Short Bursts

Here are some short bursts, or in this case, the seven tips that will change your capacity to lead forever. Echo chamber drum roll, please.

1.) Community trumps content, or so say the technology sages. Trumps has a little 't' in this reference, btw. Here's what we do know: There's way more content now than community, and most of it is off target, non-specific and creepy, which is defined as content that creeps into our feeds. Here's hoping this piece doesn't find a similar fate. If you're not building real community, no amount of content is going to make desired impact. Thanks to a budding technology sales superstar for presenting a conclusive case on this one.

2.) "A man walks into a bar..." Leave the comedy at home. Only the most advanced speakers and writers can pull off humor, and even then, it's not worth the risk. I've watched too many leaders who thought they were funny bomb miserably at jokes. It's gotten painful to witness.

3.) "YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!" -- Jack Nicholson, "Few Good Men." Truth is so subjective now that telling the truth to someone who hasn't asked for it is a pointless exercise in futility. Sad but true (damn, there's that word again.) The next board that says it wants truth tellers who represent diverse voices and then proceeds to hire the same old thing has now been put on notice. Truth can't continue to be stranger than fiction. 

Courtesy: Jack Nicholson

 4.) Can the economy get any better? An early stage company leader told his team recently that it "can't get any better," economically speaking. There were commission only sales people staring into space at the time. Be careful with messaging, leaders. Whether things are getting better is highly subjective and generally can be traced directly to take home pay, not all the other nonsense that's now espoused under the guise of culture building or shaping.

5.) Big P and Little P can co-exist despite evidence to the contrary. Big P stands for purpose that makes a difference, while little P is purpose that makes a contribution. According to New York Times best selling author Daniel Pink, the research for his seminal work, "Drive," turned out to be all wrong, or at least that's what he recently told local leadership conference attendees. Rather than striving to always make a difference, most employees want to make a contribution to the bottom line vs. trying to save the world. Keep that in mind the next time you think it's a good idea to rev up the troops by inviting them out to the soup kitchen.

6.) After dealing with change subjects over the past 15+ years, the following conclusion has been etched in stone: If you're unable to change, chances are the pain isn't deep enough, or you're lacking a new dream that can replace the bad one that you've been having. Dr. TGR doesn't prescribe medication so please consider a new vision for a different day. Journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. -- Lao Tzu.

7.) Finally an oldie but goodie. First gleaned from a transition client that has since gone on to bigger things. This person liked to quote an old line from the late Paul Brown who achieved Hall of Fame status as the first coach of the Cleveland Browns and then co-founder of the Cincinnati Bengals: "When you win, say nothing. When you lose, say less." That wise rule is pretty much gone, but it served the person who liked it very well, leading him recently into a CEO job of a major Fortune 50 company.

May we always call on the wisdom of those who came before and applied it before our very eyes.



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Zero perspectivers meet the Four Freedoms

Zero perspectivers (Noun) -- Those who choose to complain, whine and criticize incessantly about how these are "trying times," or other references to the current state of public affairs. Generally found on social media and/or protests wearing dark sunglasses during media interviews in major cities.

The annual Fourth of July holiday represents an opportunity to relax, take stock and look forward to celebrating the nation's independence via community BBQs, events and best of all, firework shows. It's as much a national past-time as baseball or perhaps even more when factoring in demographics behind who view the game.

Anxiety and disdain, however, are at higher levels than normal about where the country stands. It's become cliché, but clearly the divide remains. Throw in a few presidential tweets that cut to the core of division and a complicit media, and the discourse, if that's even what it can be called anymore, can get ugly fast. What should probably be primary sources of worry, such as terrorism and rogue nations claiming successful intercontinental ballistic missile tests, become secondary to what some talking head is yelling at another talking head on cable news.

It's times like these that require more perspective than normal. Despite gridlock in D.C., the country is not facing trying times. Or at least not as trying as it was seven years ago during the Great Recession. Most people have jobs who want them (granted some aren't as high paying as others,) and economically speaking, employment, GDP and savings rates are either near highs or pretty close. Not everyone shares in the prosperity, but hey, that's a subject for another day.

Freedom is not by accident. It's the result of sacrifice, bravery, service and courageous leadership -- first by members of the armed forces but also by those who lead them: Generals, field commanders, and dare to say, presidents.

Courtesy: FDR Library & Museum

One president, in particular, stood out recently. No, not the one seen body slamming CNN outside a wrestling ring. FDR's Four Freedoms speech https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JNK1UcoUr4 came across the screen from a friend who forwards great nuggets from time to time. It's one of the true digital joys to be directed to something that literally changes perspective in a meaningful way. Granted the process doesn't happen too often and generally only occurs through trusted sources, which are fewer by the day.

FDR, or Franklin Deleanor Roosevelt for younger viewers, encapsulated freedom in 1941 during what has to be the most fearful time in the country's history. Bar none, really, if you take a step back. Here is an actual draft of an excerpt from the speech (courtesy: FDR Presidential Library and Museum):

Courtesy: FDR Library and Museum

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Note: Like everything historical, you could read these freedoms and conclude that the means didn't turn out to be the ends, or not even close. That may be true, but at the time, with a world war raging on an allies' continent, it was a genuine appeal of the first order. 

Seven ways to achieve five-star social media rating (if ratings existed)

I have to confess a net neutral attitude with social media. Here's what that means: While the whole world is using social media, return on investment has been neither through the roof nor floor. That equals net neutral.

