Frank Uncovers Excellence in Leadership

© Copyright Frank D. Kanu 2000-2008

A West Coast company with East Coast operations needed a new VP for the East Coast. Nothing really new, but the three top performers they had either had ambitions for the position or thought that the new VP should be one of them.

Headquarters weren’t really aware of the situation and—as it seemed—didn’t really care. A few days later the big day: The CEO sent an e-mail announcing the new VP. In my humble opinion the CEO should have taken the time to introduce the VP in person. Oddly enough the VP didn’t feel the need of a stuff meeting or even introducing himself to the top performers either. But headquarters never talked with a single one of them.

Anyway, the VP came and followed the old German saying: New brooms brush well. Everything got changed.

We all know that top performers can be quite different from others. The new VP didn’t understand that or he just didn’t care. Within one week he not only fired the number one top performer; had the company miss a clients deadline—he also lost the contract that one person worked on.
Causing the company to lose a six figure revenue over one year—more than 40%! of the companies whole revenue.

Headquarters never considered to investigate or letting go of that VP.

Wouldn’t you agree that employees and managers that get their position only because of their relations and not their performance aren’t the right employees?

How long would it have taken you to replace the new VP?

Or - at the very least - to find out what is really going on?

For what it’s worth—the two other top performers left the company within two months after the new VP arrived. Not even a year later the East Coast operations unit got closed.
And until today the CEO claims that the old VP caused all the troubles…

Would you name the CEO or the new VP leaders?

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© Copyright Frank D. Kanu 2000-2008

More bad news or just a necessary market adjustment:

Does that make for a burst bubble?

Or is that more like a balloon that looses air? Five years ago nobody talked about a bursting bubble; what is so different at this time? The fact that the autoworkers union strikes? The ever increasing news of companies reducing their workforces? Or the commander guy announcing that “economics is large”?

Experts now say that oil prices will raise to $100 a barrel—pretty soon.

Is that the next bubble?

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© Copyright Frank D. Kanu 2000-2008

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© Copyright Frank D. Kanu 2000-2008

The greatest ability in business is to get along with others and to influence their actions.

John Hancock

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© Copyright Frank D. Kanu 2000-2008




As number one issue named is job security. A great many politicians say that economics is in great shape; workers disagree.

Who do you think is right?

In 1987 there was a market crash; in 1997 there was the Asian Crisis.

Will 2007 be the year of the strikes?

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© Copyright Frank D. Kanu 2000-2008

As long as proper design and documentation aren’t part of the programmers work we can’t speak of engineering.

Btw, there was nobody neither admitting that code came from them nor being able to immediately explain what the code does…

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© Copyright Frank D. Kanu 2000-2008

Enhance Your Leadership Skills

35. Become a mentor

Last but not least: Become a mentor—like the one you had that made you a great leader.

When do you start mentoring?

Remember: It is the duty of a leader to make others leaders.

(Click to DownLoad the complete e-book)

 

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© Copyright Frank D. Kanu 2000-2008

Rich McIver pointed me to The Manager’s Cheat Sheet: 101 Common Sense Rules for Leaders.

Do yourself a favor: Print it out and follow at least some of the rules! A great many of the points match my philosophy - nonetheless I wanted to point out a few:

• Set goals
• Know your limitations
• Listen attentively
• Lead by example

Thank you Rich.

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