Articles

Time Forethought

Leadership

Google's Leadership Rules
Posted by Claude on Friday 25th November 2011 at 13:52:00

The King's Speech for Leaders
Posted by Claude Warner on Monday 8th August 2011 at 18:23:53

Increasing the Bench Strength of your Leadership Pipeline
Posted by Claude Warner on Monday 20th June 2011 at 07:09:47

Black Swans draw eyes onto the Leader
Posted by Claude Warner on Monday 16th May 2011 at 21:06:51

The Court of Conscience
Posted by Claude on Tuesday 5th April 2011 at 15:12:36

No Margin No Good
Posted by Claude Warner on Wednesday 2nd March 2011 at 11:36:24

How will you Lead in 2011?
Posted by Claude Warner on Monday 17th January 2011 at 10:57:48

Water what You want to Grow
Posted by Claude Warner on Friday 31st December 2010 at 12:27:25

Start a Virtuous Cycle & Create a Winning Team
Posted by Claude Warner on Monday 8th November 2010 at 10:13:21

With people, slow is fast
Posted by Claude Warner on Sunday 19th September 2010 at 18:24:55

Leading without Title
Posted by Claude Warner on Tuesday 24th August 2010 at 15:32:02

Waking the Sleepwalkers
Posted by Claude Warner on Thursday 15th July 2010 at 12:49:57

The Goose and the Golden Egg
Posted by Claude Warner on Wednesday 9th June 2010 at 22:20:07

What is really Important?
Posted by Claude Warner on Friday 14th May 2010 at 11:52:05

When Important becomes Urgent
Posted by Claude Warner on Tuesday 27th April 2010 at 10:42:20

It Starts at the Top!
Posted by Claude Warner on Wednesday 11th November 2009 at 14:30:10
- 1 comment on this post - most recent Tuesday 9th March 2010 at 14:40:11

Communication

Listening is not Understanding
Posted by Claude Warner on Wednesday 17th February 2010 at 21:10:49
- 1 comment on this post - most recent Monday 1st March 2010 at 13:13:59

How to Connect with Customers and Clients
Posted by Claude Warner on Wednesday 10th February 2010 at 11:25:06

Communication - the lifeblood of a (business) community
Posted by Claude on Thursday 29th October 2009 at 14:51:18

Emotional Intelligence

1 + 1 = 3
Posted by Claude Warner on Wednesday 20th October 2010 at 14:49:28

All is not as it appears (to you)
Posted by Claude Warner on Saturday 3rd April 2010 at 10:11:52

The Truth about Your Stress
Posted by Claude Warner on Friday 22nd January 2010 at 16:19:46

Overcoming the Limiting Power of Assumption
Posted by Claude on Monday 27th July 2009 at 16:33:48

Successful Living

Being Aware of Being Aware
Posted by Claude on Tuesday 13th April 2010 at 13:50:47

Don't just work yourself, work on yourself
Posted by Claude Warner on Tuesday 9th March 2010 at 16:26:11

Does the world know the real you?
Posted by Claude Warner on Tuesday 5th January 2010 at 14:43:47

Is the journey the end or the means?
Posted by Claude Warner on Friday 27th November 2009 at 14:28:18

My Vision and Mission
Posted by Claude on Friday 18th September 2009 at 11:45:09

The 'Ensuement' of Happiness and Success
Posted by Claude on Friday 24th July 2009 at 17:39:22

Wisdom

Since I accepted inevitability, I see possibility
Posted by Claude Warner on Thursday 25th February 2010 at 08:56:12
- 1 comment on this post - most recent Monday 1st March 2010 at 13:18:00

A Man is never Powerless
Posted by Claude Warner on Monday 25th January 2010 at 15:32:29

Precepts of Wisdom
Posted by Claude on Monday 26th October 2009 at 14:31:33

Water what You want to Grow

Posted by Claude Warner on Friday 31st December 2010 at 12:27:25

One of the toughest leadership and organisational challenges is to create structures, systems and processes that are in alignment with values and strategy.

If leaders implement systems that are out of alignment with the values and principles of the organisation, people will be hesitant about what to do. They will either become frustrated, fearful or resentful, and will not perform, leading to poor business results.

You have to water what you want to grow.

If your business strategy is to create long term capital growth for your shareholders, but there is an intense focus on quarterly results, you are not watering what you want to grow. You may in fact be harming your business’s long term value. You need to measure and reward those factors that determine long term growth.

There is a saying that “What gets measured gets done”. Whatever gets measured in the systems and processes that are set up is where people will be focusing.

Even if the leader speaks of the importance of other aspects of the business, the systems in place will always override the leader’s talk, which is why alignment is so important.

Alignment is effectively institutionlised trustworthiness, and it is vital for optimal organisational performance.

Leaders have to remove obstacles and not create them. To ensure alignment, leaders have to honestly examine their own motives and practices, as well as organisational systems and structures that may have become “sacred cows” over time.

This is not always easy as often there is ego involved, little fiefdoms, silo thinking and so on.

A great leader has the humility and strength of character to be honest with himself and take the necessary action to bring systems and processes into alignment with values and strategy.

You have to water what you want to grow.

(This is an extract from Covey’s highly recommend 8^th Habit book. It is available at most book stores, or you can order it online from Loot.co.za.)

Claude Warner is a PE based executive and leadership coach.

He helps develop leader’s key emotional, relational, social and communication skills, equipping them to engage inspire and empower people to their full potential, thus achieving the best business results. Claude’s profile for one on one leadership coaching is available here.

Claude is trained as an integral coach, is a member of COMENSA, the national professional body representing coaching and mentoring, and is Chairperson of the COMENSA EC Chapter.

He can be contacted on 083 227 5153 or info@claudewarner.com. Further details on www.claudewarner.com

Back to Topic Index