Here are some ways to generate five stars if social media had a rating system similar to the ride sharing services, Uber and Lyft. These suggestions are applicable mainly to LinkedIn but also relevant for Twitter and Facebook. Snapchat, not so much.

 

1.) Can you post something professional that may appeal specifically to your target audience? And if you can't, or if a majority are not in that audience, can you resist the urge? Example: A good friend posts news releases about debt restructurings in Class B office space. Assure you that's not my field. Suspect that many of us were early adopters, meaning the race was on to get to a certain number without filtering connections. It may be time for a tune-up, or purge using the on-line lexicon. The good news is we're just getting started digitally speaking, according to the experts.

 2.) Could the content be something that isn't necessarily widespread, or dare we say, original? Liking the same old memes may be cute, but it only adds to attention deficit. There is way too much bad content these days to begin summarizing here so we won't. Leave the likes to Facebook, not LinkedIn. 

 3.) Why are big brands the biggest noise contributors or offenders? Don't try to appeal to everyone at once; it's impossible. It would be fun to sit through planning sessions and hear analytics scientists presenting what should be common sense yet no longer applies. Evidently what works exponentially doesn't always translate onto the street, so to speak. 

 4.) Why should I care that you joined a group? Crickets. Adjust those settings, please.

 5.) Is there a social media site that only allows political content for political junkies? That would be great for numerous connections and "friends" who need to go park on that site and stay there. Unless your view is professionally based on actual experience, it just doesn't matter. Repeat, doesn't matter. You could make a bigger difference in life by walking your or a friend's dog.

 6.) With all due respect to Facebook, connections aren't always friends, but some friends are connections. Please teach your children well like the old Crosby, Stills and Nash song used to go.

 7.) Last but not least: Only nerds read this far in an on-line posting, and if they do, chances are they can't recall anything that you've said. Keep it brief and visual; otherwise, the exercise isn't worth the time. Here's the cartoon of the year so far thanks to a good friend who took the time to email personally:

 

A in-person meeting last year with an on-line expert confirmed way too much not to share here. Choosing not to respond digitally to something posted under your profile is the equivalent of a blank two-minute stare between two living human beings. Try that out the next time you choose not to respond. It's a long time -- at least by digital standards.

That same expert claimed ignorance later, "do I know you?" when asked to connect on LinkedIn. It was funny in a pathetic way, assuming you don't take yourself seriously on the Information Superhighway (circa 1993.) By the way, did you know Al Gore invented the Internet? 

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Lose the Trump obsession

While the contents of this post are political, the intent is apolitical. What does that mean? No axes to grind, no sides left to choose. Only observations that hopefully will lead to better perspective. So others in leadership positions can consider for their own usage.

Lose the Trump obsession refers to the pile-on now going on in the political/media industrial complex. On the Left, the new president is the Devil Incarnate, a shameful, Tweeting fool who doesn't care about anything beyond himself. On the Right, the new leader of the free world marches to his own drummer and won more counties and votes than any Republican candidate since Ronald Reagan.

Fake news, alternative facts and reality now fight for equal air time. Both extremes have translated into very little so far other than protests, about 100+ citizens being temporarily blocked from entering the United States and countless contested news cycles opining but not really knowing what's to come. 

More people than ever over-identify with national political figures and perceived causes at the expense of actually doing something purposeful to make impact in their own community, according to TGR's own empirical data. Eight years ago, it was a savior named Barack Hussein Obama. Now it's the new populist leader of the silent majority, President Donald John Trump. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Consider the following truth, first seen in the Denison Forum, and expounded upon here. Popular leaders reflect their times; transformational leaders change them.

No one knows entirely what President Trump and a Republican Congress will or will not be able to accomplish. It's a great experiment to have a never previously elected politician serve as President. Then again our country remains an experiment failing forward, which was the original design set into place by the Founding Fathers. Based on what government has become, old Benny Frank and Thomas Jefferson wouldn't be as shocked as rest of us seem to be.

To peer consultants who have written expert commentaries on how to respond to a Trump Tweet targeting their client's company, please take more than 30 seconds to respond. Trump Tweets are highly successful -- or at least have been so far. To fight with head on response represents a lot of risk to any corporation that was formed ironically to manage risks. Not to mention tweets have the shelf life or attention span of a baby. Just ask the Ford Motor Co., which now has a remarkably different public tone than before the holidays.

Maybe the best way to respond is simply to listen and not say anything publicly until a clearer resolution emerges? Better yet, wait for the next crisis to wipe the previous one aside (anyone know what's going on with the new Air Force One planes?) That may be too common sensical to borrow a Bush 43 saying. The contrarian contained within says it's time to be slow to speak and quick to listen, taking a line from James.

The current climate recalls a Ralph Waldo Emerson quote that a global practice director used to throw around as if he was Ralph himself: "You're acting so loudly that I can't hear what you're saying." The exchange was  ironic considering the setting was a PR firm's office talking about communication aimed at manipulation on behalf of fee paying clients. Tweeter, I mean Twitter, thankfully was not in existence then. We actually had to attempt to influence each other by speaking directly and defending a position with facts and informed views. Now there's an idea.

May we listen more this year, instant message/text less and be more adaptive at the risk of always having to be liked, happy or popular. Remember, hitting one out of three remains a Hall of Fame-worthy batting percentage in baseball.

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Funniest all-time comment on career change

So the current key to effective branding, according to 2.0 content masters, is unique story telling that communicates key differentiators, or what sets you apart. Not all of us have clear differentiators, but that's beside the point.

