The precise duties description of the position being filled. The behavioural dynamics of the team that the position must enhance. The relationship opportunities that the position must enhance with her/his supervisor. The influence the position must bring to the overall culture of the business. What the successful candidate must accomplish in the first three months […]
1. Schedule appropriate time with their direct reports. 2. Share their consistent aspirations and plans with their people. 3. Encourage and listen to honest feedback from all their people. 4. Acknowledge the work and value of their people. What’s your top four list that engaged leaders do regularly?
I asked my new CEO client that question. She said “Well we haven’t needed to use it yet.” I asked “OK, are you practicing your plan?” She thought and said “Yes, when people are on leave or absent for some reason.” I asked “So are any of your potential successors practicing in the roles whilst […]
One of the traits of an effective leader is problem-solving. Unchecked, a leader is constantly looking for problems to solve. Although the intention to improve things is positive, the results can be negative: Perceptions of micro-management “We only see the boss when something goes wrong” No attention being paid to success and achievement, resulting in […]
“We are here to guide strategy and ensure good governance and compliance” I heard the long time director of the public listed company declare to an angry shareholder. He went on “What happens in the company at operational level is beyond our reach and that’s why we have an executive team headed up by the […]
That it’s about employee engagement. It’s really about leadership engagement, without which there is no employee engagement. That’s where the focus needs to be first and foremost. Too many leaders are too busy to be engaged with their employees, so they outsource or delegate to HR professionals etc. Damn shame isn’t it? Proof of how […]
I ask that leaders of all persuasions be trained to lead, not just be technically or operationally competent. What’s tougher to learn – the technical or operational requirements or the complexities and diversity of people and their personalities? I know it’s the latter. Why do we spend years learning professions and other skills like project […]
So much is expected of leaders. After all they have accepted the role and the rewards of stewardship of the values, the vision, the people and the results. With such high stakes the effective leader must have a variety of traits to handle the complexities and uncertainties of the territory. Yet there is one trait […]
In helping my senior leader clients master their role, I ask them to consider developing a pentagonal mindset. The foundational element is values. Values are the rules of the game, why and how we think and behave. To break them is to be in dishonour. A dishonourable leader has no future. The next element is […]
There are valuable corporate lessons to be learned from the FIFA scandal. For me the main lesson is the length of time a peak leader stays in the role, which is ultimately a succession planning issue. Whether a corporation of some sort or a government or even a dynasty, without a timely authentic ‘changing of […]
