providers, and innovators: Strategic Advisory & Special Projects (SPx) Headquarters Fractional Support On-Demand Evolving Experiences© - Employee (EX) & Customer Experience (CX) Design4Life©: Environmental, Physical, and Experiential Design Global Amenities Strategy, Design & Operations TRUE NORTH©: Strategic Partnership & Growth Explorers Innovation Directory: Gateway to Innovation Sustainability Simplified©: Supply Chain & Innovation Market Research Reports & Benchmarking 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Philadelphia | Orlando | North Carolina | Seattle | Silicon Valley | Santiago | London | Tokyo

As a project manager, I know the value of the touchstone – the place where all milestones, dates, tasks, and key deliverables rest. The Critical Path is a living tenet of the project and changes to this document must be reflected upon with due measure as they impact the overall project in all manner of ways. External and internal influences can affect how often the Critical Path needs to be adjusted but ideally, it should be minimized as the impact affects stakeholders, bidders, vendors, subject matter experts, deliverables, compliance, and governance. Here are the top 8 advantages of critical path analysis and how exercising a review of it daily can mitigate risk. 1. Enhanced project management Visibility both macro and micro are key to managing any project. Because the critical path method breaks large tasks and objectives into smaller parts, it can help to plan projects more thoroughly. Dividing large and complex milestones into achievable tasks simplifies the project and more importantly helps everyone on the project to understand their roles and contributions. 2. Clear identification of critical tasks Critical path analysis enables project managers to identify the most critical tasks within a project. This insight allows those tasks to be in order of priority. This allows for the most complex tasks to be given focus and attention. Risk management hinges on preventing projects from becoming delayed as the team may have overlooked an important task. Identification early on can make or break due dates and on-time deliverables. 3. Clear communication of project plans The critical path becomes the finished product in many ways and with that allows the project manager to communicate project plans, details, targets, risks, and exposures. Critical path is the structure behind the project documentation and as such easy to both describe and share. Clear and structured communication of the project can strengthen the team's understanding of the tasks and objectives of the project. Clarity rules supreme on any project but the larger, more time-sensitive and more complex a project is, the more important managing the critical path becomes. 4. Accurate determination of project length Time management is a core tenet for any project as meeting project deadlines and preventing them from overrunning is key to risk management and cost overruns. Critical path analysis helps to streamline time management by determining its duration complete with built in extensions (when necessary). In addition, project managers can compare expectations with actual progress. A rewarding feat when the project stays on track and ON TIME. 5. Cost control (Budget) Planning a project with the appropriate consideration of the resources requirement to make it happen, and the related costs, can enable projects to remain within budget. This cost control is achieved by allocating portions of the budget to individual tasks rather than budgeting for the overall project. This approach makes all the difference at the front end of the project both in terms of understanding the budget and setting a realistic budget to begin with. With this method managers can mitigate the risk of overspending. Equally, it is much easier to identify and remedy deviations from budgetary parameters. 6. Precise scheduling The critical path method separates critical and noncritical tasks so that project managers can schedule them more effectively. It can identify the essential or high-priority tasks and outline them in the plan so that project participants don't overlook them. This keeps the project running efficiently. The devil is in the detail comes to mind here and even the smallest ‘to-do’ can impact the project if not attended to. 7. Improved allocation of human resources Critical path analysis can ensure the correct distribution of human resources on a project. Using a structured and considered approach to truly understanding the resource requirements of each project task and objective, the project manager can allocate the human resource requirements more effectively. This particularly holds true when you take into consideration the expertise and experience of individual team members. Developing newer team members by assigning them non-critical tasks so they can familiarize themselves with the project while they're still learning the job is vital to strengthen the resource pool and improve the breath of available talent to participate in ongoing projects. 8. Minimize slowdowns There are by the very nature of project management bottlenecks and risk that both need mitigating and forecasting. By pinpointing a project's critical and non-critical tasks, critical path analysis allows adjustments to be made earlier or at best more deliberately if a constraint occurs. Project slow-downs are never ideal so understanding in advance where they may occur allows for a preemptive adjustment. Equally, this method while helping to prevent bottlenecks can also help project managers identify project activities that can run simultaneously. This both saves time and keeps the project running smoothly. Knowing these tips can help leverage the value of creating a critical path or using critical path analysis to improve the smooth running of your projects. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: DINA O'REILLY Dina is 4xi's growth lead, project management office and ghostwriter in residence all in one. To learn more about 4xi, you can contact Dina directly at dina@4xiconsulting.com or visit our website to learn more about who we are, what we do, and how we inspire a brighter future, together: www.4xiconsulting.com 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is a team of talented leaders from both the client-side and service provider side, impacting the Human Experience (HX) for people at work, in education, rest, and at leisure. We believe in a people-first, experience-led philosophy. Whether client, employee, or guest – their experience is the fundamental foundation of success. We work with corporations, service providers, and innovators: Strategic Advisory & Special Projects (SPx) Headquarters Fractional Support On-Demand Evolving Experiences© - Employee (EX) & Customer Experience (CX) Design4Life©: Environmental, Physical, and Experiential Design Global Amenities Strategy, Design & Operations TRUE NORTH©: Strategic Partnership & Growth Explorers Innovation Directory: Gateway to Innovation Sustainability Simplified©: Supply Chain & Innovation Market Research Reports & Benchmarking 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Philadelphia | Orlando | North Carolina | Seattle | Silicon Valley | Santiago | London | Tokyo