It's always entertaining to read this type of language because it's been around since, well, Henry Ford and the Model T Ford. That may or may not be an exaggeration, but you get the point.

One of my favorite stories from the front lines occurred all the way back in 2006. Talking via phone for the first time to a COO of a homegrown company that was being acquired, the subject asked the normal range of questions and then proceeded to go a little deeper with a funny story. He said, "You know, Jeremy, my biggest fear is being stuck at home, watching Jerry Springer episodes all day."

Jerry Springer
Courtesy twitter.com

My response was almost chortle-like laughter, although admittedly since all great humor contains truth, the comment did provide pause. Recovering from the awkwardness, the next comment was the reassuring kind -- something along the lines of "I'm pretty certain you won't have that problem." This moment remains the all-time best when it comes to unintended revelation. This person would later hire me, but that's beside the point.

Anxiety or fear about change is real. Going to extremes in the early going is normal. Being a little off base and questioning purpose after working forever not only is healthy but can lead to a better place.

But please don't feel like you have to do so alone. That's generally where trouble starts. Turn to friends, trusted colleagues, formal/informal advisors or even a professional, if necessary. Read some stuff (highly recommend "Working Identity" by Herminia Ibarra); watch a podcast or two. Then commit to a plan of action around trying a few new experiments. The single biggest deterrent to change is thinking too much about will come next vs. doing something. Journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. -- famous Chinese philosopher (Lao Tzu.)

Oh, in case you were left wondering what eventually happened to the previously mentioned subject, he transitioned effectively out of his long-time corporate role and now works in private equity. A traditional segue if there ever was one. For the record, it's not certain that any Jerry Springer episodes were viewed before, during or after the change.

 

Dilbert by Scott Adams
Courtesy: Georgia CEO

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P.S. We're not leaving anything to chance these dog days of summer. If you or someone you know would like to learn more about our differentiated approach to executive transition, please feel to reach out via email, phone or social media. A new season approaches. Here are our coordinates:

 

 

Jeremy C. Garlington
Point of View LLC
4060 Peachtree Rd./Suite D-#117
Atlanta, GA, 30319
Phone: 404-606-0637
Web site: www.pointofviewllc.com
TGR web log:  www.povblogger.blogspot.com 

Twitter: @jgarlington



Complimentary late summer reading

August now marks the late peak of summer vacation season, which means everyone has already picked out their favorite popular title from the Amazon Kindle rack. Or whatever they're calling the container these days.

Credit: Thirteen.org

Let us be clear: This is not a best reads book list. It's a short burst listing of relevant blog postings compiled over time, which now counts 12 years of active practice-driven work, results and reflections. There's obviously an entire book in here, but that's not worth getting into right now.

This listing is designed to educate the uninitiated on career change, executive transition and everything else that falls between the two, which thankfully isn't that much. There's on exception on the list, which falls under the category of eternal personal branding, an art that none of us have mastered.

We've heard our fair share of whines, wishes and pleas when it comes to the presidential election so leadership also makes an appearance on this summer list.

1.) http://povblogger.blogspot.com/2016/06/whats-your-pain-point.html. Pain points are really what drive business in professional services. No one valuable generally gets hired when everything is going peachy keen. It generally requires great pain for another party to step forward and ask for help. The ones who do advance rightfully, the ones who don't, well, they just keep doing the same, taking drugs and hoping for a different outcome. Having said all that, no one likes to discuss much less admit pain points unfortunately until it's abundantly obvious.

2.) http://povblogger.blogspot.com/2016/04/pov-on-leadership-seven-short-bursts.html. This posting was done all the way back in April. The first point, or call to action, was to quit obsessing over Donald Trump. It's always good to see others taking our advice (yes, there is sarcasm in that last statement.) The posting directly following this one, which wasn't included on the list, also emphasized the importance of publicly stating support for one of the two candidates. There hasn't been much of that either so consider this race the really loud yet quietly helpless election. May the least worst person win!

3.) http://povblogger.blogspot.com/2016/01/ode-to-kingmaker.html. This posting is personal and about a figure who remains a standout despite age, retirement and what comes with both milestones. One of his most famous placements, Bob Nardelli, was the butt of some jokes during a market-based conversation just this morning. Talk about the gift that keeps on giving. Gerry Roche put high-end, highly visible brand name executive search on the map. Period. We won't see another like him ever.  Who can say the same?

4.) http://povblogger.blogspot.com/2015/09/pre-labor-day-special-forks-vs-pivots.html. Anyone experiencing a reactive or proactive job change situation would be wise to take some time and understand the differences between pivots and forks in the road. Learn how to recognize both and you're already two steps ahead. Key is to at least take the first step, which as some famous Chinese philosopher once said, begins the journey of a thousand miles. Can someone send the golf cart, please?

5.) http://povblogger.blogspot.com/2015/07/what-is-new-narrative.html. Framing a new story, or narrative, strikes at the essence of rebranding. It's a core service of the consultancy, but more importantly, the exercise helps move you forward in the eyes of others. Everyone has a story, btw. Some are just better at telling it or have the wisdom to know when they need help doing so.

6.) http://povblogger.blogspot.com/2015/08/leadership-dos-and-donuts.html. The image of Homer Simpson eating donuts probably made this one of the top read blogs of the year. But the listing stands on its own and represents synthesis of the many rules and tips that now fill the usual channels with noise.

