Get Others to Do the Work for You, But Always Take the Credit
Delegate tasks to others, but make sure you are the one who reaps the rewards. By getting others to work on your behalf, you gain leverage while maintaining your power and influence. Always ensure that the outcome of the work reflects positively on you, creating a perception of competence and control.
Industry Trends & Leadership Insights: “Get Others to Do the Work for You, But Always Take the Credit”
Interpreting Leverage and Influence in the Modern Workplace
1. Manufacturing and Supply Chain – Leveraging Frontline Innovation
In manufacturing and supply chain sectors, leaders increasingly depend on frontline employees and cross-functional teams to drive process improvement through systems like Lean and Six Sigma. Yet, executive leaders often take public credit for plant efficiency gains, reinforcing their strategic oversight to investors and stakeholders. According to a 2024 McKinsey report, 60% of operational improvements in high-performing plants were developed at the line level—but only 22% of those improvements were attributed publicly to the teams that generated them. This dynamic reinforces a perception of strong leadership while quietly embedding a culture of empowered problem-solving.
2. Engineering and Science – Collaborative Breakthroughs, Singular Recognition
In technical fields like engineering and scientific R&D, team-based discovery is the norm, but awards and patents often credit a lead engineer or principal investigator. This mirrors the leadership philosophy of aggregating others’ work while projecting individual competence. A 2023 Nature study revealed that in over 70% of multi-author scientific papers, the lead author received the bulk of recognition in media and funding decisions, despite evenly shared contributions. Culturally, this trend elevates leadership personas while motivating teams through indirect prestige—being part of a “winning lab” or “breakthrough team.”
3. Education and Healthcare – The Power of Administrative Framing
In education and healthcare, frontline workers (teachers, nurses, aides) carry much of the workload and innovation, yet administrators and department heads often shape public narratives of success. When leaders frame these contributions within institutional strategies, they preserve their authority while boosting team morale. The National Education Association reported in 2022 that 48% of innovative curriculum changes were initiated by teachers, but 85% of school boards credited district administrators for "system-wide educational improvements." This framing helps unify teams under a shared mission while sustaining hierarchical legitimacy.
4. Marketing and Services – Strategic Delegation as Personal Branding
In marketing, consulting, and client services, senior leaders often rely on junior talent to execute campaigns and research, but ensure deliverables reinforce their personal or brand authority. The rise of ghostwriters, fractional CMOs, and white-label agencies shows how leaders capitalize on others’ expertise while curating thought leadership. HubSpot’s 2024 trend report found that 64% of branded content attributed to C-level leaders was developed by support teams. This delegation fuels productivity and allows leaders to maintain visibility across multiple platforms, creating a scalable influence engine.
🚨 IT’S HERE — SHIFT HAPPENS! 🚨
Take charge of your leadership journey. Shift Happens: How To Lead with Purpose and Discipline Every Day is available now on Amazon. Don’t miss out → https://a.co/d/dG8uZZZ
We’re on Spotify, Amazon Music, Audible, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
For additional information, please reach out via our website at www.Karassinnovations.com. Also thank the Executive Producer and Founder “Lenier Johnson”.
Court Attention at All Costs
Attention is the most valuable currency in the game of power. If you are ignored, you have no influence. To remain relevant, you must consistently find ways to be noticed. Make yourself stand out through unique actions, bold moves, or unexpected behavior—this will keep you at the forefront of people's minds.
For additional information, please reach out via our website at www.Karassinnovations.com. Also thank the Executive Producer and Founder “Lenier Johnson”.