Servant leadership style is based on the idea the leader prioritizes serving the greater good. Typically, leaders with this style serve their team and organization first. Its rarely about their objectives but the needs of the collective. Both employees and stakeholders in a servant leadership environment are more likely to feel that their voices are heard. If the above summary is accurate then it is no surprise that having a project run by a servant-leader is going to bring out the best in the stakeholders, subject matter experts and the ultimate success of the project. Let’s dissect the elements of servant leadership and how they impact project leadership and the PMO. Encourage diversity of thought Diversity encompasses a myriad of traits. For the benefit of this missive, we are referring to how diversity affects thinking. Having a diverse team creates an environment where people want to join and become part of the team which leads to a wonderful array of perspectives. Acceptance, tolerance, variety, and the education that arises from being a part of a diverse group breeds changes in thinking and a broadening of horizons. Servant leadership encourages members to think outside the box and take into consideration a wider range of viewpoints. The dialogue that ensues develops critical thinking with the final decision a true collective collaboration and exchange of ideas. A servant leader project manager is successful as they lead the team from a position of acknowledgement so that power never rests with one person. Giving everyone a seat at the table makes for a truly creative endeavor. Agile teams arise from the foundation of diversity and inclusion. A Culture of trust Trust is, as we are all aware, one of the hardest things to regain once it’s broken. Earning and creating trust should be a prime directive for any leader but on a project, even more so. Leading with honor and clearly communicating to everyone the values that the team and stakeholders are expected to live by leads to a successful outcome. Did You Know: Sadly, only one in three employees strongly agree that they trust the leadership in their organization making this second core pillar even more important. The servant-leader project manager can build this high level of trust by being crystal clear in all communications and in meetings; sharing notes, minutes, updates and consistently showing up for the team; stepping in and solving problems with kindness, grace, and professionalism. When you hold the candle high the team can see and know they can be heard and supported. A great expression out of the mouth of my then 4-year-old daughter who at the time was attending nursery school was, You are only a leader if somebody follows you. Her naive little perspective arose from the shenanigans of little girls vying for attention to see who could attract the most interest from the group. However, this innocent statement made so much sense at a far deeper level. To me, it spoke volumes about how leadership is truly earned and not just a given title. A project brought in ON-TIME, ON-SCOPE and ON-BUDGET is driven by subject matter experts, stakeholders, and participants honoring their commitments and feeling supported by the PMO. An unselfish mindset It’s not about you. It never was and it never will be. It is about the people who make it all happen. True ‘Hero’ leaders facilitate the success of others and make everyone feel valued and that their contributions matter. Did You Know: Half of employees only feel “somewhat valued” and 1 in 10 don’t feel “valued at all,” According to a January 2023 report by Workhuman. In its monthly Human Workplace Index, 46.4% reported the former and 10.7% reported the latter. Notably, 48.8% of women surveyed said they feel undervalued. Foster leadership in others. Every project is important and the members of the project team even more so. It is an honor to be a project manager and to lead a team through the mire and complexities of steps, processes, outcomes, slips & slides, looming milestones, and results but it is also a leader’s responsibility to appreciate the need to develop the next generation of leaders. Team collaboration always flourishes the tenant running through the project is one of ‘We’ not ‘I’. Foster leadership in others. No matter the size or length or magnitude of the project, a servant leader understands the power of building a great team and understands the need to develop the next generation of leaders. Fostering leadership happens in many ways. We lead by example; we lead by fostering and coaching; we lead by mentoring; and sometimes we lead with by offering words of encouragement and gestures of kindness and respect. Great leaders give back pure and simple. Servant leaders give more of themselves not because they must, but because they want to. Servant leaders are transparent, honest, and yes, even vulnerable. That sounds like it would be a weakness, but on the contrary, it helps build you as a leader and lets others see you as a human being, not the policeman directing traffic and holding everyone accountable. As a project manager I see these attributes in action every day; on every project and with every team member and personally know each of them to be key to the success of the members, the project and ultimately the organization. Honoring and respecting the processes, guiding with kindness, dignity, nurturing, and consistency equals growth on all levels for all participants. Project leadership is more about understanding and listening than any other skill. Let the 4xi Consulting PMO help guide your projects and bring them in ON-TIME ON-SCOPE, and ON-BUDGET. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: DINA O'REILLY Dina is 4xi's growth lead, project management office and ghostwriter in residence all in one. To learn more about 4xi, you can contact Dina directly at dina@4xiconsulting.com or visit our website to learn more about who we are, what we do, and how we inspire a brighter future, together: www.4xiconsulting.com 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is a team of talented leaders from both the client-side and service provider side, impacting the Human Experience (HX) for people at work, in education, rest, and at leisure. We believe in a people-first, experience-led philosophy. Whether client, employee, or guest – their experience is the fundamental foundation of success. We work with corporations, service providers, and innovators: Strategic Advisory & Special Projects (SPx) Headquarters Fractional Support On-Demand Evolving Experiences© - Employee (EX) & Customer Experience (CX) Design4Life©: Environmental, Physical, and Experiential Design Global Amenities Strategy, Design & Operations TRUE NORTH©: Strategic Partnership & Growth Explorers Innovation Directory: Gateway to Innovation Sustainability Simplified©: Supply Chain & Innovation Market Research Reports & Benchmarking 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Philadelphia | Orlando | North Carolina | Seattle | Silicon Valley | Santiago | London | Tokyo

The “Stop, Look, Listen” slogan is designed to encourage students both young and old to investigate truth claims and issues related to truth. It allows students to stand back and think about ways to obtain information when trying to find out about the truth of something. It’s an interesting and incredibly useful aphorism that encourages students to think critically about the source at hand. Lessons for children that we could all benefit from! Stop Look Listen Think is similar in some ways to the safety slogan of a similar ilk, but this has one distinct difference – THINK. If we turn this saying around and look through a business lens as an Executive or leader, we have the most remarkable reminder and learning of how to communicate with our teams, our staff, and our clients. Without sounding too brash “grab a cup of coffee, suspend your beliefs, and let’s go”! STOP: Stop going into ‘Boss’ mode! Stop assuming you understand. Stop thinking that as an executive or leader, you must know all the answers. Stop thinking that it is your job alone to solve all the problems. LOOK: Look for clues as to what is going on for your teams. Look for details to better understand challenges and gain trust. Look at body language as it accounts for about 55 percent of communications. Look to find solutions that your teams will want to implement. LISTEN: Listen more than speak. Listen with empathy. Active and in-depth listening is a wonderful skill to develop. Listen for clues and repeat what you think you heard to ensure it is correct. Listen to understand not to respond. THINK: Think about what it must be like to be in their world. To walk in their shoes. Think about ways to improve communication between you, and your team, that will have knock-on effects that improve communication amongst the teams themselves. Think about ways in which you can facilitate and enhance customer communication. Think about what needs to change. All sounds a bit autocratic perhaps, but these simple tactics encourage teamwork, loyalty, commitment, and a vested mindset in ways that cannot be measured. So, now we THINK! An employee who feels undervalued, underappreciated, and dismissed for their gift’s contributions, or attributes will struggle to find ways to continue to contribute or worse, slip quietly away into ‘doing’ not ‘performing’, and rarely ‘thinking’. An employee’s best emerges when they are heard, seen, and understood When we Stop Look Listen and Think we are empowering our teams, our customers, and ourselves to be open to learning, critical thinking, and problem-solving. Empowered with new information, we as leaders