Hope this helps round out your summer reading and contributes to some well earned rest. Feel free to comment back here or send along to someone whom who think could benefit from the message. Thanks for reading,

JG

'No such thing as bad PR'

Sometimes you see things first-hand, or reported live, that provide pause. Especially when life is a little less crazy than normal. Mayor Kasim Reed's recent outburst on WSB-TV, Channel 2 in Atlanta represented one of those moments. So naturally, we sought perspective about the event from the point of view of what's happening in the public square called political leadership. Here's the product: http://saportareport.com/mayor-reed-unfinished-legacy-bomb-clock-always-ticking/

As a good friend commented: "When the pol (politician) blows up, the pol always loses." So true but so lost in the current season.

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What's your pain point?

Pain point (noun, definition): When the pain exceeds the point when you can do anything about it, or when you perceive you can't do anything about what's causing the pain. Example: Patient A has a pain point, and after exhausting over the counter remedies, calls the doctor for a prescription.

In business, pain can take several forms, both real and perceived. The points generally manifest themselves according to the following categories:

1. We don't know how to cure the pain so we turn to someone or expert firm for help.
2. We've really screwed this up and need help finding our way back. Sooner rather than later.
3. That's it. I can't take it anymore. Give me the drugs! Or the prescription that's only unique to me (generally speaking it's not unique despite how you want to believe that it is.)

Not me but could be

A recent meeting with a prospective client brought this point fully home after a friend brought up same truth a few weeks ago. You have to be a really bad listener not to pick up on the cues.

After commenting that there hadn't been much communication since the last meeting, prospect says, "Oh, that's an easy explanation. You weren't fully aligned with my pain point at the time, which right now, is funding the business." Gulp. Time to keep moving.

Great companies, firms and their principals always factor pain points into their sales and marketing strategies.

It's been abundantly clear here for years but harder than ever to accept the truth behind this reality. Part of the refusal seems to be frustration with how fewer are willing to be fully transparent about their situations and always determined to be present a positive, "I've got this taken care of" front when they clearly don't. Few of us do and the really wise know they need help before the pain points overtake them.

With pain comes the need for transparency. With transparency comes the need for truth from a trusted source. Somewhere in the middle lies valuable service, or vice versa, the opposite reaction,  denying truth and help. That generally produces a scattered sea of cock roaches. You know the image: Truth sends the other person running. Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on what you're selling, the latter seems to be growing as a response in the marketplace.

Back to the top: What's your pain point (s)? Are you doing anything about finding a cure or simply treating the symptoms?

If you're a leader trying to impact change in your career and/or business and it's not happening, then please let us know. We feel your pain everyday!

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P.S.  This entry is dedicated to William Jefferson Clinton, or the 42nd president of the United States, who is in Atlanta today meeting with former President Carter. Clinton's knack for understanding pain and how to turn brokenness into blessing was on full display last week at Muhammad Ali's memorial service. If you missed his remarks, which capped off an afternoon of remembrances, please see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yVTtiPjkEc  for a rewind.  

Pulte Homes looks for a new CEO -- and doesn't find one

At least not yet. Fundamental to any succession process is having a new leader groomed and ready to go, either from inside or outside, before making change. When that fundamental isn't present, well, the vacuum starts to make that bad sucking sound. You know the one: When the machine stumbles upon a corner of a rug and it starts to whine, forcing you to turn the switch off.

This analogy is not far off when it comes to Atlanta-based Pulte Homes. For more on where the company may go from here, please see a piece published last week in "The Saporta Report," a locally run digital publication that reports on business and civic activity in Metro Atlanta.

http://saportareport.com/political-silly-season-finds-way-atlanta-based-companys-board-room/

 

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POV on leadership: Seven short bursts

Note: This originally appeared as a client e-letter on April 1, 2016

 

Dear Clients and Colleagues:

 

Bringing back a previous format for this month's letter. Here are some short bursts, or in this case, the seven dwarfs of observation and interpretation:

 

 

1.) Quit obsessing over Donald Trump. Both directions -- to the negative and positive. What works for him only works for The Donald. With all due respect to business media who have to write something, there are no key lessons learned (accentuated using Dana Carvey voice) based on what Trump has been able to accomplish. Not even his Twitter prowess can be replicated across everyone's self proclaimed integrated platforms. Ben Carson had as many Facebook followers but never caught fire like the Donald has. Get a message or idea that connects -- good, bad or ugly -- if you're really that desperate for exposure. 

2.) Political affiliations aside, who are you supporting for President? Why? Business leaders need to be prepared to provide an answer this time around. Blending into the wall paper, giving money to both sides and having mealy mouth answers when asked is fading like the same color of that wallpaper. Kathleen Parker is spot on with the following:  "There's a price to pay for silence." True that! https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/few-republicans-have-shown-the-courage-to-stand-against-trump/2016/03/22/08ee8c88-f067-11e5-85a6-2132cf446d0a_story.html?wpisrc=nl_pdrainbow

3.) Remember, social media only echoes current sentiment. Social media, or any media for that matter, doesn't lead and direct anything except piles of information and attention deficit. Quit posting the passing article of the day if you don't have something worth adding from your own point of view.  Obviously there are exceptions here but not many in a leadership context.

4.) Small talk can lead to larger engagement. Have we forgotten how to talk, much less engage with each other in normal conversation? Here are some reminders for those who still choose to speak to each other. Lead with the weather to create small talk. Don't discuss politics or religion unless you're consulting a politico or minister. Genuine engagement with others now officially represents a task for some, not a normal past-time. Soon there will be a smartphone campaign with the following slogan: "Look Up!"

