A definition of Organizational Culture distilled from several dictionaries would run something like this: The sum of the ideas, knowledge, beliefs, values and behaviors characteristic of and displayed by the members of a particular organization or group. Of the five drivers of culture mentioned above, “values” is the foundation, and “behavior” the visible manifestation. Any…
For too many managers, the answer is yes. The simple rule is: Hands-on as much as necessary, but as little as possible, and less over time. Leaders have to allow their reports to do their jobs, and to grow in their jobs, even if that means mistakes. You’re there to catch them when they fall,…
In China they call them “apple polishers”, in Australia, “brown noses”, in Germany, “Arschkriecher”, in England, they’re a “Toady”, and in America a “Kissass”. The real sycophant, the obsequious report who is an obvious fake, is easy to ignore and will soon be his own undoing. But when the sucking-up is sophisticated and well-masked, that…
Conventional wisdom exhorts us not to judge. “Everyone’s human”, “we all make mistakes”, “nobody’s perfect” go the bromides. Some put it more succinctly: “Judge not, lest ye be judged”. This is plain wrong. Taken literally, the instruction not to make judgments is a recipe for failure and unhappiness. You. Must. Judge. You must be actively…
You think for yourself, you initiate and pursue values, you’re good with people, you’re always trying to learn more, and you’re passionate and committed to everything you decide to do. You inspire people by your example. You don’t have a leadership title and you don’t have formal followers. Are you a leader? I would argue…
THE term “leader” is ambiguous. You could use the word to refer to Steve Jobs, Adolf Hitler, the Pope, Jack Walsh, Henry VIII, Albert Einstein or Helen Keller, and in each case be referring to something very different. There are titled “leaders” (CEOs, managers, supervisors, coaches, generals, etc.) with good leadership skills, and there are…
IN the introduction to his just released “Objective Economics”, M. Northrup Buechner refers to the concept of method this way: “Method gives the steps by which men create the content of their science”. This captures nicely the intent of the Method Leadership framework. I’ve never felt comfortable with references to leadership as “an art”, as…
A day ago I posted a clip from Glengarry Glen Ross, and promised to comment on the “leadership skills” displayed therein. The rudeness and ad hominem attacks are terrible, and are almost always out of place and self-defeating. The “wake-up call” nature of the address though, is sometimes justified. Every management manual will tell you…
HERE’S a scene of leadership in action. It’s Alec Baldwin playing “Blake” in Glengarry Glen Ross, firing up the boys in no uncertain terms. [Warning: plenty of profanity!] [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kZg_ALxEz0] Effective leadership? Good leadership? I’d be interested to know what people think on this one; please comment if you have an opinion. I’ll post on this…