can chart new courses, and formulate new ways to grow and lead; our very critical thinking brain that we have depended on to this point now has more neurons firing and wiring, which is, always a good thing. Life gets in the way of living! It is easy for all of us to become discombobulated by life, to be swept into the current of routines and predictability, and to not take time to uncover truths. This phase reminds us to truly STOP, slow down, and look around. It is for that reason alone that this simple slogan can be so helpful to any leader looking to take the next steps, build bridges, strengthen collaboration, and breed true, lasting partnerships. Reminders, on occasion, can be an irritating perseveration but when received positively can give rise to taking stock, inspiring thoughtfulness, and mindfulness that in turn creates desired change and growth. May I politely, and with a smile, remind you to STOP LOOK LISTEN and THINK ABOUT THE AUTHOR: DINA O'REILLY Dina is 4xi's growth lead, project management office and ghostwriter in residence all in one. To learn more about 4xi, you can contact Dina directly at dina@4xiconsulting.com or visit our website to learn more about who we are, what we do, and how we inspire a brighter future, together: www.4xiconsulting.com 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is a team of talented leaders from both the client-side and service provider side, impacting the Human Experience (HX) for people at work, in education, rest, and at leisure. We believe in a people-first, experience-led philosophy. Whether client, employee, or guest – their experience is the fundamental foundation of success. We work with corporations, service providers, and innovators: Strategic Advisory & Special Projects (SPx) Headquarters Fractional Support On-Demand Evolving Experiences© - Employee (EX) & Customer Experience (CX) Design4Life©: Environmental, Physical, and Experiential Design Global Amenities Strategy, Design & Operations TRUE NORTH©: Strategic Partnership & Growth Explorers Innovation Directory: Gateway to Innovation Sustainability Simplified©: Supply Chain & Innovation Market Research Reports & Benchmarking 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Philadelphia | Orlando | North Carolina | Seattle | Silicon Valley | Santiago | London | Tokyo

Do you feel overwhelmed by the amount of information, complexity, and jargon around sustainability? Does yet another news story about the rise in global temperatures terrify you? Do you want to contribute and make an impact but feel helpless and don’t know where to start? If any of the above are "Yes", you're not alone - join 4xi's Chief Sustainability Officer in Residence, Christy Cook on her upcoming webinar. WHAT: Webinar: ESG Essentials WHEN: Aug 23, 2023 TIME: 12:00PM to 1:00PM EST Pushing sustainability decisions off might seem like the easiest decision because it requires no action. That means you can avoid these complex, often unknown issues and focus on other, easier to tackle problems. Sustainability Simplified©: Doing the right thing is simply the right thing to do! Here’s the thing. Ignoring the environment, how you treat people, and how you manage your company does not position your company for success. If you ignore sustainable solutions to your business, you can feel those impacts in client acquisition and retention, employee turnover, access to funding, and risk to your business. Half of consumers say they have paid a premium, an average of 59% more, for products branded as sustainable or socially responsible in the last 12 months. Christy Cook has partnered with Cleveland, OH accelerator, JumpStart, to offer a free webinar to help people, managers, leaders, and organizations understand how incorporating sustainable Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) practices can positively impact their business. Jumpstart's ecosystem and approach to venture development providing capital, services and connections to help entrepreneurs grow, researchers commercialize and corporations innovate - was a great alignment with our mission and values. This is why I am offering a webinar in partnership with Jumpstart to help you understand only the points you need to know along with some immediate actions you can take. Join me to learn: What is ESG? Why does ESG matter to my business? How to leverage ESG solutions to make your business stand out Webinar attendees will leave with an understanding of: How ESG impacts your business The Regulatory Landscape – who is impacted and when Recognizing ESG risks to your business and how to get ahead of the issue The top three ESG topics you should address Identifying your next action steps Register now: ESG Essentials REGISTRATION LINK Questions? Email me directly for more information: christycook@4xiconsulting.com WEBINAR HOST: CHRISTY COOK Christy is 4xi's Chief Sustainability Officer in Residence is the lead of Sustainability Simplified©. Christy specializes in ESG Advisory, Strategies, Sustainability Road Maps, Measurement, Systems, and Reporting. To learn more about Sustainability Simplified© and 4xi visit our website: who we are, what we do, and how we inspire a brighter future, together: www.4xiconsulting.com 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is a team of talented leaders from both the client-side and service provider side, impacting the Human Experience (HX) for people at work, in education, rest, and at leisure. We believe in a people-first, experience-led philosophy. Whether client, employee, or guest – their experience is the fundamental foundation of success. We work with corporations, service providers, and innovators: Strategic Advisory & Special Projects (SPx) Headquarters Fractional Support On-Demand Evolving Experiences© - Employee (EX) & Customer Experience (CX) Design4Life©: Environmental, Physical, and Experiential Design Global Amenities Strategy, Design & Operations TRUE NORTH©: Strategic Partnership & Growth Explorers Innovation Directory: Gateway to Innovation Sustainability Simplified©: Supply Chain & Innovation Market Research Reports & Benchmarking 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Philadelphia | Orlando | North Carolina | Seattle | Silicon Valley | Santiago | London | Tokyo

Being hopeful and seeing the glass half-full has been a positive and successful approach to life for as long as writers have touted hope's value. Hope, so they say, is the last thing ever lost. Ask any leader of business when all is a struggle, and they will candidly share that it is that tiny kernel of hope that problems can be resolved that is truly the underpinning of tenacity and survival itself. "I like to think of Hope as an 'equal opportunity feeling" High levels of hope have been linked to numerous health benefits including reduced levels of depression and anxiety and lowered risk of death. High levels of hope lead to better social competence and lower levels of absenteeism. Did you know that creating an organizational culture that inspires hope could improve employee wellness? Leading with hope when the going gets rough means taking a practical pathway and instead of just exuding feelings of hope, providing a structure around the emotion to allow hope to flourish. Here are five ways leaders can both inspire hope and lay down the stepping stones for employees to find a sure footing. Engage with Employees in Goal setting Take the time to ensure your workforce has a clear sense of your company’s values and goals by engaging them in a refresher course, be that small focus groups, roundtables or just hopping up on a desk and addressing them can all make the difference to creating that feeling that HOPE is present. Engaging employees empowers them with a more secure sense of control throughout their workdays. Lead by Example Leadership is so much more than strategy and numbers. Your outward attitude and examples of behavior can significantly affect those of your employees. Leading by example and instilling the value of positivity in the workplace will help create a sense of comfort that future outcomes will follow suit. Your attitude by virtue of consistency trickles through employees to influence their customer service, enhancing customer relationships, and their trust that; this too shall pass. Align Employee Skills with Responsibilities Hope is a good breakfast but a bad supper. Francis Bacon. Without action, however, hope can fizzle. Helping inspire hope in your workforce, ensures that