5.) Encourage, encourage, ENCOURAGE. Even McKinsey, masters of everything leadership- and matrix-driven, cites encouragement as the number one leadership responsibility. Unlike the recent SHRM study that repeated the same tired necessary attributes to be a leader, good looks, stature, image, etc., encouragement is actually something you can do that benefits others. How many times did someone encourage you today? Return the favor to receive the favor. Simple yet not widely held practice.

6.) Keep moving past web-based platitudes such as the one the Korn Ferry Hay Stack posted the other day: "Majority of Fortune's Most Admired Companies say they have leaders of tomorrow," or something stupid to similar effect. Countless others not worth mentioning. Most serious observers quit putting stock in the commercially obsessed Fortune lists a long time ago, yet that message hasn't reached down yet. Not to worry. The next generation will put that one to final rest soon enough.

7.) Finally, get some rest. The leadership industrial complex is now espousing a lot of down time to find yourself or the "white space" necessary to remain highly charged and creative. Whatever. Try unplugging and raising a glass with trusted friends. Type A obsessions can be re-channeled when you get back to the office. A pre-existing client emailed last week to say they were taking some much needed time off. Bravo! I can't remember getting that type of message from someone in the Left Brain crowd. Some of my dear friends don't even realize how tired they look sometimes.

 

Happy April (We Don't Suffer Any) Fools Day,

Jeremy C. Garlington
Point of View LLC
4060 Peachtree Rd./Suite D-#117
Atlanta, GA, 30319
Phone: 404-606-0637
Web site: www.pointofviewllc.com
TGR web log:  www.povblogger.blogspot.com 

SEC Primary: Mouths shut, feet up

On a day when everyone is talking, tweeting and posting yet (going out on a limb here) probably not meaningfully connecting with each another, it's time to review a few leadership truths. Or lessons that seem to have gone missing:

1.) To not have a position is to have a position. Be ready with your own when asked. When Saddam Hussein called the U.S. ambassador for Iraq, April Glaspie, prior to invading Kuwait in 1990 (millennials, look up your history), he asked if the United States had a position on Kuwait. When the ambassador said that the U.S. did not have a position, Hussein rolled his tanks right across the border, starting the first Gulf War and a mess that remains, well, messy 25+ years later. There was obviously more to the situation, but at a simplistically speaking, this validated story has been widely cited as an example of when a non-position is a position.



Masked caricatures of Bush 43 vs. Saddam Hussein

A similar dynamic holds in this year's presidential election. If you're choosing silence and your job involves leading others, you might want to make sure corresponding actions are clear about where you stand before uttering any words. Because if you don't, others are going to make their own conclusions. We need more balanced leaders willing to share more sense and sensibility right now. Yet for some reason that's not happening. Go ahead and speculate on the reasons why if you want, but it's a pointless exercise to try and figure out what others are thinking or doing. Focus on doing something yourself.



Donald Trump

Hillary Clinton

2.) Should you choose to share how you're viewing this year's election and which candidate you're supporting, make sure your point of view is actually informed by something substantive rather than the sound bite or talking point of the day. There's really nothing worse than echoing what someone else has said and claiming that view as your own without any original thought. Besides that's what social media is for, to echo and reflect -- not lead and direct. Throw in the cable channels, too, for exhaust to fan the flames.

3.) If these first two options are too tiring, then do what Mama used to instruct via double negative: If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all. The process being what it is, it will continue whether you say/do anything or not. It turns out that even some things in this world remain greater than us.

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Note on what will soon be a fading memory, this year's Oscars: Please don't feel compelled to go see "The Revenant," if you haven't already crossed that one off your list. Gory, long, depressing and not even Leonardo DiCaprio's best work. Instead watch Super Tuesday returns tonight. It's kind of the same thing, or two for price of one, from the comfort of your own hotel room.



Hugh Glass, played by Leonardo DiCaprio

 

Great cartoon (pre-Iowa caucuses)

Courtesy: Economist Magazine (February 2016)

It's comforting to know that a picture is still worth a thousand words, or in this case, 400 characters, via Twitter.

Ode to a Kingmaker

January 6, 2016 (Feast of the Epiphany)

Life tributes are normally made at funerals or retirement parties with the latter now completely faded from the landscape. Executives evidently now have plenty of watches to guard time when they ride off into the sunset.

This tribute will be made to a figure who announced a long anticipated retirement late last month, yet based on track record and values, will never be "done." Not in this life or beyond should you share a similar belief system.

While this figure may be obvious to long-time readers of the TGR blog, it almost doesn't matter who this person is from a material point of view. Despite the fact that the name has currency as one of the most influential business figures of the 20th and 21st century. Hint: It's not Willard Scott although the famous "Today Show" weatherman announced that he was going out on the same day.

Ode to a Kingmaker: Long live the King!

Kingmakers by definition are those who make a king or ruler. Applying this definition in a real world sense, great leaders are made. The ones who do the making are generally Machiavellian by nature, meaning their work is done in the shadows, or outside the normal zones. Highly intangible yet valuable, in other words. For an old example from the movies, think Robert Duvall who played Tom Hagen, the consigliere role in "The Godfather." Their difference is felt at the highest human decision-making and judgment levels, or where choices are made to fill consequential jobs. To achieve this status means you have to not only be willing to make kings but also take the long personal journey not unlike the one taken by the Three Kings, a mysterious but heavily influential group whose travels are marked today on the Christian liturgical calendar.