📚 Leadership Book for Daily Discipline and Purpose
Shift Happens is the ultimate guide to running effective operations and building daily leadership habits. Now available on Amazon → https://a.co/d/dG8uZZZ
The 2025 tariff landscape is reshaping industries across the board, with significant cultural and operational impacts on manufacturing, healthcare, education, and logistics. Here are five key insights into how these sectors are adapting to the new trade environment:
1. Manufacturing: Shifting Supply Chains and Domestic Investments
U.S. manufacturers are facing increased costs due to tariffs on imported raw materials and components. For instance, Rivian has revised its 2025 production targets downward, citing tariff-induced supply chain disruptions and higher material costs. The company is investing $120 million in a new supplier park in Illinois to mitigate these challenges. Similarly, Volvo announced a 5% workforce reduction at its South Carolina plant, attributing the decision to economic uncertainty stemming from tariffs on foreign vehicle and auto parts imports. (Financial Times, New York Post)
2. Healthcare: Rising Costs and Supply Chain Vulnerabilities
The healthcare sector is grappling with increased costs and potential shortages of essential medical supplies due to tariffs. Hospitals are beginning to experience the impacts, with some freezing spending in anticipation of supply disruptions. A 20% tariff on medical consumables like syringes and gloves is expected to raise costs for healthcare providers and patients alike. (Axios, Cognitive Market Research)
3. Education: Budget Constraints and Delayed Resources
Educational institutions are encountering budgetary pressures as tariffs drive up the costs of imported educational materials and technology. School districts, such as those in North Carolina and Texas, have reported higher prices for laptops and other essential supplies, leading to procurement challenges and potential delays in technology upgrades. (Number Analytics, Education Week)
4. Logistics and Warehousing: Increased Demand for Bonded Storage
Importers are increasingly turning to bonded warehouses to defer tariff payments, resulting in a surge in demand and rising storage costs. For example, Flexe reported a significant increase in inquiries for bonded storage facilities, with some charging up to $150 per pallet per month—three to nine times higher than standard rates. This trend reflects businesses' efforts to navigate the financial strain imposed by tariffs. (Business Insider)
5. Economic Outlook: Consumer Impact and GDP Projections
The broader economic implications of the 2025 tariffs are substantial. Analyses suggest that the average effective U.S. tariff rate has risen to 22.5%, the highest since 1909. This increase is projected to raise consumer prices by 2.3% in the short term, equating to an average household loss of $3,800 in purchasing power. Additionally, U.S. real GDP growth is expected to be 0.9 percentage points lower in 2025 due to the cumulative effect of the tariffs. (The Budget Lab at Yale)
These developments underscore the need for industries to adapt strategically to the evolving trade environment, balancing cost management with the pursuit of supply chain resilience and operational efficiency.
For additional information, please reach out via our website at www.Karassinnovations.com. Also thank the Executive Producer and Founder “Lenier Johnson”.
🚨 IT’S HERE — SHIFT HAPPENS! 🚨
Take charge of your leadership journey. Shift Happens: How To Lead with Purpose and Discipline Every Day is available now on Amazon. Don’t miss out → https://a.co/d/dG8uZZZ
So Much Depends on Reputation—Guard It With Your Life
Reputation is the cornerstone of power. If your reputation is strong, it precedes you and protects you. Guard it fiercely, for once it is damaged, it can take years to rebuild. Protect your name and image, and always act in a way that reinforces the positive narrative around you.
For additional information, please reach out via our website at www.Karassinnovations.com. Also thank the Executive Producer and Founder “Lenier Johnson”.
When you speak, be economical with your words. By saying less, you create an aura of mystery and control. The more you speak, the more likely you are to say something that could be used against you. Silence communicates power, and people will read into what you don’t say, amplifying your influence.
Leadership Insight: The Strategic Value of Concise Communication in Manufacturing
In modern manufacturing environments, clarity and brevity are becoming core tenets of effective leadership. With operations growing more complex—integrating automation, lean systems, and continuous improvement methodologies—leaders who speak concisely foster sharper execution and less operational drag. According to a study by McKinsey, companies that prioritize clear, concise leadership communication are 3.5 times more likely to outperform peers on productivity metrics. In shift meetings, “Always Say Less Than Necessary” minimizes noise, keeps teams focused, and cultivates psychological safety by reducing ambiguity.
Economic and Engineering Trends: Precision over Persuasion
Across economics and engineering disciplines, the trend is moving toward data-driven, precise communication. Engineering teams benefit from leaders who speak in exact, actionable terms—especially when coordinating across disciplines like R&D, quality, and production. As digital transformation accelerates, economic models and simulation tools replace gut-feel leadership, making over-explanation a liability. The National Bureau of Economic Research found that firms with high communication precision improved decision-making speed by 22%, reinforcing the idea that fewer, well-chosen words lead to stronger performance.
Science and Education: Silence as Intellectual Authority
In scientific and academic settings, the ability to say less—but with precision—has long signaled intellectual rigor. Educators and researchers are leaning into concise communication to support cognitive load management. A 2023 meta-analysis published in Frontiers in Education found that student retention improved by 18% when instructors used fewer words and more visual aids in high-cognitive-load topics like physics and medical diagnostics. In faculty leadership, this principle strengthens credibility—leaders who speak sparingly are seen as more prepared and insightful.
