ValuExecBlog

The Art of Making Strategy - Simple

Last month, as part of our Leadership Series I had the priviledge of interviewing the CEO of ING Direct Australia, Vaughn Richtor about strategy and strategy execution. The outcome of that interview is attached and is well worth a read for the insights that it highlights.

There are 10 lessons that we can all learn from Vaughn and the Leadership Team at ING Direct when it comes to strategy and the execution of that strategy. Those lessons are covered in the attached file.

Download The Art of Making Strategy Simple_ING Direct_2013

 

I hope you enjoy the Series.

Yours in execution,

ian

Connectedness

Recently IBM released "Leading through Connections" which is the latest report in their C-Suite Series. If you haven't yet done so, you may want to find the time to read the report because it does provide wonderful insight into what CEO's are thinking these days, but also outlines what those companies that outperform are doing differently.

One of the key findings from the report is that, and I quote:'CEOs have a new strategy in the unending war for talent. They are creating more open and collaborative cultures - encouraging employees to connect, learn from each other and thrive in a world of rapid change.' Now, this may not be new and in fact we have seen this evolving over time, but what is exciting is as the report goes on to say 'As CEOs open up their organizations, they are not inviting chaos. The need for control remains, but it is evolving into a new form - one better suited to the complexity and pace of business today.'

Why is this exciting? Because it means that employees will become more empowered; creativity, I hope will flourish which in turn will lead to greater innovation both from within the organization and from outside its borders. And with innovation comes growth. But importantly and again I borrow from the report '...organizations (will) need a strong sense of purpose and shared beliefs to guide decision making. Teams will need processes and tools that inspire collaboration on a massive scale'  and that is the essence of strategy execution.

To receive the report, you will have to register on the IBM website, but herewith URL:

http://www-935.ibm.com/service/us/en/c-suite/ceostudy2012

Yours in execution.

ian

Rework Caffeine Fix # 7: Make a Dent in the Universe

I just love this pearl of wisdom from the Authors of Rework at 37 Signals:

Rework Caffeine Fix # 7: Make a Dent in the Universe

     "To do great work, you need to feel that you're making a difference. This doesn't mean you need to find a cure for cancer. It's just that your efforts need to feel valuable. You should feel an urgency about this too. You don't have forever. This is your life's work. What you do is your legacy. If you're going to do something, do something that matters."

Yours in execution.

ian

John Wooden : A Game Plan for Life. The Power of Mentoring

Let me come straight to the point. John Wooden & Don Yaeger's book 'A Game Plan for Life. The Power, of Mentoring' is very simply a 'must read', not only because it adds to the knowledge that we have of a wonderful man and his guiding principles and values, but also because it is filled from cover to cover with wisdom, wisdom that you can take and embrace immediately. Wooden's father lived by a very simple rule 'Don't whine, don't complain, don't make excuses. Just do the best you can. Nobody can do more than that'; advice that he passed on to his sons and one senses that that is exactly how John Wooden has lived his life - no complaints, no excuses, just doing the best he can.

Do not approach this book simply as a guide for mentoring because you will miss out on the subtle nuances that are dotted throughout the book on values by which to live your life by. And at the same time, do not approach this book simply as a guide for living your life because you will miss out on the subtle messages on mentoring. The two themes are intertwined and my take out of the book is that unless you embrace both, you run the risk of not living your life to the full. Mentoring enables you to give back to society. 

I was interested in Wooden's choice of his 7 mentors because I believe that says alot about the man. His father and his beloved wife, Nellie were included as were 3 coaches that signifcantly influenced his life. But, also included were Mother Teresa and Abraham Lincoln. As Wooden suggests 'We can all benefit from studying the lives of great men and women. Their courage, vision, and actions can serve to mentor us in a different kind of way - we can seek them out. A person cannot always choose who will surround him or her in life. We always can choose what biographies to pull from a shelf, or what studies to seek in the library. Sometimes we select the mentor for the lessons we want to learn. And the mentor doesn't have to be someone who is physically present in your life. It isn't necessary to have ever actually met an individual to have been mentored by him or her.' I have never met John Wooden but I have often imagined sitting with him and just spending hours listening to him talk about life in general. What an experience that must be.

When next you are at a bookstore, or on Amazon.com or even visiting your local library, pull 'A Game Plan for Life. The Power of Mentoring' from the shelf and study it. You will learn a great deal from a great mentor. Happy reading.

ian