Making kings is not a practiced art anymore. The art has given way to science and data with less and less relationship-based, long-term thinking by the day. Kingmakers have disintegrated into board specialists or operatives in politics, and consultants or self appointed trusted advisors to CEOs. Emphasis on the individual has given way to team at all costs, and while this is understandable in large, complex corporate environments, standing out as an outsider from another industry no longer holds as much sway. Consummate insiders rule the day, one that has seen its share of economic stagnation over the past five years despite pockets of growth in some sectors. Expert keepers of the status quo now give way to unicorns in entirely new sectors since their paths rarely cross.

This tribute's subject represents a kingmaker of sorts who was present at the creation of a craft called headhunting, which now is executive search, a discipline that few have mastered much less grasped. Through a combination of hard work -- first modeled in an old General Store where his family lived during the Depression -- Jesuit upbringing, sharp instincts, great education, hero worshipping and the gift of seduction, this person literally willed himself to do great recruiting work for big brand name companies and institutions. He did so by building relationships and reputation with leaders who held boldfaced names in the old print world. This person's work at the Top would always be recognized because he made sure it was.

For anyone still left wondering, this figure's name is Gerard R. Roche or "Gerry" by his friends and foes. To paraphrase the old Irish blessing, may the road rise to meet you wherever you may go from here. And may that same "straight ahead" road lead to more forks where you can touch eternity -- while always saving energy to make one more phone call.

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Courtesy: LinkedIn Pulse

 

Should you want to learn more about this person and what he "feels strongly about," watch the following clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWLUyGnEFQI. The highest compliment to be paid to presenter is that he or she made you laugh, think and/or cry. There's a little of all three in this one.

 

 

#Lead it forward: Send it in!

Credit: Pinnacle Performance Champions

#Lead it forward will attempt to compile, and then distill and publish, a list of leaders who exemplify paying it forward. Unlike the political realm, where it's all about serving an agenda, #Lead it forward will attempt to gather examples of those who have paid something forward for someone else or a greater cause. That something could be a business referral, encouragement, access and/or special gift that otherwise isn't known. Examples don't necessarily need to be brand or boldfaced names in the news.  Here's a literal example to get things going:

http://leaditforward.com/?page_id=15

Tammy Carnahan owns the blog URL, Lead it Forward. She's been a teacher, principal, and now serves as a human resource instructor, according to her profile. TGR does not know Tammy, per se, but definitely would like to first recognize her as a leader who literally leads it forward.

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Which came first, the relationship (chicken) or the transaction (egg)?

Kevin Costner
Credit: ifc.com

Conventional business thought when you're selling a product or service says build relationships based on mutually identified need and the rewards will follow. Call it the Business Field of Dreams Theory. Except instead of  Kevin Costner looking for his Dad in the corn stalks, Warren Buffett shows up with bags of cash.

Warren Buffett
Credit: DealBreaker

What happens now is the transaction ends up defining the relationship, not the other way around. This isn't necessarily a bad thing -- think Facebook, Uber and Airbnb in an exponential marketplace. Balance between transactions at all costs vs. relationship represents a profound shift that helps explain resistance to change in most enterprise-level operating environments.  It's hard to instill trust and confidence when you're worried about how much you're going to get paid, or vice versa, how much you're not going to get paid or save in costs.

Consider the following example. New CEO Bob wants to improve the quality of his Corp.'s audit and financial controls, which he doesn't believe are identifying enough cost. Early in his tenure, Bob turns to a known relationship, a major auditing firm that he used at a previous employer. There are no conflicts so CEO proceeds to advise his board that the company is going to change auditors. He presents the business case, or the often lost Why.

A paranoid board, which named Bob CEO a year ago, challenges the decision and makes a single request: Could we instead go back to our current auditor and ask them to improve their process first to see if key measurements could be improved? Too much change at one time might send the wrong signal since our financial performance is solid. Oh, and could the board's Audit committee be fully apprised of what's going on via daily dashboard updates? What began as a simple exercise has now turned into a lengthy review process chalk filled with bureaucracy.

Unfortunately enterprise businesses now have to deal with these types of dynamics and behaviors regularly largely due to fear-based risk vs. reward scenarios. Two percent+ growth economies featuring lower wage, part-time jobs make everyone an expert at efficiency improvement.

Not to over-simplify a solution, but...What if we could return to a simpler relationship-driven environment such as the ones built with great mechanics, barbers or hair stylists and yard maintenance pros who populate the linear, or hourly marketplace? Relationship and transaction are one, and the complexities and obstacles, while always present, take a back seat. Here's an example:

Victor Aldana is a 30-something landscaping professional who has been working in Atlanta for the past 15 years. A native of Honduras, Victor lives with his wife and three children in Peachtree Corners, Ga. He and his four-man crew provide great service and a visible, finished product. They don't just cut the lawn and leave; they edge, kill weeds, trim bushes and clean up after themselves, a novel idea in today's world. See fuller description here: http://www.manta.com/c/mr4ych8/v-m-a-landscaping-service

I've known Victor for more than a year and have used and referred him regularly since he first started mowing my girl friend's yard. Always pleasant, always professional and highly responsive (text and email even when he's mowing) and above the standard norm. In addition to the yard, he's taken on separate projects, such as clipping trees and our newest mutual endeavor, deck improvement.

