The True Leader of Yesteryear
Where have all the leaders gone
Watching the news recently I took note of a recent report featuring Countrywide Mortgage. This is the same firm caught in the hailstorm of the sub prime mortgage scandal. Just a few prudent facts, the firm has laid off hundreds of employees, created a panacea in the financial markets, and was recently purchased because of cash flow issues.
The firm canceled plans to host a business summit at a posh Colorado ski resort. The company was to host 30 mortgage bankers for three nights at the Ritz-Carlton Bachelor for over 750 dollars per evening. What was the firm thinking? Why don’t shareholders hang the CEO for such malfeasant behavior?
We currently live in an avaricious world catering to individuals that produce little results and get paid enormous sums. It is time for individuals to stand up and challenge the norms. One simply needs:
Curiosity – become curious and ask the provocative questions. I attended a meeting recently where the CEO was telling everyone that this product needed to be implemented amongst all staff in 60 days. I challenged this by suggesting that time frames, strategy and accountability were all off. People we aghast I challenged “authority”. Successful leaders ask the difficult questions and when in doubt get buy in from others.
Communication – There is a general failure in communication. The proliferation of the Internet has created a conundrum or misunderstood and often misunderstood information. True leaders understand the power of communication and the importance of it. Martin Luther King, Abraham Lincoln and John F Kennedy were great orators. Successful leaders study the classics.
Character – Dale Carnegie once stated, ““Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” Too many leaders are caught up in the panacea of titles. Worry more about who you are rather than what you are. Clearly, Countrywide is micofocused on titles.
Passion – There is nothing more important that servicing your clients well. True passion is found from leaders that have a stake in company issues such as Steve Jobs. Michael Dell et al. Founders with a personal stake know better how to boost earnings and impassion the entire company. Their personal desire is for all to achieve. True leaders are not self-centered, all are nurtured for success.
It is time to find the new leaders that can implement strategy, impassion and work team and provide better returns for shareholder value. It is time for a new set of leaders to sacrifice and ensure success for all. It is time for true leaders to stop lining their own pockets and spread the wealth. It is time for true leaders to say NO.
©2008 Drew Stevens PhD All Rights Reserved.
Watching the news recently I took note of a recent report featuring Countrywide Mortgage. This is the same firm caught in the hailstorm of the sub prime mortgage scandal. Just a few prudent facts, the firm has laid off hundreds of employees, created a panacea in the financial markets, and was recently purchased because of cash flow issues.
The firm canceled plans to host a business summit at a posh Colorado ski resort. The company was to host 30 mortgage bankers for three nights at the Ritz-Carlton Bachelor for over 750 dollars per evening. What was the firm thinking? Why don’t shareholders hang the CEO for such malfeasant behavior?
We currently live in an avaricious world catering to individuals that produce little results and get paid enormous sums. It is time for individuals to stand up and challenge the norms. One simply needs:
Curiosity – become curious and ask the provocative questions. I attended a meeting recently where the CEO was telling everyone that this product needed to be implemented amongst all staff in 60 days. I challenged this by suggesting that time frames, strategy and accountability were all off. People we aghast I challenged “authority”. Successful leaders ask the difficult questions and when in doubt get buy in from others.
Communication – There is a general failure in communication. The proliferation of the Internet has created a conundrum or misunderstood and often misunderstood information. True leaders understand the power of communication and the importance of it. Martin Luther King, Abraham Lincoln and John F Kennedy were great orators. Successful leaders study the classics.
Character – Dale Carnegie once stated, ““Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” Too many leaders are caught up in the panacea of titles. Worry more about who you are rather than what you are. Clearly, Countrywide is micofocused on titles.
Passion – There is nothing more important that servicing your clients well. True passion is found from leaders that have a stake in company issues such as Steve Jobs. Michael Dell et al. Founders with a personal stake know better how to boost earnings and impassion the entire company. Their personal desire is for all to achieve. True leaders are not self-centered, all are nurtured for success.
It is time to find the new leaders that can implement strategy, impassion and work team and provide better returns for shareholder value. It is time for a new set of leaders to sacrifice and ensure success for all. It is time for true leaders to stop lining their own pockets and spread the wealth. It is time for true leaders to say NO.
©2008 Drew Stevens PhD All Rights Reserved.
Labels: Leadership, Leadership Training, Management
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