each employee’s responsibilities are deemed to be important, valued, and appreciated. However, this means taking the time to align your employees’ attributes to match their roles. By encouraging each member of the team to experience hope and confidence that they can each achieve the company goals with enthusiasm and faith. Hope is a feeling, but it is rooted in function and a sense of belonging. Provide Regular Feedback Good feedback is the key to improvement. Inspiring hope in your employees to help them thrive often means providing regular feedback for good effort and results. When your team has performed well, it is crucial that they hear from business leaders to sustain that hope and motivation. Balancing constructive criticism with praise is an art form, to say the least, but fostering it allows both you and your employees opportunities to grow and develop. Communication is Key Communication is the bridge between clarity and confusion. This is one of my favorite quotes because it is so true. Regular meetings—whether online or in-person— allow you as a leader to share vital and current information that builds an internal understanding of your business’s outlooks and objectives. The more you share, the more comfort you provide to your staff. To be a leader today and to truly make a difference, breeding hope is the single most extraordinary way to build strength, courage, resiliency, and determination. Perhaps Napoleon Bonaparte said it best: “Courage is like love; it must have HOPE for nourishment”. May Hope inspire you to lead your team and yourself to success and peace! ABOUT THE AUTHOR: DINA O'REILLY Dina is 4xi's growth lead, project management office and ghostwriter in residence all in one. To learn more about 4xi, you can contact Dina directly at dina@4xiconsulting.com or visit our website to learn more about who we are, what we do, and how we inspire a brighter future, together: www.4xiconsulting.com 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is a team of talented leaders from both the client-side and service provider side, impacting the Human Experience (HX) for people at work, in education, rest, and at leisure. We believe in a people-first, experience-led philosophy. Whether client, employee, or guest – their experience is the fundamental foundation of success. We work with corporations, service providers, and innovators: Strategic Advisory & Special Projects (SPx) Headquarters Fractional Support On-Demand Evolving Experiences© - Employee (EX) & Customer Experience (CX) Design4Life©: Environmental, Physical, and Experiential Design Global Amenities Strategy, Design & Operations TRUE NORTH©: Strategic Partnership & Growth Explorers Innovation Directory: Gateway to Innovation Sustainability Simplified©: Supply Chain & Innovation Market Research Reports & Benchmarking 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Philadelphia | Orlando | North Carolina | Seattle | Silicon Valley | Santiago | London | Tokyo

In the world of business, we are taught so many skills, methods, processes, and practices, yet the simplest most endearing of skills is that of the smile. 13 little muscles that bring a sparkling, engaging, delightful, and encouraging facial expression that truly makes a difference. What does ‘smile and the world smiles with you’ really mean? In short, our smile reflects our state of mind. When you smile, you are OK, but it also means you perceive that everybody else around you is OK too. The power of a smile can turn fear into calm, anxiety into peace, and worry into relief. Why is it so important to smile in business? Not only does smiling make you feel happier and more positive, but it can also lead to higher rates of productivity. Did you know that studies show being happy has a significant effect on productivity in the workplace? Simply put, smiling causes feelings of satisfaction and more joyful emotions, resulting in more creativity, focus, and results. There are two key conveyances that happen when we smile which is why the act of smiling in business is so important. Reward: Smiles convey approval, happiness, contentment, and other positive feelings. Affiliation: Smiles communicate positive intention, trustworthiness, belongingness, compassion, and social connection. Whether presenting to your team, the company, a client, a vendor or just being out and about, another compelling reason to smile is that it may lengthen your overall lifespan. And who doesn’t want that? As a leader, your smile carries so much power, loyalty, commitment, and trust. Let’s face it, no one wants to follow a dour, grumpy, or unfriendly leader – but a smiling, welcoming one can move mountains. Let’s look at how smiling impacts business in a functional way. Smiling Relieves Stress: Stress can permeate our entire being, including showing up in our faces and expression. Those around you looking to you for leadership, security, trust, or guidance will respond completely differently if you are smiling when you speak versus frowning or looking glum or unfriendly. People trust a smiling face plain and simple. Smiling Elevates Mood: Not just your mood but those around you. The physical act of smiling activates pathways in your brain that influence your emotional state—meaning that by adopting a happy facial expression, you can "trick" your mind into entering a state of happiness. The real magic happens when your smile affects those around you who need no tricks to feel the improved mood that arises from within. Think of smiling as a natural antidepressant for you and your observers. Smiling Is Contagious How many times have you heard that a smile has the power to light up the room? To a large degree, it is true. Smiling not only elevates your mood, but it can also change the moods of others for the better. Research suggests that smiles are even contagious which is how ‘You’ and ‘Your’ smile changes the world. Smiling Boosts the Immune System: Smiling can also boost your overall health by helping your immune system to function more effectively. A healthy person means healthy employees and less absenteeism. Smiling Suggests Success: Did you know that research has shown that people who smile regularly appear more confident are more likely to be promoted, and are more likely to be approached? Smile and Success will find you. Smiling Helps You Stay Positive: Our smiles influence our feelings and signal our brain that "Life is good!" and, ultimately, so are we! Staying positive helps us grow, lead, influence, and impact our peers, and senior leadership which ultimately breeds success. Smile, crinkle your eyes, giggle, and give your best self to the world through the wonder of your smile. And heck, while you’re at it have a good chortle too. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: DINA O'REILLY Dina is 4xi's growth lead, project management office and ghostwriter in residence all in one. To learn more about 4xi, you can contact Dina directly at dina@4xiconsulting.com or visit our website to learn more about who we are, what we do, and how we inspire a brighter future, together: www.4xiconsulting.com 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is a team of talented leaders from both the client-side and service provider side, impacting the Human Experience (HX) for people at work, in education, rest, and at leisure. We believe in a people-first, experience-led philosophy. Whether client, employee, or guest – their experience is the fundamental foundation of success. We work with corporations, service providers, and innovators: Strategic Advisory & Special Projects (SPx) Headquarters Fractional Support On-Demand Evolving Experiences© - Employee (EX) & Customer Experience (CX) Design4Life©: Environmental, Physical, and Experiential Design Global Amenities Strategy, Design & Operations TRUE NORTH©: Strategic Partnership & Growth Explorers Innovation Directory: Gateway to Innovation Sustainability Simplified©: Supply Chain & Innovation Market Research Reports & Benchmarking 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Philadelphia | Orlando | North Carolina | Seattle | Silicon Valley | Santiago | London | Tokyo