With Victor and Co. in the mix, there's no need to take on work outside my core competency, which does not include taking care of nearly an acre of land and repairing a deck in less than 365 days. He beats the heck out of the scared, lazy kids in the neighborhood -- not to mention the entitled landscaping services that tell you they wouldn't even consider stopping for less than $100.

The best part is you could call Victor at any time and he would at least try and help identify a solution if he couldn't do it himself. How many of us can say the same thing?

This relationship transcends the transaction although admittedly he seems to enjoy getting paid in cash. As do I. But that's another story.

Let's resolve to quit making things so damn complex for complexity's sake and do business the Victor Aldana way. If we can't have more trust and confidence then let's roll forward with more faith in the individual.

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Labor Day special: Forks vs. pivots

A friend named Dan recently took a new job with a firm based on another continent. While the job is elsewhere, his employer has said that he can still live in Atlanta where he, his wife and two children call home. The job became permanent following a short period of contract-for-hire status, a term to describe contract employees, who are constantly being re-classified in other realms of the shared economy. But that's another story.

When Dan shared his news, he communicated ambivalence about the situation. The first level is pretty obvious: Lives in one place but has to commute to work in another. The next level isn't so obvious to the normal passing eye.

Dan is like a lot of the working world now who rarely turns up in the normal stats: Former corporate type who struck out on his own a few years ago, has done well but always feels the pressure of needing to do and earn more. When told it sounded like he was making a career pivot vs. taking the fork in the road, he seemed to accept the view. Pivots are real and continue unabated amidst unprecedented change, constant transition and what feels like a leaderless march to what the world calls a new normal.

So far, or since the term was coined in 2011 by someone who ironically no longer holds the same influential role, it's meant two percent economic growth, which is hardly enough to warrant happy economic talk emanating from political and business elites. According to Vet Jobs Early Eagle, a newsletter that helps veterans secure employment, roughly 86 million workers are not counted on the employment rolls and the work force participation rate stands at 62 percent, the lowest rate in 40 years.

Source: WSJ, August 22nd*

*Earlier projections have been revised upward for first half of 2015.

It's important for those still attempting to manage their jobs and careers to understand differences between pivots and forks in the road. Pivots are temporary and generally reside in personal choice; forks are longer lasting and usually involve full relocation or deeper rooted change away from normal routines. Forks also can be involuntary.

Instead of taking the fork in the road that hasn't emerged yet, I like to eat with my fork -- at least for the time being. Recognize the difference and you'll be a lot farther down the job/career management road than when you first started reading. Happy Labor Day,

JG

Leadership Do's and Don(u)ts

This post will attempt to reframe the litany of how to be a better leader lists that currently populate the universe. Content is the product of 15+ years of work, observation and engagement with business leaders, which at times, has been pretty revealing. These rules do not really take into account the cast of characters currently vying for the United States' top leadership position although it probably should. That's a whole other animal.

Main takeaway? Real leadership is a lot more difficult than it is authentic. Especially if you're not able to suspend thyself for the sake of others, or essentially reverse course on some of the behaviors that secured the top job. Onto to the do's and donuts:

1.)  The Double Do: Do as I say AND Do as I do. Dad used to say, "don't do as I do -- do as I say." Fifty percent unfortunately isn't going to cut it anymore. The right behaviors have to back the right words and vice versa. Here's a test: When was the last time you did something selfless that wasn't in your own self interest? Be honest.

2.) Do: Leaders are committed to and care about people. They're personal and believe in the individual, where that person comes from and what makes them tick. All the time -- not only when those same people who work for them can provide something they need. Business leaders wax on endlessly about relationships, but before the chicken came the egg, or the person. How many CEOs do you know who truly care about people vs. seducing those same people so they'll do something for them? Chances are the individuals who understand this do stand out positively in your head and heart.

3.) Donut: Leaders aren't thin skinned, and they don't run and hide at the first sign of trouble. Digital media does not replace engagement. A client recently claimed, via email, that she was "insulted" when I asked her to honor an original work commitment. Either let's get it done or forgo the project was the plea. This message was conveyed ironically by the same person who preferred to be emailed. The words left a lasting impression. Pleased to report there was a happy conclusion here, which included a written apology via note card sent in the snail mail.

4.) Leaders know the difference between public and private behavior. Hint: Private is going the way of Blackberry. Anything that you do or say now is public. Period. Work back from that extreme backwards if you remain convinced that private compartments are always private, including the time spent on-line.

5.) Others know where leaders stand, or what Bill George once called a True North compass. Purpose has replaced values as the buzzword du jour, but the truth remains that at some point an effective leader has to stand for something. Good, bad or ugly. Unlike political elections, it's not a popularity contest -- although even that truth may be changing before our eyes.

6.) Do: They're creative and able to tell a story that helps frame a narrative larger than themselves. I don't know many creative CEOs in the sense that they're able to go outside the box, often the one they've created, to receive perspective that leads to change. They all say they do, but when it comes white knuckle time, most only want to go there temporarily until trouble passes. What should be a standard do is too often a donut. Care to trade a donut for helpful service? Inquire within: http://pointofviewllc.com/services/

7.) Do: Leaders are apolitical. First, this do rule is not what you may be thinking. Apolitical in this context does not mean taking neither side in a political contest. More to the point, it's about being able to lead through competing constituencies. Think Peter Uberroth and Mitt Romney when they managed successful Olympic Games.