Marketing, Medical, and Supply Chain: Trust Through Brevity
In marketing and service-oriented sectors, minimalism in communication has become a mark of trust. Over-marketing leads to consumer skepticism, while short, focused messaging boosts engagement—email open rates increase by 29% when messages are under 100 words, according to HubSpot. In healthcare, physicians who deliver concise diagnoses and instructions are rated higher on patient satisfaction and trust. In warehousing and supply chain operations—where cross-functional coordination is critical—concise standard work instructions and brief escalation protocols reduce errors and improve fulfillment accuracy by up to 15%, based on findings from the Warehousing Education and Research Council (WERC).
For additional information, please reach out via our website at www.Karassinnovations.com. Also thank the Executive Producer and Founder “Lenier Johnson”.
How Sludge vs Nudge will impact your Business Operations in 2025 & 2026?
In the context of behavioral economics, a "nudge" refers to a subtle intervention designed to encourage people to make choices that are beneficial for them or society, while a "sludge" is a deliberate obstacle or barrier that makes a desired behavior more difficult or less appealing. Nudges aim to make good choices easier, while sludges make them harder.
#ContinuousImprovement #PodcastLaunch #ProcessExcellence #Leadership #Lean #SixSigma #TheContinuousImprovementLab #TheSystemThinkerShow
#MOS #Management Operating Systems #Project 2025 #Sludge
How does Sludge impact your business?
In the context of behavioral economics, a "nudge" refers to a subtle intervention designed to encourage people to make choices that are beneficial for them or society, while a "sludge" is a deliberate obstacle or barrier that makes a desired behavior more difficult or less appealing. Nudges aim to make good choices easier, while sludges make them harder
1. Cultural Impact in Manufacturing and Engineering:
In manufacturing and engineering, the distinction between sludge and nudge is becoming increasingly vital. “Sludge” in these sectors often manifests as bureaucratic work orders, convoluted safety signoffs, or overly complex standard operating procedures (SOPs) that slow down frontline productivity. By contrast, “nudges”—such as visual management cues, simplified digital checklists, or automatic maintenance reminders—have shown to improve compliance and reduce downtime. A 2024 McKinsey study found that manufacturers who implemented behavioral nudges in lean practices saw a 17% increase in operational efficiency compared to peers burdened with procedural sludge. The shift towards leaner behavioral design is a cultural necessity in a sector facing growing demands for agility and precision.
2. Economic and Supply Chain Transformation:
In economic terms, sludge introduces friction that inflates costs and delays decision-making. Across global supply chains, layers of approvals, redundant documentation, and siloed systems can paralyze responsiveness. A 2023 Deloitte report revealed that companies experiencing high administrative friction had 28% slower supplier onboarding times and 19% higher logistics costs. In contrast, companies using nudges—such as pre-approved vendor lists or dynamic restock triggers—achieved a 23% faster time-to-value in procurement cycles. As supply chains continue to face volatility through 2025 and 2026, businesses must adopt nudging strategies to eliminate friction and stay competitive in just-in-time and omni-channel fulfillment environments.
3. Leadership in Healthcare, Science, and Education:
In healthcare, education, and science, sludge can be ethically and operationally dangerous. For instance, excessive EHR (electronic health record) inputs or academic admin requirements often lead to decision fatigue, burnout, and reduced care or teaching quality. In contrast, behavioral nudges—such as default flu shot scheduling, real-time lab notifications, or guided research templates—help professionals focus on value-added tasks. According to the Journal of Behavioral Science, healthcare organizations using digital nudges saw a 30% increase in preventive care uptake. In education, institutions deploying behavioral interventions like automatic tutoring nudges improved student retention by 12%. Leaders in these fields are realizing that clarity, simplicity, and cognitive alignment are not just efficiency strategies—they’re cultural imperatives.
4. Marketing, Services, and Warehousing Alignment:
In customer-facing functions like marketing and service delivery, sludge undermines user experience. Complex return policies, lengthy checkout processes, or hard-to-find service links reduce customer loyalty. Conversely, companies leveraging nudges—such as scarcity indicators, one-click actions, or pre-filled forms—are seeing up to 40% higher conversion rates, according to a 2024 Salesforce report. In warehousing, behavioral nudges like LED pick-path indicators or real-time scan prompts improve accuracy and morale. The broader leadership trend in 2025 and 2026 is a pivot from rigid system design to intuitive, human-centered operations. Executives are recognizing that winning cultures are built not just by removing what slows people down, but by guiding them naturally toward better decisions.
The United States Digital Service (USDS) and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are both federal initiatives aimed at improving government operations, but they differ significantly in their origins, leadership, methodologies, and impacts.