Recognition, motivation, and engagement are intrinsically linked, but what is the right approach at each moment in time? This is something that many struggle with identifying the right course of action, and timing in both life and in business. The following explores my musings on this subject. Bagpipes The anti-war song “The Band Played Waltzing Matilda” composed by Scottish born, Australian singer, Eric Bogle in 1971. The song is based on the lyrics of Australian poet, Banjo Paterson from 1895 and relates to how the band carried on playing despite the bloody battle around them. The song surrounds the bloody WWI battle of Gallipoli in World War I where over 300,000 soldiered were injured or died. Throughout the centuries, Scottish pipers have been on the field of battle with their fever pitch and call for the soldiers to rally and maintain their positions whether in victory or defeat. The motivational value of these rally cries is long proven, and one not dissimilar to the motivations, call to action movements in some of the most successful organizations today - its not about the task, its about belief in the movement and the cause. It’s about carrying on no matter what, in the face of adversity, and how the pipers (or the band) continue and sustain the appetite for success. The Fiddlers Unlike the bagpipers who have a distinct purpose on the battlefield, instilling fear in the enemy and bolstering the morale of the troops, the fiddlers are the antithesis. One much referenced example is Emperor Nero who apparently fiddled whilst Rome burned, oblivious of the disaster occurring around him. The definition of the phrase being, to ignore a major problem whilst doing something unimportant, or unrelated to the emergency at hand. How often have we seen this occur in our lives? One can just look at the climate emergency at hand whilst we bicker over scoring pointless party political power points. Turning a deaf ear to the gun endemic in the United States, with on average, 650 mass shootings (of 4 or more people) over the past three years, and yet still people are free to purchase military grade assault rifles at the supermarket, without any sensible control. The band on the Titanic are an example more akin to Nero than the musicians on the battlefield as the lifeboats were dropping into the icy ocean below. Cupcakes Sometimes, even in times of emergency, the littlest things can mean the most. The slap on the back, the words of encouragement, the personal note to say thank you. How we behave and react in times of need is a reflection of our ability, and talent to lead. As Rudyard Kipling referred to, keeping our heads when all around us are losing there’s, is an important lesson for all of us. In those moments when we are up against it, in the face of adversity, the kindness of cupcakes can be one of those littlest things that can mean the most, and be remembered, often for a very long time. My favorite Maya Angelou quote has always been: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” So, next time you’re in an emergency or in a time of need, will you play the bagpipes, the fiddle, or use a slap on the back and cupcakes to lift your team to victory? To learn more about 4xi, visit their website at www.4xiconsulting.com or click on the following link. 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is a team of talented leaders from both the client-side and service provider side, impacting the Human Experience (HX) for people at work, in education, rest, and at leisure. We believe in a people-first, experience-led philosophy. Whether client, employee, or guest – their experience is the fundamental foundation of success. We work with corporations, service providers, and innovators: Strategic Advisory & Special Projects (SPx) Headquarters Fractional Support On-Demand Evolving Experiences© - Employee (EX) & Customer Experience (CX) Design4Life©: Environmental, Physical, and Experiential Design Global Amenities Strategy, Design & Operations TRUE NORTH©: Strategic Partnership & Growth Explorers Innovation Directory: Gateway to Innovation Sustainability Simplified©: Supply Chain & Innovation Market Research Reports & Benchmarking 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Philadelphia | Orlando | North Carolina | Seattle | Silicon Valley | Santiago | London | Tokyo

In business as in life, we need a variety of skills, talents, strengths, and a hefty dose of resilience to grow and weather storms. Companies around the world have learned a thing or two about themselves over the past few years and I am guessing that many of the attributes of the eightfold path of good character are among them. Eightfold Path appears in what is regarded as the first sermon of the founder of Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha. The notion behind the eightfold path of good character hinges on eight core virtues: courage, curiosity, temperance, humility, liberty, honor, wisdom, and humor. When we think of virtues, we think of them in terms of lofty goals and or attributable to certain people however, in business these virtues become the glue that holds a team together. Courage frees a business to grow, curiosity grows new product lines and services, temperance develops staying power, humility grounds a business in integrity, liberty stabilizes a business to flourish, honor unifies a business to stand firm and stay true to its values, wisdom guides a business to the next level, and humor overcomes an arrogant or stagnant mindset. But what does it all mean? Courage: “Courage isn’t having the strength to go on – it is going on when you don’t have the strength.” ~ Napoleon Bonaparte Courage is the bedrock of business excellence. Without that initial leap of courage, we are left with a business with no growth opportunities and no evidence of excellence. Without courage, one is merely restricted to the conventional, constrained by the same old same old way of doing things inside the box of the status quo, and may I suggest hampered by outdated reasoning. With the leap of courage boundaries transform into horizons. Comfort zones stretch into new and exciting adventures. The future of business can flourish on the path created by courage. Curiosity: “Cave ab homine unius libri – Beware of anyone who has just one book’ ~ Thomas Aquinas Leaders are readers so the saying goes and that is because curiosity is essential. It is the fuel that launches us beyond faith and keeps us pushing ONWARDS! Always a little further. Curiosity in business is how the world changes and how we bring creative solutions to our customers and clients. With curiosity we can investigate how we operate, what we do, and how we grow – curiosity is the difference between standing still and moving forward. Curiosity for business is not an ‘Option’ it is a ‘must-have’. Temperance: “Temperance is simply a disposition of the mind which binds the passion” ~ Thomas Aquinas The adage of moderation in all things comes to mind as even in business controlling budgets, cash flow, and ensuring balance is at the very core of temperance. The key is to accept responsibility for the consequences of both our moderate and immoderate choices. Tricky, but that’s where humility comes into play. When we as business leaders evoke temperance, we are not constraining progress but are in fact directing it calmly and with precision. Temperance is not reductive but expansive for when we exercise self-restraint, we give the business time to reflect and step forward with precision. Temperance is not reductive but expansive. Humility: "Ego kills knowledge, as knowledge requires learning, and learning requires humility." ~ Rolsey Research suggests that a healthy dose of humility helps protect against extremism, polarization, and bias. With humility at our core, we can admit that we are fallible, imperfect, and uncertain. It gives us the courage to admit when we are wrong. And goodness knows business is not always right nor accurate or perfect. It is in fact in our constant iterations, improvements, version upgrades, and affecting change that we get better and better. Humility keeps us honest and without it, we are more likely to fall victim to cognitive dissonance. Humility strangely enough gives us the power to be wrong and still be the hero in our business. Liberty: “Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth.” ~ George Washington Be it in life or in business, freedom is not a given. It must be earned. The moment freedom is taken for granted is the moment it is lost. Liberty, then, is a culmination of earning freedom through self-discipline and then holding the world accountable. In business we exercise liberty every time we walk through the door, answer a call, or produce a solution for it is in our collective self-discipline that we grow. How we