8.) Donut: Smartest man ruling the room syndrome is over, except in politics, which continues to be an exception for lot of things that might be defined as newly normal.

 

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What is a new narrative?

Note: This post has been adapted from a monthly e-letter to clients and colleagues.

Dear Clients and Colleagues:

What is a new narrative? Great question that deserves a better answer. Put simply, narrative is a story. In the context of leadership and career transition, a new narrative often takes the form of a bio (brief biography) that frames where someone has been vs. where they want to go. This starting block has to strike a balance, meaning the story has to point forward not backwards like so many resumes and CVs do.

The classic bio is often filled with a list of achievements, many of which occurred in the past. While experiences are important, the ability to transfer past history to present/future attitude is the key to effective change. Boards and hiring influencers want to know what you're doing now and not only how it translates but also how it transfers with conviction. Far too few are willing to embrace "the translate and transfer" challenge largely out of fear of the unknown. Which, by the way, is completely normal. You're human.

Here are five other obstacles to effective transition and proven ways to remove them:

1.) THE story. It's not just about your own story although that's important. It's about how your story fits into a larger one. What does the business actually do that people buy? What makes it valuable? How did it perform before vs. now? How would you define your role in its success? Start with that line of questioning vs. the "I did this and I did that" bits and bytes mentality that far too often informs conversation about jobs and careers. Throw in some color that talks about how you overcame conflict, which is essential to any good drama much less one that glows about yourself.

2.) Extended self-introspection. We are our own worst enemy. While some reflection is necessary to manage change, extended navel gazing, isolation and lack of accountability can spell disaster. Unplug and get with some friends who aren't afraid to share the truth in love. Hire pros if you're running low on good friends. Where do they see you going or planting? Better yet, what opportunities could be really energizing?

3.) Lack of incentive. This is what ultimately destroys the value of a new narrative before it can ever take hold. The greatest incentive is always the coveted top prize: New job, position of influence, higher rank, more money, etc. Yet often this short-term mindset can lead to disappointment when results aren't achieved immediately by pushing the Uber button. The average transition can range between 12-18 months in a good cycle and longer in a bad cycle. For those who have been protected from the economic ups and downs over the past five years, there have probably been at least 10 different cycles within that stretch. Do your own math and adjust course accordingly. Here's a creative way forward on incentive: For every significant step you take, donate $100 to your favorite charity or cause (church plates count, too.) Proper margin always helps.

4.) False narratives. We all have stories and experiences from our past that don't align with where we are now. Or where we want to be. The best way to correct a false narrative is to carve out a new one preferably with folks who can see you in a new light. If you're not in position to do so, then start moving that way.

5.) Destiny's myth. Accept fact that you don't control the outcome, only the inputs. The single biggest myth is that we control our own destiny. With respect to Ayn Rand and Ralph Waldo Emerson, that's simply not true and never has been. Turn the reality shows and social streaming off. This one is called real life. "The journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step." -- famous Chinese philosopher.

 

Happy transitioning. Please consider sending friends and colleagues this way should they need help rebranding a new narrative (translation: Telling a new story.) Thank you,

 

JG

Jeremy C. Garlington
Point of View LLC
4060 Peachtree Rd./Suite D-#117
Atlanta, GA, 30319
Phone: 404-606-0637
Web site: www.pointofviewllc.com
TGR web log:  www.povblogger.blogspot.com
 

Client letter: Bad Month

Dear Clients and Colleagues:

Every business that doesn't have scale or leverage goes through the same thing eventually: A bad month, quarter or longer stretch of under-performance. When things go bad, the traps are many: Fall into a hole, hide in a corner or assume the fetal position. All of which, by the way, have been done by yours truly. If it weren't for faith, friends and role models, returning to those positions may still be an option. But none of those still hold appeal. Here's why:

First, my long view says being persistent pays. And that may be the only piece of conventional wisdom that still holds true. You big firm, corporate types who want to argue the 80-20 rule, be my guest. Persistence may not always translate into payment twice a month, but it will eventually produce reward, assuming other factors (hard work, inputs vs. outputs, economics) are equal.

 

Second, life is too short to let days pass sucking eggs. Middle age has a way of teaching, sometimes with a hammer, that life is fleeting, uncertain and that nothing is promised for tomorrow. So get busy doing what you love today and find some intersections with what the world needs. Oh, and be sure others with fresh faces know what you do -- or at least have enough wits to form their own opinion. It helps, too if that same crowd has money or access. If they don't, keep moving until you find a few that do.

Third, the longer you stay in the hole, the harder it becomes to turn away from sayings like, "this, too, shall pass," or my new least favorite: "Just put this behind you and move one." A good friend/former client shared that one recently following news of a lost bid on a consulting assignment where a key advocate chose to recuse without explanation. When you experience loss of any kind, the just get past it response is unacceptable. The friend offering comfort was well intended, but he would have been better off saying nothing before attempting to equate my loss to his own frustrations with not winning more business. In other words...Dude, next time just bring a casserole and keep your mouth shut. Or study up on St. Francis of Assisi: "Preach the gospel, and when necessary, use words."

 

The truth is losses are set aside, not immediately left behind. It's kind of like when you're on a jam packed flight and you have to move past others to reach a window seat. The goal should always be to move up one row at a time while setting aside what occupied the previous seat. Forgive but never forget. If that doesn't work for you, stay in the aisle seat and let us pass.

Enjoy the new month. I know I will. It has to be better than the previous one. 

 

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