Leadership Lessons for Hard Times
McKinsey & Company just published the results of a series of interviews with 14 CEOs and chairmen of major companies (including 3M, Cardinal Health, Travelers Insurance, Pepsi Bottling Group, Procter & Gamble, Macy’s, Sysco, and Northrop Grumman) asking them to reflect on the current recession and previous challenges they had faced in a turnaround or a crisis. What emerged from the interviews are six principles that all leaders can reflect on to guide their behavior in the executive suite and the boardroom, as well as interactions with employees, customers, and investors.
- Confront reality
- At board meetings, put strategy center stage
- Be transparent with employees
- Be transparent with investors
- Build and protect the culture
- Keep faith with the future
You can access the complete McKinsey article here. (It’s free, but registration is required.) While you’re there be sure to check out the McKinsey archives and also sign up to begin receiving the free McKinsey Quarterly, a great business strategy resource.
For more information on leading in the new business reality, also be sure to check out Blanchard’s recent articles on Making the Shift from Survival to Growth and Creating a Change-Ready Organization. Both are available at no charge at the Blanchard website.
Circumstances stretch and grow us; core leadership principals stand the test of time. Also consider the characteristics of good problem solvers. Problem solving is the fasts way to gain leadership. Left alone, things go away. Left alone people go astray. Left alone plans go amiss.
They anticipate problems
The accept the truth
They see the big picture
They handle one thing at a time
They don’t’ give up a major goal when they’re down
Hi Brian,
Thanks for the comments–great points!
I really like your leadership wisdom. God bless You and keep writing.
Can you tell me the story about your grand-mother and the monolopy game.
Thanks
Dear Marie-Claude,
Thank you for your question. The story you’ve asked about is from John Ortberg’s book, When the Game Is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box. Ken is especially fond of this story and tells it frequently at some of his keynotes. Here’s a link to where you can read the story in its entirety:
http://www.parable.com/parable/item.When-the-Game-Is-Over-It-All-Goes-Back-in-the-Box.9780310253501.htm
Dear Marie-Claude,
Thank you for your question. The story you’ve asked about is from John Ortberg’s book, When the Game Is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box. Ken is especially fond of this story and tells it frequently at some of his keynotes. Here’s a link to where you can read the story in its entirety:
http://www.parable.com/parable/item.When-the-Game-Is-Over-It-All-Goes-Back-in-the-Box.9780310253501.htm…