set up ourselves for success, share, build and create sets the stage for the freedom of expression and bringing to life those solutions we believe support growth and let’s face it, profits. As Jean Piaget said, “We organize our worlds by first organizing ourselves.” And so self-organization (self-discipline) is the first step toward freedom. And when we are free, we have the right to honor. We organize our worlds by first organizing ourselves. Honor: “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” ~ Abraham Lincoln The core of honor is self-honesty. We cannot be honorable without self-honesty. It is here that honesty puts the business into perspective, and honor unifies the TRUE NORTH. True honor is being responsible with our power. When corporations deliberate over missions, visions, and values it is because they become the glue, the badge of Honor worn by all staff and personnel. Foremost, honor is responsibility. Responsibility with our power, means we are more likely to admit we could be wrong. And since the fallible and imperfect business conditions tend to be wrong about a great many things, it behooves us all to take responsibility with our power so as not to become a pawn to it. It behooves us all to take responsibility with our power. Wisdom: “We are not provided with wisdom, we must discover it for ourselves, after a journey through the wilderness which no one else can take for us.” ~ Marcel Proust Wisdom cannot be taught. Knowledge can be taught, skills can be taught, but not wisdom. Wisdom is mystical, numinous, and transcendent. As businesses grow and ‘experience’ the essence of their mission and vision they learn something extraordinary. They learn that wisdom is a heightened state of clarity. Most of all, Wisdom has the wherewithal to get out of its own way. Does your business know how to get out of its own way? As Lao Tzu wisely stated, “To attain knowledge, add things every day. To attain wisdom, remove things every day." Finally, we have our fluid and flexible humor…. Humor: “Humor is mankind’s greatest blessing.” ~ Mark Twain Humor is the only virtue that is transcendent. Our ability to laugh in the face of adversity; to chuckle at our missteps and smile as the benign takes us to a higher plane of competence means we have evolved past our ego and into maturity. In business, it is even more important that leaders bring humor and lightness to their platform and vision. The CEO who makes the team laugh and brings humor to his presentations not only brings his true self to the podium but garners the loyalty and devotion of his team. Humor means you are so strong that you have become completely flexible; that you are so comfortable making fun of yourself or moments that you are open to being seen in your entirety (think honor, humility, character, and wisdom) which ultimately makes you both powerful and vulnerable – you have, with humor, become ‘REAL’. Having a good sense of humor is the crowning achievement of good character, and the soul, in perhaps more esoteric terms, is the crown. A company that has humor breeds, happy staff, good ole positive vibes, and a joy to work for. Have a giggle, find a joke of the day, or simply find a reason to chuckle – EVERY DAY. May the eightfold path of good business be your guiding light. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: DINA O'REILLY Dina is 4xi's growth lead, project management office and ghostwriter in residence all in one. To learn more about 4xi, you can contact Dina directly at dina@4xiconsulting.com or visit our website to learn more about who we are, what we do, and how we inspire a brighter future, together: www.4xiconsulting.com 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is a team of talented leaders from both the client-side and service provider side, impacting the Human Experience (HX) for people at work, in education, rest, and at leisure. We believe in a people-first, experience-led philosophy. Whether client, employee, or guest – their experience is the fundamental foundation of success. We work with corporations, service providers, and innovators: Strategic Advisory & Special Projects (SPx) Headquarters Fractional Support On-Demand Evolving Experiences© - Employee (EX) & Customer Experience (CX) Design4Life©: Environmental, Physical, and Experiential Design Global Amenities Strategy, Design & Operations TRUE NORTH©: Strategic Partnership & Growth Explorers Innovation Directory: Gateway to Innovation Sustainability Simplified©: Supply Chain & Innovation Market Research Reports & Benchmarking 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Philadelphia | Orlando | North Carolina | Seattle | Silicon Valley | Santiago | London | Tokyo

Mother's Day is a special day dedicated to celebrating and honoring our mothers and mother figures for their love, care, and hard work. It is a day to recognize the contributions of these amazing women in our lives and show them how much they mean to us. Mother's Day is celebrated around the world, in mid-March in the United Kingdom and in May in North America. It is a time for families to come together to honor and appreciate mothers. Mothers come in many forms, some traditional and some not so much. From biological to adopted, soon-to-be moms, stepmothers, den-mothers, and Godmothers, and, in short, every woman taking on the role of a mother to those who need love, kindness, understanding, and support. The leadership role of a mother is varied, broad, deep and let’s face it hard work. Those of us who have been up all night with an ill child, who have paced the floor with a colicky newborn, or sweated out pre-exam jitters with teens, know that the role of mother has as many aspects as a beautifully cut cento diamond. The history of Mother's Day dates to the early 20th century, when Anna Jarvis campaigned for a special day to honor mothers. Anna wanted to create a day that would recognize the sacrifices and hard work that mothers do every day. In 1914, her efforts paid off when Mother's Day was officially recognized as a national holiday in the United States. Mother's Day is now celebrated in many countries worldwide and has become a day to celebrate motherhood and show gratitude to mothers everywhere. As a mother and grandmother and one who is blessed to still have her own mother alive and well, I feel humbled and grateful to have been led by a deeply loving, kind, and thoughtful woman. An Irish sense of humor, a colorful smattering of drama, Max Factor red lipstick that borders on indelible, and the ability to read a bedtime story like no other gave me the gift of kindness, and a love of literature and writing that I hold dear to this day. But the role of a mother is not limited to those who have children as the characteristics and power of love are the key to bringing compassion and grace to families, businesses, leadership, and success. When we take a quiet look at the gifts a mother brings, we see all the women who bring mothering when we need it most. From aunts, cousins, teachers, and neighbors so many women have taken up the mantle of love and guidance to those around them be they their own children or not. A mother's love is a powerful force that can inspire and guide us in all areas of life, including leadership. In the workplace, mothers make excellent leaders. They bring their nurturing and empathetic qualities to the table, creating a supportive and inclusive culture that allows everyone to thrive. They have a unique perspective that can help them to identify and address the needs of their team members, leading to greater engagement, productivity, and job satisfaction. Moreover, mothers can be highly skilled at managing multiple priorities, a crucial trait in leadership. They are adept at balancing the demands of work and family, often juggling a wide range of responsibilities with grace and skill. This ability to multitask and prioritize can be invaluable in the workplace, where leaders must manage competing demands and navigate complex challenges. The first project manager I ever hired was a young woman who did not have a degree or formal credentials but a story, which, upon hearing, sealed the deal. She explained that her husband had been deployed and she was set to join him a few months later. She did just that at only 20 years old with newborn twins in tow, perched on string seats on a cargo plane traveling halfway around the world completely on her OWN and never skipped a beat. Now that folks is how you