Leadership: what's your favourite acronym?

Published: 2011-12-12   There are 6 comments ... please add yours below

NATO is the acronym for the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation – and it’s typical of the abbreviations that governments love. But what of the acronyms we all used at school to remember lists of facts for our exams? Some provided by teachers, others self-created. And, what of today? Do you use any acronyms to prompt your leadership thinking and actions? If so, it could be a valuable show-and-tell! So, please share below your favourite leadership acronym: something you use as a checklist or guide. To get the ball rolling, I’ll share mine.

I originally created the VECTOR acronym to remind me of concerns or questions that might be holding my team back from committing to whatever journey or project I was leading.

• V for the Vision question: Where are we going and why? This reminds me to be specific re goals and outcomes so we’re all aligned. Being clear about market drivers and what creates competitive advantage. And, once all this is defined, making plans and action lists.
• E for the Energy question: Can we do it? The vision might be exciting but is my team convinced it’s achievable? Hence the need for me to focus on execution, taking charge, communicating and other things to lift their spirits – and their determination to succeed.
• C for Culture: How should we behave? Is my team absolutely clear about the need to win – becoming the best we can? Am I taking the tough decisions – while also being fair? And, encouraging diversity of views? Each is key to a performance culture.
• T for Task: What output is required? This starts with customers and their needs. But also includes the technical inputs and metrics: driving bottom line, excelling commercially, being efficient and setting benchmarks to ensure we achieve high operating standards.
• O for Organisation: Where and how do we all fit in? Am I engaging people as individuals, showing self-awareness, and developing succession? Where am I missing out on any of these; and, what must I do better so we work as a finely tuned team?
• R for Renewal: What if our world erupts? Am I monitoring (and, if possible, influencing) external changes? And, responding with new strategies, operating innovations and up-skilling? Am I ensuring my people know how to learn and reinvent?

The VECTOR acronym arose from my desire for a catchy reminder of the above concerns – and actions I could take to address each one. These days, I check the list before starting any project. This leads pretty quickly to needed actions. And, the process has become my 20-minute, online Leadership Action Planning tool. Click to try it FREE today!

Now, back to the show-and-tell! Please share below any leadership acronyms you’ve developed or picked up, which help guide your leadership actions!

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