Conclusion
1. Cultural Impact on Manufacturing and Engineering
The DOGE initiative’s focus on radical restructuring and downsizing government spending is influencing private sector manufacturing and engineering in significant ways. Government-funded R&D programs and grants—critical drivers for innovation in aerospace, automotive, and green technology sectors—are being re-evaluated or slashed. According to the National Association of Manufacturers, over 62% of U.S. manufacturers engage with federal programs for R&D or workforce training. A sudden drop in public-sector support has created uncertainty, slowing capital investments and innovation cycles. Leadership in these sectors is shifting toward leaner, decentralized decision-making models, emphasizing autonomy and cost-containment to mirror government austerity trends.
2. Economic and Supply Chain Realignment
DOGE’s restructuring approach has initiated widespread fiscal tightening across multiple agencies, leading to reduced federal contracts and grants. This has downstream effects on the broader economy, especially in logistics, services, and supply chain sectors that depend on government procurement. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, federal government procurement accounted for over $665 billion in 2023—significant for logistics hubs and service providers. In response, supply chain executives are adopting dual-track sourcing strategies, reducing dependency on federal funding by diversifying into commercial sectors and foreign markets. This cultural shift is embedding agility and risk mitigation deeper into supply chain planning and leadership strategy.
3. Education and Medical Sector Disruptions
The push to cut government programs has also impacted federal support for education and healthcare, particularly in under-resourced communities. Higher education institutions, historically supported by federal research dollars, are now rethinking their funding strategies as DOGE proposals suggest a 15–20% cut in federal grants by 2026. Meanwhile, public hospitals and community clinics, which rely on federal subsidies and Medicare reimbursements, face operational uncertainty. This has sparked a culture of lean management within these institutions, promoting cross-functional leadership, shared services, and AI-based efficiency tools to do more with less—mirroring the radical efficiency ethos of DOGE.
4. Marketing, Services, and Workforce Culture
The cultural ripple effects of DOGE are reshaping how service-based and marketing firms engage with public-sector clients. With federal departments under pressure to justify every expenditure, agencies are demanding more measurable ROI and favoring performance-based contracts. This has forced service providers to become more data-driven, outcome-oriented, and transparent in their deliverables. According to a Deloitte 2025 Government Trends report, over 70% of public contracts now include performance metrics as a funding condition. Internally, leadership in service firms is becoming more accountability-focused, embedding project-based performance reviews and financial literacy into all levels of the organization to match the fiscal conservatism ushered in by DOGE.
Conceal Your Intentions
Keeping your true plans hidden creates an air of unpredictability and mystery. If people are unsure of your goals, they are less likely to sabotage them or act against you. Concealment is a tool that allows you to move with freedom and adapt to changing circumstances without being encumbered by others' expectations
Never Put Too Much Trust in Friends, Learn How to Use Enemies
Friends can often be too familiar and not as objective. An enemy, however, has the potential to be far more useful because they’re motivated to prove themselves. Transforming an enemy into a useful ally is a strategic maneuver that will leave you with someone who understands your power dynamic and respects it.
Project 2025's "Mandate for Leadership" outlines several policy changes that could significantly impact business operations in the coming years. Business owners should consider the following opportunities and challenges:
Business owners should closely monitor these developments to adapt their strategies accordingly and leverage emerging opportunities.
Project 2025's "Mandate for Leadership" outlines several policy changes that could significantly impact business operations in the coming years. Business owners should consider the following opportunities and challenges:
Business owners should closely monitor these developments to adapt their strategies accordingly and leverage emerging opportunities.
Project 2025's "Mandate for Leadership" outlines several policy changes that could significantly impact business operations in the coming years. Business owners should consider the following opportunities and challenges:
Business owners should closely monitor these developments to adapt their strategies accordingly and leverage emerging opportunities.
Project 2025's "Mandate for Leadership" outlines several policy changes that could significantly impact business operations in the coming years. Business owners should consider the following opportunities and challenges:
Business owners should closely monitor these developments to adapt their strategies accordingly and leverage emerging opportunities.
Project 2025's "Mandate for Leadership" outlines several policy changes that could significantly impact business operations in the coming years. Business owners should consider the following opportunities and challenges:
Business owners should closely monitor these developments to adapt their strategies accordingly and leverage emerging opportunities.
Always make those above you feel superior. If you make them feel insecure, you will spark resentment. Instead, allow them to take the credit for the work and stand by their accomplishments. The key is to make them feel good about themselves while you quietly advance behind the scenes. It’s about creating loyalty and avoiding any threats to their sense of power.