become an accomplished Project Manager! There are many ways to celebrate Mother's Day, from simple gestures of gratitude and love to grand displays of affection. Some people choose to give their mothers gifts or flowers, while others prefer to spend quality time together or share a meal. Whatever the approach, the most important thing is to make sure that mothers feel loved, appreciated, and valued on this special day. It is an opportunity in our rushed and busy lives where we can stop, take stock, and just feel the memories of love and how much our mother brought to our life. This is even more important for those who do not have their mothers close by or for those whose mothers have passed away. As we celebrate Mother's Day, let us remember our mothers present and absent and toast the wonder of the women who gave us life. Happy Mother’s Day Mom! ABOUT THE AUTHOR: DINA O'REILLY Dina is 4xi's growth lead, project management office and ghostwriter in residence all in one. To learn more about 4xi, you can contact Dina directly at dina@4xiconsulting.com or visit our website to learn more about who we are, what we do, and how we inspire a brighter future, together: www.4xiconsulting.com 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is a team of talented leaders from both the client-side and service provider side, impacting the Human Experience (HX) for people at work, in education, rest, and at leisure. We believe in a people-first, experience-led philosophy. Whether client, employee, or guest – their experience is the fundamental foundation of success. We work with corporations, service providers, and innovators: Strategic Advisory & Special Projects (SPx) Headquarters Fractional Support On-Demand Evolving Experiences© - Employee (EX) & Customer Experience (CX) Design4Life©: Environmental, Physical, and Experiential Design Global Amenities Strategy, Design & Operations TRUE NORTH©: Strategic Partnership & Growth Explorers Innovation Directory: Gateway to Innovation Sustainability Simplified©: Supply Chain & Innovation Market Research Reports & Benchmarking 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Philadelphia | Orlando | North Carolina | Seattle | Silicon Valley | Santiago | London | Tokyo

Knowing what the competition is doing can be insightful and useful. Learning how your industry, city, and fellow local businesses are doing can be incredibly valuable especially if your industry is looking for solutions to nationwide or global issues. The how we share, what we share, and when we share can, however, be complicated, challenging, and fraught with uncertainties. But, sharing under controlled conditions using methods a step above the humble survey can be the answer to being in touch, on top of, and in the ‘know’ in ways that drive solutions, insights, decision-making, and progress. Let's begin with a definition: Survey research is, in short, an investigative method of gathering information from a large cohort. The advantage of the ordinary survey is that it can include a large population that brings with it greater statistical power, the ability to gather large amounts of information, and the availability of validated models. However, when you take those large populations and segment them thoughtfully the wisdom arising out of the data can be illuminating and practical. Wisdom arising out of the survey data can be illuminating and practical. Surveys over time One of the longer-term advantages of the survey is that it can be used to question an audience over a protracted period. Membership or platform-based offerings allow users to participate using this online service to easily create a set of queries and just continue to collect responses. At the risk of sounding trite, the longer the period you can collect responses, the more data you acquire. This time element does something extraordinarily important; it reduces bias and allows the participants to make better business decisions from this information. The value then of the membership is that they can continue to ask, question, share and tabulate continuously gathering and ultimately refining the analysis. The BEST decisions come from foundational and reliable data. Changing to easily meet new market environments Another great advantage of surveys is that they can be modified to meet new market environments. This is so important as issues appear and disappear for businesses on a seemingly non-stop basis. With a membership-based platform, an individual opinion not only adds value to the collective but has weight in terms of the type of questions asked. When membership can steer the types of questions; can impact how surveys help everyone gather value and insight, the larger cohort wins every time. Team Time It typically takes a team to craft questions and some feedback collection tools are not well designed to be used by anyone other than a staff member. A membership-based platform that understands your industry means the tool, the questions, and the insights can be formulated and shared quickly and efficiently giving the whole cohort wisdom in real-time. Surveys are best when they are living experiences and continuously working for the respondents. Quick surveys That are nimble, on point and relevant right now means pertinent and useful data is accessible to the membership quickly and immediately. There is nothing more helpful to decision making than accurate, relevant, and germane information. Surveys are Honest – NO! really, they are! Feedback collection tools can be prone to being corrupted especially when they are random and unsolicited. Typically, this corruption arises when the respondent doesn’t want to give their true feelings for fear of how the data is to be used or analyzed. Additionally, there may be pressure to conform or to be doing what everyone else is doing. Platform, membership-based surveys get around these problems by allowing respondents to complete the survey in private, without peer pressure, and without the listening ear of the person to whom they’re talking about. Therefore, the results given are more honest and valuable to the business or to the collective cohort. Regularly scheduled surveys sent to the membership with the resulting reports and data shared accurately, consistently, and with intentionality breeds success. Continuously gathering and sharing develops credence for the platform. Comfort over time ensues and the ongoing shared results breed confidence and trust in the survey process being used. Surveys are best when they are living experiences and continuously working for the respondents. Past Present and Future Surveys can be used to collect information about the past, the present, and even the future. Survey data make for easier decisions and allow for market research to find the potential customer base or how a new product might be perceived by the audience. The questions, results, insights, and options for a survey are endless. Truly a tool that continuously helps business leaders. With the power to ask qualifying questions to narrow down the audience; pose pre-qualifying questions to adjust who completes the whole survey or simply to ask for personal opinions, survey design can help everyone who participates. You choose; they choose; we all WIN! Conclusion Surveys can be a powerful tool to help your business collect valuable information. Great questions, honest answers and thoughtful analysis helps improve business operations and generate future direction for your business. membership area STAY INFORMED AND IN TOUCH WITH HOW YOUR PEERS ARE TACKLING THE ISSUES OF THE DAY. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ann McNally led global amenities at Bristol Myers Squibb and Morgan Stanley before leading growth with service giant Sodexo. Ann was one of the founding consultants at 4xi Global Consulting and is the practice lead for Criterion Benchmarking delivering data and insights for amenities services leaders. For more information on CRITERION Benchmarking, you can email Ann McNally directly at annmcnally@4xiconsulting.com If you are having difficulty learning how your organization compares to other organizations' workplace and soft services experience offer overall listen to our podcast. @Barbara Boden, former global amenities lead at JPMorgan Chase & Co, and @Ann McNally Americas amenities lead at Bristol Myers Squibb, and Morgan Stanley talk about their perspectives on the importance of peer-to-peer learning, benchmarking, and insights. CRITERION Benchmarking is an exclusive online membership for workplace experience leaders - with access to peer-to-peer insights on various site services. CRITERION provides real-time answers to the often asked question – how do we compare to others? CRITERION gives you access to insights both inside and outside your network and eliminates the time and effort devoted to gathering answers through limited calls and emails. CRITERION Members agree to participate in the monthly anonymous survey covering relevant workplace topics. Our reporting methodology ensures confidentiality while providing an in-depth actionable report in aggregated format. CRITERION also offers a combination of public and private polls only accessible to members in our password protected membership area. The possibilities and use cases are endless, but here are just some examples: Return to Work Strategies Post COVID Best Practices Amenities Strategies Foodservice Insights Breakrooms & Pantries Policies & Procedures Investments & Subsidies Sustainability & ESG Health & Wellness Key Performance Indicators Technology Innovation Learn more about CRITERION Benchmarking and how it can help you with data and insights through peer-to-peer learning. 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is a team of talented leaders from both the client-side and service provider side, creating an impact on the Human Experience (HX) for people at work, in education, rest, and at leisure. We believe in a people-first, experience-led philosophy; whether client, employee, or guest – their experience is the fundamental foundation of success. We work with corporations, service providers, and innovators: Strategic Advisory & Special Projects (SPx) Headquarters Fractional Support On-Demand Evolving Experiences© - Employee (EX) & Customer Experience (CX) Design4Life©: Environmental, Physical, and Experiential Design Global Amenities Strategy, Design & Operations TRUE NORTH©: Strategic Partnership & Growth Explorers Innovation Directory: Gateway to Innovation Sustainability Simplified©: Supply Chain & Innovation Market Research Reports & Benchmarking 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Orlando | North Carolina | Philadelphia | Seattle | Silicon Valley | Dallas | Santiago | London | Tokyo

PRESS RELEASE May 2023 Boutique consulting firm, 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions marks its third birthday this month, three years after the very beginning of the global pandemic. The world has changed so much since that time! Back in 2020, Barbara Boden, former head of Global Head of Amenities at JPMorgan Chase & Co, and Simon Elliot, former Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Aramark joined forces and they haven’t looked back since. “People often asked me, what a challenging time to start a business. My response: actually it was perfect timing - from a revenue perspective the only way was up, and organizations were in disarray not knowing how to deal with the whole COVID crisis and their crash course to change.” - said Simon Elliot, Co-founder and Managing Partner at the firm. 4xi has been busy building a collection of practices designed to offer enterprise level resources and support for our “4” target organizations. These include: Client-side companies wishing to advance the human experience in the workplace, in education, healthcare, senior living, and leisure. Operators seeking additional resources without adding headcount. Innovators looking to package and articulate their product or service to grow. Hospitality companies seeking to expand through acquisition or partnership. They have also been busy supporting clients, including several global organizations wanting to understand their world-wide footprints, employee amenities offerings, and how they compare. The 4xi team supported the opening of a new HQ in Manhattan, and a new state-of-the-art conference center in Atlanta. Elsewhere, through their Evolving Experiences© practice, 4xi’s Chief Experience Officer, Tony Johnson has helped operators craft and execute their Customer (CX) and Employee Experience (EX) strategies. “We know that Experience Matters! We know that when organizations focus on the people - employees and customers, that amazing things can happen. This isn’t just about fluffy, nice to have, but an essential strategic imperative for any organization who wants to transition from survive to thrive.” - said Tony Johnson, 4xi’s Chief Experience Officer in Residence. Beyond Evolving Experiences©, the 4xi practices truly cover a range of expertise, including SPx, strategic consulting and special projects, HQ: fractional support on-demand resources, Design4Life©, physical and experiential design, to TRUE NORTH©, a learning academy to help organizations win better, retain better business. Since 4xi’s formation, the team has helped clients win in excess of $150M in new business, an impressive stat demonstrating the value they bring. 4xi consultant growth has been impressive too - with nearly 20 consultants now worldwide, the 4xi team is a stellar group of senior leaders from all sides of the client/operator/innovator equation with consultants across the United States and also in the UK, Europe, Latin America, and Asia - they are targeting continued team growth on their expansion journey. Part of 4xi’s development roadmap is 4xi360 - an online, on-demand resource center for operators of all sizes in the broader service industry. Targets include multi-unit operators from restaurants, foodservice operators, facilities companies, gas stations, spas, hotels, and more. The goal is to provide access to essential information including tools, forms, standard operating procedures, and job aides offer consistency and compliance, in addition to valuable articles and insights. “We know that there is a lot of inconsistency out there, that organizations of all sizes struggle with ensuring that they have access to the right tools, everywhere. 4xi360 is a platform designed to provide these essential resources to a broad range of audiences that drive immediate value and impact.” - said Barbara Boden, Co-founder and Managing Partner. Ann McNally, one of the founding consultants at the firm recently launched CRITERION Benchmarking on the 4xi360 backbone providing peer-to-peer surveying, data, and insights for workplace. “Our mission isn’t to be the biggest, but to be the best. We pride ourselves on delivering value and driving tangible impact in the work that we do. Our mantra of taking the time to carefully listen, learn, and understand, forms the basis of our client focused solutions that deliver meaningful outcomes.” - added Simon Elliot. The firm continues to expand with engagements becoming deeper and more strategic in nature - from global expansion to mergers and acquisition, to global amenities strategies, and brand listening exercises. Ed Snowden leads TRUE NORTH© helping clients with their go-to-market strategies. Sustainability Simplified© cuts through the complexity of ESG matters and is focused on helping clients do the right thing, because it’s the right thing to do. “We are thrilled at reaching this milestone as we continue our journey. We are also very proud of our amazing team and clients, and are grateful for all those who have supported us over these past few years.” - commented Barbara Boden. To learn more about 4xi, visit their website at www.4xiconsulting.com or click on the following link. 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is a team of talented leaders from both the client-side and service provider side, impacting the Human Experience (HX) for people at work, in education, rest, and at leisure. We believe in a people-first, experience-led philosophy. Whether client, employee, or guest – their experience is the fundamental foundation of success. We work with corporations, service providers, and innovators: Strategic Advisory & Special Projects (SPx) Headquarters Fractional Support On-Demand Evolving Experiences© - Employee (EX) & Customer Experience (CX) Design4Life©: Environmental, Physical, and Experiential Design Global Amenities Strategy, Design & Operations TRUE NORTH©: Strategic Partnership & Growth Explorers Innovation Directory: Gateway to Innovation Sustainability Simplified©: Supply Chain & Innovation Market Research Reports & Benchmarking 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Philadelphia | Orlando | North Carolina | Seattle | Silicon Valley | Santiago | London | Tokyo