This year saw the dark side of leadership coming through for some of the most iconic leaders in some of the most high-profile companies in the world. The pattern is always the same. When high-profile leaders are questioned by the media, they tend to ignore or mislead the media rather than take it as a way for course correction. 2018 showed us three glaring examples of the dark side of leadership.
One of three people is an introvert says Susan Cain's research. Yet, we often ignore and fail to leverage the power of the introverts. This book is really about understanding the almost silent ways in which introverts operate. Even in organizations, we idolize people who can speak spontaneously, backslap strangers and who visibly demonstrate action. That really puts the introverts at a disadvantage. Introverts are uncomfortable in offices without walls, unabashed self promoting behavior and visibly appearing confident by monopolizing the conversation.
You want to look for information, you will get it - lots of it. There will an equally large number of journals that will tell you that "research shows..." that you ought to be doing something. There will be an equally powerful publication that will tell you that what you just spent time learning and telling your team to implement is the equivalent of "fake news" in the world of management. You want to get on with your ever-growing To-Do list but these shiny objects keep distracting you. You are not alone.
Artificial Intelligence will be the next electricity. Take healthcare. The market for healthcare artificial intelligence tools is expected to surpass $34 billion in the next 18 months. AI will drive $8.6 billion in annual revenue by 2025, contributing to the $34 billion total in software, hardware and consulting. To win this race you have to craft a 3 pronged approach: Data, Tools and Talent.
Digital transformations enable the organization to reimagine the business model. It helps them to reimagine the customer experience, as well as the employee experience. The ability to scale up across geographical borders and sectors is the biggest reason to undertake digital transformation. It is an opportunity to reimagine the business. A company like Netflix has become the best example of redefining a business model because of technology. Netflix currently has a market cap that has exceeded Disney.
Gravitas was one of the virtues that "Romans of good character were expected to exemplify and pass on through the generations." Gravitas came from the word gravity and was used to mean a sense of the importance of the matter at hand; responsibility, and being earnest. Firms coach senior leaders in building their executive presence. Gravitas is an important element of Executive Presence. Can it be learned? ...
Harvard used to have some of its employees manage their endowment funds. These people were paid huge salaries and bonuses like professional fund managers of investment funds. The result was Harvard earned billions but the fund managers earned in millions. When their salary information was shared with their colleagues, it made them resentful. Harvard was forced to bring their pay in line with other colleagues. The fund managers left. Transparency is not easy to manage.
Don't do exit interviews. Do "entry interviews". Let the managers sit down with the new hire and ask, "What are your favorite projects?" "What goals do you wish to pursue."Don't forget to ask them, "What is broken in our interview process and how do we fix it?"Crowdsource your requests to ask for help with an unproven idea. Get a group of experts to weigh in. Build a bridge with what is familiar within the organization and people who are outside of your organization.
