Leadership: Starting with what you've got already

Published: 2011-02-07   There are 4 comments ... please add yours below

Recently, a friend sheepishly confessed to using my Potshots in a novel way. Given her CEO’s dumping of the development budget, she’s been forwarding one Potshot each month to her direct reports. She asked them to plan a new leadership action prompted by its theme or action points; and, then circulate this to each of their divisional leadership colleagues. Rather than foregoing development, she’s built on something she already has and made it work for her. So, what low or zero cost strategies are you pursuing? Are you leveraging what’s available to maximum advantage? Like her, could you use the Potshots or any other free resource more effectively.

No-one likes missing a sale and I’m sorry her company isn’t spending money on my Leadership Action Planning Tool Kit. But, for two reasons, I was overjoyed. First, flattered the Potshots are useful to her. Second, reminded that “making do” is a time-honoured strategy – all too often missing these days. We drink bottled water not tap. Use taxis not public transport. And, replace our phones even when the old one’s fine. For example, consider the following?

1. Buying off the shelf. Too often we build our own even when the shrink-wrapped version would actually do the job – or could be customised.
2. Keeping things simple. Why do we set too many goals and complicate performance metrics? Often less would be more. Complexity becomes confusing – and often an excuse.
3. Checking the library. I knew a partner at McKinsey, who started any assignment by reading all the firm’s reports from similar studies. He stepped up from there.
4. Making it frugal. This theme is Ratan Tata’s starting point in his auto strategy. And, it’s the basis of all good engineering: minimising the resources used to achieve your goals.
5. Standardising formats. Smart leaders build their own IP by codifying recurring processes. This frees their mind and time for investing in their creative value-add.
6. Seeking input from others. Why not ask for ideas? Why be proud? We can all learn, particularly from those with different views.

So, let’s take stock. On which two of the above would people say you’re most effective? Which two would they suggest for attention? Make a note of these and what specifically you intend to do differently. And, why not share this with our readers via the comment box below.

Sharing ideas builds a virtuous cycle for making business and society operate better. And, that’s the other reason I’m happy my friend is using the Potshots in a novel way. I may have missed a sale but her action support VECTOR’s underlying purpose. Which is also why I make our Tool Kit free for students and not-for-profits. I’m as commercial as the next person but when push comes to shove, anything worth doing is also worth doing free if it improves leadership and the world we live in. And, I believe these two go together.

Dr. Timothy Pascoe AM
PhD (Cambridge), MBA (Harvard), BE & BEc (Adelaide)
Creator, V|E|C|T|O|R Leadership^®