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LEADERSHIP: FIRST, CREATE THE SKELETON
published: 2008-08-25
Our skeleton provides the structure for our body. Without it, we’d be a wobbly heap of flesh on the floor. The same is true for organisations. If the structure isn't clear, it's hard to make things hold together. What am I responsible for? Who's my boss? Who are my peers? Who are the subordinates I'm responsible for? These are amongst the first questions we ask in relation to a new job.
LEADERSHIP: A GOOD MIRROR IS THE BEST MENTOR
published: 2008-08-18
When I pass a mirror, I often check how I look. Vanity? Probably. Yet, it may tell me to straighten my tie or tidy my hair. But, what I need more than a snapshot of my appearance is a mirror showing me how I behave; and, its impact on others.
LEADERSHIP: EDISON NEVER STOPPED TINKERING
published: 2008-08-11
New ways often bring new words; or reinvigorate old ones. "Betterment" is a case of the latter - and something every leader must deliver. A strategic rethink may set a whole new direction for your business. However, between these major shifts, there's lots of room for innovation and upgrades. That's betterment.
LEADERSHIP: CREATIVE DESTRUCTION
published: 2008-08-04
General Motors was once a paragon of American business. It's now in serious decline. Its plight illustrates what a famous economist called “creative destruction.” New industries, products and services rise to prominence; but, later lose their traction. Horse-drawn carriages gave way to automobiles - ushering in gas stations but destroying buggy-whip manufacturers. Gas guzzlers had their time on the road, but were overtaken by energy-efficient compacts. And now hybrids; and, so on.
LEADERSHIP: SCALING THE CLIFF FACE
published: 2008-07-28
We've all seen the graph. Starting low at the left, it rises little over the centuries. Then, in the last hundred years, begins to rise at an alarming rate. And today, climbs almost vertically – whether plotting the number of patents, the sale of mobile phones or the growth of online commerce.
LEADERSHIP: BUILDING TRUST
published: 2008-07-27
We all believe in honesty. And, for most of us, this disbars stealing from colleagues or our employer. But, what about failing to pull our weight on a team project or using work time to pursue personal interests? We've all done it. And, in that sense, I haven't always been honest. And, that's possibly true for most of us.
LEADERSHIP: WHAT IF THE WORLD ERUPTS?
published: 2008-07-21
The chameleon lizard changes colour with its environment. As a leader, you have to do much more. When the world changes, you have to transform your organisation and how it operates. Otherwise, it may fail. And, to start the organisational change, you have to change. New situations bring new leadership challenges.
LEADERSHIP: MAKING CHANGE POSSIBLE
published: 2008-07-14
It's lovely to sit and dream: imagining a better future. But, it takes energy to work out how this might be achieved; and, the real work begins when you have to start organising and implementing.
LEADERSHIP: DELEGATE? OR JUST STOP IT
published: 2008-07-07
When did you last reprioritise your diary? But that's the easy part. When did you actually stop doing something? Dropped, finished, gone! That's the tough one.
LEADERSHIP: THE SMALL BUSINESS SUPERCHARGER
published: 2008-06-30
For many small business owners, survival is an ever-present issue. There are so many challenges. Finding customers. Delivering the product or service. Holding good staff. Managing cash and so much else. What's the key? To staying afloat - and, more importantly, growing and succeeding?
LEADERSHIP: THE HEROES ON THE FRONTLINE
published: 2008-06-23
Talk to any soldier and they'll tell you it's frontline troops, not generals, who fight the battles. HQ may set direction and define key goals but it's platoon leaders and their troops, who go there. They're the ones, who reconnoitre, take territory, dig in and fight. Now, business isn't warfare. But, the metaphor has its place.
LEADERSHIP: STAND TALL AS THE BEST MANUFACTURER
published: 2008-06-16
My father had an engineering business - making furnaces and other products. And, I worked summers in factories, while studying engineering. So, I love that hot, noisy world of clanging metal as it's formed and worked with presses and punches.
LEADERSHIP: IT'S WHAT YOU DO THAT COUNTS
published: 2008-06-09
Action is the language of leadership. As elsewhere in life, it's what you do that counts. Yes, you need to meet with people and talk a lot. But, the bottom line is "walking the talk." Action, not theory.
LEADERSHIP: THE MISSING LINK IN BUSINESS PLANNING
published: 2008-06-02
Why do organisations fail? Or, succeed? Breakthrough technology may help. So can low-cost production. Or, superb marketing. But behind all this, one finds leadership. Whether it's Murdoch, Gates or Mittal driving growth and achievement; or, Wagoner, Lay or others causing their companies to stumble. But, their's are huge global businesses.
LEADERSHIP: FINDING YOUR "SILVER FOLLOWERS"
published: 2008-05-26
Think of the all-time favourite stories. Many describe a heroic journey: a man or woman leading colleagues in pursuit of an exciting goal. In comparison, being a leader in business is not usually heroic. You don’t have to fight dragons or dive to the bottom of the sea. However, as leader of any team, you share one thing in common with the legendary leaders. There’s no journey, if people won’t follow.
LEADERSHIP: BURN THOSE CENTREFOLDS
published: 2008-05-19
Jack Welch, Carly Fiorina, Warren Buffett! These are the centrefold players, big-ticket stars, the leadership fashion models. We read their names in leadership articles. Why? Big names sell subscriptions. But, the Fortune 500 companies employ just 500 chief executives. So, what about the rest of us, with names like yours and mine, that most people never hear?
LEADERSHIP: SIX KEY WORDS
published: 2008-05-12
To understand Italian opera, you only need five words - or, so they say. Here's the list: morte (death), amore (love), maledizione (curse), adio (farewell) and andiamo (let's go). Supposedly, these will guide you through any romantic tale.
LEADERSHIP: LIFTING MY GAME
published: 2008-05-05
How was your last leadership performance review? And, feedback from colleagues? Was the employee survey result less positive than you'd like?
LEADERSHIP: GETTING THAT JOB
published: 2008-04-28
What's the secret to being chosen? Sadly, there's no one answer. But there are sensible pointers. The right experience and qualification; presenting well; and, writing a good resumé. But years of experience (as both an executive and consultant) tell me the acid test is record of consistently delivering results.
LEADERSHIP: THE SEEDS OF FAILURE
published: 2008-04-21
Think of big corporate disasters you've known or read about. What was the cause? Bad strategy, wrong business model, inefficiency, bad luck? Not in my experience. Most often, the core issue is flawed human beings - and, at the top.