“For young people, it is very important not to be able to see one’s fate, it’s very important to have the sense that one’s life is not preordained. Po Bronson, author Bronson, Po, The Nudist on the Late Shift, NY: Random House, p. xxvi.
Teaming can be a religion or a cult. The Wall Street Journal said that one “plant’s emphasis on fitting into a group can seem almost cultist: Worker mishaps that might hamper production or tarnish the plant’s reputation are considered an affront to everyone and can prompt a sort of communal confession.”[i] One group at this …
Many fresh MBAs want to go into management thinking that’s the way to power, perks, and bucks. There are other ways to getting these, including being a highly paid Brand U individual contributor. Two recent articles graced the front page of the Wall Street Journal on the wisdom of becoming a manager. Their challenging titles …
Being CEO or a vice president of a mega corporation once promised to be a secure, high-paid retirement cushion. No more! If CEOs, VPs, business unit managers, plant managers, and even first level sales managers don’t make their numbers, they’re history. And, we all have to make our numbers in a politically and culturally correct …
Why are sports coaches becoming Brand U business leaders? One reason is that they succeeded as Brand U leaders in sports. So, isn’t Brand U leadership transferable? From the top to an organization’s bottom, Brand U managers spend more time coaching and building virtual project teams. They must constantly transform organizations and rebuild people systems. …
For inspiration and guidance, more of us are turning to less traditional sources of inspiration such as the bible and sports. (Jesus CEO: Using Ancient Wisdom for Visionary Leadership). A professional sport is a form of work and coaching is the sport’s equivalent to managing. So, can NBA coaches offer us business tips on leadership …
Brand U leadership can also be defined by circumstances. When a critical situation arises, a Brand U leader will arise. So today, we’re seeing Brand U leaders in all areas of an organization arising from the force of circumstances because of employee empowerment, corporate restructuring, information explosion, and pace of change. Another common difference between …
Find the right ‘big idea’ for the right time Build a great team right away Keep a clear and compelling vision Insure adaptability[i] [i] Citrin, James and Neff, Thomas, “Doing the Right Things Right,” NY Times, January 11, 1998, p. 10.
It’s hard to imagine recasting Jesus Christ or Attila the Hun as management consultants. Even putting the two together in a sentence jangles. However, that is what’s being done. There are a number of best selling management books about historical and recent heroes who embodied value based leadership including Lao Tzu, Sitting Bull, and Jesus. …
Peter Senge, the author of the Fifth Discipline defines ‘structure’ in terms of feedback interactions and relationships within a system. Companies are not machines where an action begets a direct response. “Companies are actually living organisms, not a machine,” he says.[i] Leaders shouldn’t try to impose or drive change. Leaders should try to cultivate change. …