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Greetings Fellow Boomers and Happy New Year! This year we are proud to Celebrate 10 years of Service since founding TAB in 1998. We hope our continued existence is a direct result of our making a
difference to the Business, Association and Financial Services Communities.
We thank you for contributing to our success.
"What Makes For Great Not Just Good Leaders"
With this being an election year and the
events unfolding in the international arenas, there is a good deal of uncertainty from a business and economic standpoint regarding the future.
One of the key areas of concern is the competency of our leaders. Just think
about it, our religious, political, business and even cultural social scions have come into question by us Americans of late. We Americans are a restless bunch and are looking for something new in our future leaders.
As I travel throughout the US and on cruise ships, speaking at state, national and international venues and working with association, business, financial and civic leaders in their strategic planning sessions, the
subject of effective leadership has always sparked interesting discussion.
Primarily the question of, what makes for an effective leader? Are leaders born with innate qualities or can effective leadership be learned? This is
a very important business issue since recent American employee surveys indicate that two thirds of workers are unhappy because of "not being valued" due to weak organizational leadership.
I have worked with some very
competent (and some not so competent) leaders during my twenty -five years of business and association experiences. So let's revisit some traits or characteristics of effective CEO and Board leadership that I have observed
include the following:
-- A powerful business and people acumen
-- An embracing of diversity
-- The ability to inspire (not motivate) people to achieve
-- A clear vision of seeing the possibilities and the preferred
future for their organization
-- The ability to build partnerships and alliances
-- Being servant leaders to their customers/members/consumers
-- A curiosity of the world and a facilitator of change
-- Leading more
by actions versus words
-- The ability to utilize technology to achieve business results
-- A risk taker and not fearing failure
-- The ability to convert the learning of ideas into practice
-- The ability to
Execute plans
And having a Passion for their business philosophy in what they do for their, staff, boards, members, customers and consumers.
A key challenge for contemporary leaders is to transfer this passion or "Higher Calling" to all who are engaged in serving customers/members and consumers.
Leaders must understand
that this higher calling "Work Spirit" should be looked upon as an organizations differentiating competitive advantages in the marketplace.
Effective leadership will be one of the key factors of how the success of
organizations will be measured in the 21st century. And how current leaders transfer this higher calling passion to all who serve may be their most important legacy.
I hope your leadership practices and the leadership of
your organization will inspire greatness in you and your people during this uncertain and challenging time in America!
And may our new President possess the leadership qualities needed to guide our country into the uncharted
future.
Until the next time Act Wise, Live Your Passion, Do For Others and Enjoy Life!
I continue to wish you a Happy, Safe and Great 08!
Check out this Months BoomeR Poll that relates to what kind of National leader you desire as President.
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