by Ed Ruggero
March 16 was West Point’s two hundred and eighth anniversary. Celebrations of “Founder’s Day” span the globe and range from a massive formal dinner in the Cadet Mess Hall to small gatherings of alumni just back from patrol or off shift in Iraq and Afghanistan.
From Academy Leadership Affiliate Cor Karaffa
In today’s world, private companies and family run businesses are not going public but instead are being bought by private equity partnerships seeking companies they can streamline and grow with professional management so they can sell them at a premium.
The biggest challenge for a CEO is leading a business that was formerly family owned. The set of values of the existing company will be decidedly different than those of the new leader. The culture of the family owners must be assessed as quickly as possible in order to understand the dynamics of what is being faced by the new leader. It is critical to the long-term health of the business that the “new man in charge” arrives with a clearly articulated personal leadership philosophy to share with all the employees. ,
In the Washington Post’s on-line leadership blog, Ed Ruggero writes about what leaders can learn from looking closely at the current discussions between the Obama administration and the generals running the war in Afghanistan. See the essay here.
From Academy Leadership affiliate Rob Cannon in China
Conflict and Change are where leaders earn their keep. As I write this I am 7 days into a two-week journey through China. Nowhere in the world is change more apparent than in China. Glancing through a newspaper yesterday I noticed an article that proclaimed automobile sales in China had risen more than 90% last year!
Imagine, if you can, a 90% change in some aspect of your life or business. 90% more sales? 90% fewer people? 90% more turnover? What leadership challenges would accompany such changes, and how would you react?
Here is your task for this blog entry: Reflect on which areas of your life in which you expect large changes. Use a post to share what your change is, and how you will lead and inspire success. Be confident in yourself and run to the conflict!
Speaker, consultant and sales coach Rich Lucia introduces his audiences—mostly sales people—to a handy tool he calls his “180 Rule.”First, you identify a reasonable objective, such as improved communication with a prospect, leading to a sale. Then you articulate an objective that is 180 degrees out of synch, such as “I don’t want to communicate well because I don’t want to sell.” Then you make a list of some of the things you could do to achieve this “180 Out Goal:”
