January’s Theme is “Ethical, Effective, UNPRECEDENTED New Year!” by Linda Hatcher
Continuing with our theme from December when it became apparent the tremendously challenging scope of financial problems facing the world, we start the New Year with a more somber outlook in our stories than in years past.
This year begins as none in history, and the stories we present this month reflect that reality. Many people make the comparison to current economic times being only second to challenges during The Great Depression. Yet the times, challenges, and solutions have virtually no basis of comparison to each other. The scope of dire circumstances facing us, and the complex solutions that will be required to solve them, bear no resemblance to the problems/solutions of the 20’s and 30’s. Digging out from the current muck will require beyond the best of leadership in every person, both personally and professionally.
This month in our FREE Leader Guide Magazine, we feature three compelling articles that address some of the specific challenges, and what leading companies, CEOs, and change agents are suggesting to address the “new normal.”
1. “Making Lemonade Out of Lemons in 2009” by Fred A. Manske Jr., the former Senior Vice President of Operations and Sales at FedEx and CEO of Purolator Courier Ltd. In this article, Mr. Manske starts by saying, “Throw out your previous set of New Year’s resolutions (if you’ve already made them) and adopt one mega-focus resolution for 2009 and 2010. This resolution (CLICK HERE to learn what it is and how it can reshape your future) is critical to your success not only during these difficult economic times, but during the prosperity that will surely come.”
2. In Ethical, Effective and Unprecedented New Year! (CLICK HERE). We take a look at sustainability issues, including ethical leadership. “It is my belief that much of this economic crisis is simply a result of poor ethical practices. Had sustainability thinking rather than short-term greed been at the center of these institutions, I am sure we would not be where we are now,” says Rachel Brown, CEO of the Sustainable Business Network.
3. In “New Capabilities, New Organizational Structures”, we present specific ways companies are blazing new trails in what has been called a “Fast Strategy” new world. General Electric and Nike are, in very different ways, blazing ethical, effective new paths in a complex tangle of our new, collective reality of economic challenges and unprecedented leadership demands. CLICK HERE.
Change is coming, and we CAN lead ethically and effectively in managing it. Here are tips from MarieAnn North, CEO of Posada Consulting, who is also quoted in this month’s story, “New Capabilities, New Organizational Structures,” referenced just above.
1. We need to change the way we select leaders. “Leadership is a skill set all to itself. Leadership requires skills in mentoring and coaching. This is in opposition to how many organizations choose leaders.”
2. We must look at leadership differently. “Not all managers are leaders, so instead of moving people up to levels at which they cannot perform, we need to move them over.”
3. Look carefully at a sensible balance of risk/rewards and incentives.
4. Have a bias for action and develop a comfort level with risk. “We need to recognize leadership excellence and reward people who try something new rather than punishing them when they fail. There should be no reward for playing it safe when faced with the challenges of today.”
INSPIRING LEADERSHIP QUOTE:
“If we do not change our direction, we are likely to end up where we are headed.” Chinese Proverb
