Leadership: the missing link in business planning

Close that gap and transform your leadership

The V|EC|T|O|R 3D leadership mindset ...

The WHO axis. There’s a famous saying that the only thing a leader must have is followers. If so, why is so much leadership investment leader-centric? All that spending on your MBTI or LSI and those seminars, books and articles. Looking at yourself in the mirror is fun for you. But not flattering to your team members and others you need as followers. That has to change.

The WHEN axis. Have you noticed how all your feedback and profiles are backward looking. In contrast, the business or project plan you’re responsible for is forward looking. So, where’s your related leadership plan? Most leaders don’t have one. It’s the missing link in business planning!

The HOW axis. For all the talk of situational leadership, most books, articles and gurus push a theory or specific way of leading. Lots of one-size-fits-all! But, what about some business-like problem-solving based on reality not theories? In this case, that means addressing the specific challenges and issues worrying your followers – so they become upbeat and want to deliver.

It's the V|E|C|T|O|R game-changer for ...

  • Leaders: lifts your performance based on a forward-looking, follow-driven action plan
  • HR professionals: can be a person-specific or cross-organisation development tool
  • Coaches: helps frame coaching priorities by sitting with leaders as they do their plans

"Really valuable: our top team are all using it
and we workshop our plans together"

Robbie Cooke, Managing Director, Wotif.com
www.wotif.com

Why do organisations fail? Or better, succeed? Breakthrough technology may help. Similarly, low-cost production. Or, superb marketing. But behind all this, one finds leadership.

Globally, in recent decades, the media has talked of builders like Rupert Murdoch, Bill Gates and Lakshmi Mittal – or in Australia, Andrew Forrest, Gerry Harvey, Kerry Stokes and Carla Zampatti. The failures internationally have included Rick Wagoner and Kenneth Lay – or in Australia, Eddy Groves and Ray Williams. But, their’s are really big businesses.

So, let’s come down to earth. Think of successes and failures you’ve seen or read about in your own home town or region. Jot down some names! And, what they did! Their actions!

A rising market can make all of us look good – and a downturn do the opposite. But, in either. some organisations (or divisions, departments or individual executives) forge to the front of the pack. Others slide behind. Why? My four decades as line manager and consultant have shown me beyond doubt that leadership is the key differentiator and driver of organisational performance.

For example, in the 1990s, I was consulting on strategy with a subsidiary of Barclays Bank. What drove their exceptional growth and performance in a relatively commoditised market was the vision, energy, ability and teamwork of the CEO and his division heads.

So, check your business plan. I suspect it has sections on marketing, production, finance and so on. And, recruitment, training and development. But, where does it specify what you or other leaders are going to do – as leaders? Why is this ignored – and, often assumed to be intangible and not something you plan?

Obviously, each leader must drive implementation of his or her operating plan. But, if you asked your people, what would they say should be your personal leadership priorities? What do you need to do to align those people to your planned goals, convince them the vision is possible, improve the culture, lift technical standards and build teamwork?

In sum, where’s your personal action list?

V|E|C|T|O|R will help you develop it ...

We'll do for your leadership what an iPod does for your music

Learn more about our Leadership Action Packs

Learn more about our Action Planning Tool Kit

"Directly contributed to better service ... and profitability"

Adam Simpson, Simpsons Solicitors
www.simpsons.com.au

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Online Tool Kit

The Tool Kit includes:

The Action Planner

  • For the next few months
  • Your Personal Action List

The Problem Solver

  • For today's pressing issue
  • Your Fast Fix