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Do Your Leaders Have GRIT?

On February 22, 2012 By

If your leadership team is fixated on short term results, then they probably need more “Grit”. While you may look for traits such as IQ and other specific talents, researchers in recent years have discovered an independent trait called Grit that is a good predictor of success and goal achievement over the longer term.

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This morning we woke to the news that RIM is in crisis mode. In 2008, it had a stock share price of $148. Last week, shares closed at $17.24. Something had to give, and today it did, with the announcement that it’s co-CEOs, Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis were stepping down. RIM started out with [...]

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Most descriptions of High Performing Teams focus on the ideal – where everyone gets along with and supports each other, where conflicts are minimised or even prevented altogether, where teamwork prevails and a smooth flow exists in the patterns of communication between team members and with other teams.

Yet in reality, most teams that are [...]

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Where Are The Leaders?

On January 18, 2012 By

Despite innumerable leadership theories, models and the training that goes with them, effective leaders are still in short supply. I say this because numerous studies have shown that when it comes to developing and executing organizational strategy, which is the main task of leadership, the failure rate is huge, somewhere in the region of 70%.

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One of the Five Key Facets of High Performance Leadership is FOCUS. When I discuss this, I describe a leader’s FOCUS as either dealing with a BIG crisis or pursuing a BIG idea. Bill Gates has now turned his attention to helping raise people out of poverty, [...]

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Arguably the world’s most successful (and colorful) entrepreneur, Sir Richard Branson’s leadership style is a key driver of his brand, which is now one of the top 20 brands in the world. Looking at his leadership style through the lens of The FACET Leadership™ Model, [...]

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Are people listening to your leadership message? If not, try looking at your communications again. Whether you are trying to persuade, inform, educate or entertain, your message has to compete with dozens if not hundreds of other messages that the recipient receives every day.

By and large, we tend to remember those messages that impact [...]

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Howard Schultz, the CEO of Starbucks doesn’t believe that they are a coffee company.No, he believes that Starbucks stands for something bigger than that…in this Forbe’s video, CArmine Gallo disects Schultz’s leadership message. Carmine hits on three points as it relates to Howard Schultz’s leadership qualities.

  1. Ask yourself what business you are really [...]

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So you want to be a great leader? As important as developing the attitudes, skills and knowledge of leadership are, there are certain things you need to stop doing if you want to achieve the goal of becoming a great leader. In my work with leaders, the toughest part of change for them is to stop [...]

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The Accidental Leader

On December 9, 2011 By

Most successful leaders never set out to become a leader…they set out to make a difference. In doing so they find themselves taking the lead on something that is near and dear to them. And only then do we call them leaders. They become “accidental leaders”.

While you can train a person to lead, you can’t make them lead. [...]

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Marcus Buckingham is of the opinion that respondents to 360 degree feedback surveys are not in a position to rate their leader on the competencies or behaviors covered in a typical 360. Instead, he offers us an alternative: ask questions as to how the respondent feels about working with the leader. Just don’t ask them to [...]

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In this this series of short interviews, Harvard Business Review asks prominent leadership experts to describe the role of tomorrow’s leaders. Once again, the experts all have differing opinions. My take on this is that trying to predict the role of tomorrow’s leaders is a rather subjective endeavour. My advice is to stick with the [...]

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Harvard Business School asked nine academics and experts to give their opinions on what is the biggest mistake a leader makes.

In this seven minute YouTube video, each expert responds. I’m not sure I totally agree with everything they say, but it sure makes for interesting debate!

What do you think? Whether you agree or disagree with all [...]

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In this series of short interviews, Harvard Business Review asks nine leadership experts what is the single most important leadership skill a leader will need in the future. The experts all vary in their responses. I have my own views, and right now amongst my top five leadership attributes the one that stands out is [...]

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Who are the world’s best companies for leaders and leadership skill development? More importantly, what can you learn from them? My own take on this is that companies who create “in the field” opportunities for leaders and aspiring leaders to master the competencies associated with Continue Reading