Mike Gasik- The Intangibles

Not everything can be converted into an e-commerce product.  Some ideas or qualities need to have a bit more context around them.  That’s where this page comes in.  This about page provides information on the intangibles. It gives details, examples and information on my leadership style, process management and other characteristics that support my campaign for promotion.

Leadership- Walk Softly, but Carry a Big Stick

There are different ways to be a successful leader.  Some lead by motivation.  Others lead by project management.  Some are even thought leaders.  My approach is a bit different, as I like to have a more hands-off approach, and then intervene when a project or conversation has become stagnant. I consider this to be leading by example.  I believe this is more effective within our group, as we have a number of very talented teammates.  These talented teammates have extensive experience, and being a task-type leader could potentially drown out the ideas and suggestions.  For example, I have been setting the bar in regards to field cases, as I have lead the way in two major metrics. The first metric is Average Aging Days for Pending and Working Cases.  The goal is to work all cases within 30 days.  As you can see, I have been leading the way on closing my cases by just over 20 days- a group best, within the Field Sales Pilot.  The second metric is the Closed Cases Since Launch.  Again, leading the way with almost 30 field cases closed- another group best. Leading the way in these two pivotal KPIs, has definitely set a standard and confirmed the possibility that it is possible to efficiently perform case discoveries within the targeted 30-day time frame. The actions and efforts I have put forth have motivated my teammates to step up and achieve the same goals. These metrics clearly show my ability to lead by example.

Seeing the Big Picture- Providing Top-Notch Recommendations

The ability to understand and interpret the main goal for this organization is yet another intangible that I possess.  My ability to recognize opportunities for growth and improvement has been confirmed through the following situations:

• Ability to locate and recognize ideal third-party vendors for potential partnership.
  • SureDone- a channel management company that helps consumers build and manage product feeds throughout various marketplaces.  SureDone fills a need for the BSI group because the service is extremely economical.  This vendor has already passed the preliminary approval process and is on to the beta testing.
  • Thrive Commerce- a new type of marketing company that essentially eliminates the middle man when working through affiliate marketing.  Thrive has figured out a way to compete, without losing potential business.  Marketing has had a handful of discussions and they are currently going through the preliminary approval process.
• Ability to recognize talent that can contribute to the team.
  • Within weeks of joining this organization, it had come apparent that there was a need for more digital talent. A quick phone call and Rodney Stewart was eager and excited to apply.  It’s no big secret- Rodney has been a huge contributing factor in the goals and successes of this team and the ability to recognize and connect has been a big reason why our organization is so successful today.

Going Above and Beyond- Accepting Additional Responsibilities

Being able to execute the duties required in this position is definitely a expected from management.  I see my work as a reflection of myself and take pride in consistently exceeding expectations.  Below are a couple of examples of taking on additional tasks:

• Training Initiatives- Within my first few weeks of tenure, I made an effort to provide some general e-commerce training to my counterparts throughout the country. The goal was to inform and educate on some of the opportunities within internal teammates.  Some of the steps include:
  • Running a GoTo Meeting and providing an on-screen tutorial on how to break down a website and find major opportunities to discuss.
  • Provide a detailed write-up, complete with best practices and next steps on how to improve business performance.
  • Answered questions and provided insight on next steps and potential expectations for future cases.
• Individual Training Sessions- Within the past year, I have held individual training sessions to help teach more along the lines of e-commerce.  I went in depth on specifics and details that help to make an e-commerce case an effective one.  I’ve also coached on how to uncover opportunities and turn them into the basis of conversation.
• LINK for Two Platforms- E-commerce has been broken down into two platforms, and taking the initiative to help direct and lead both of them is another key point, which shows my knack for accepting additional responsibilities.  Involvement with two platforms comes with more work and more responsibility, and being able to keep both platforms on task with the initiatives has been yet another example of my drive.

Summary- Keeping it Short and Sweet

The above examples are just a few of many reasons why my career advancement to Senior Strategic request is credible.  I have provided leadership by example, demonstrated my ability to understand the big picture and contribute to it as well as accepting additional responsibilities and help educate others on the e-commerce subject.  The detail, successes, accomplishments and information on my tenure with this organization have been achieved within one year.  These are the reasons why I feel a promotion is justified.