Imagine my surprise when I read the following in the New York Times on May 13 about the down grading of Ford Motor's stock and the fall in its prices and revenues:
"Also on Thursday, Ford's chief executive, William Clay Ford Jr., told company shareholders at their annual meeting that he would not accept any compensation from the company until profits from the automotive division improved.
Mr. Ford, the great-grandson of the company founder, Henry Ford, receives no cash salary, but a spokesman said he would forgo his stock options and accept only job-related benefits like use of the corporate jet. Last year, Mr. Ford's total compensation was about $22 million, almost all in some form of stock."
WOW! Usually we read the opposite story as the company's fortunes fall the big guys still take in huge amounts while the troops lose jobs, benefits and pensions. Of course, this scenario is the antithesis of leadership.
So here's a leader, willing to be accountable for his company's results. Refreshing...A good role model for others...Now, I don't believe for a moment that he's actually going to suffer and end up living in a box under the highway...like say some of the pensioners from United Airlines...
However, this is really what leadership is all about...Having a vision and executing it...and then stepping up when the results are in...especially when they are bad...Most so-called leaders don't seem to have any trouble stepping up and being accountable for good results.
Donald Petersen, retired Chairman and CEO of Ford, wrote a letter to Business Week magazine last fall that commented on his work with Drs. W. Edwards Deming and Peter Drucker in the 1980s that underlines what his successor is doing.
"I was fortunate to have had extensive relationships with Drs. Deming and Drucker...Dr. Deming served as a consultant to Ford through much of the 80s, and he was enormously helpful to us in many ways.
Two of his theories of management alone were worth his consulting fee. In one, he stressed that if you are having a problem, nine times out of ten your problem rests with management. How true! A second point I found most helpful was the power of continuous improvement."
So here's the question...Which type of leader are you? More like THE Donald or Donald Peterson and Bill Ford? Are you ready to step up and accept responsibility for all your actions, decisions and results? Are you ready to look at the root causes for poor results and your part in them? Is your ego strong enough to admit mistakes, not with the evasive, spineless "Mistakes were made," but with a no holds barred, the buck stops here, "I screwed up!"
If you are that type of leader and a CEO, President or Executive Director or other top executive, I'd like to hear from you for a possible interview for my up coming book. (Drop me a line and a brief description of how you took accountability and what your current position is by e-mailing me at DoctorRebeccaSR@cs.com) If you can't say honestly that you're that type of leader, start turning that situation around.
Here's your homework: Look at the last poor result that you and your team or company had. Look for the actual root causes including your contribution. Make the changes you need to avoid that mistake in the future. Repeat until it comes naturally...Dr. Deming's Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle of Continuous Improvement comes in handy for leadership growth...Happy continuous leadership improvement!
Check out previous Newsletters at: www.AdvantageLeadership.com/newsletter.html
Read published Leadership articles by Dr. Rebecca at: www.AdvantageLeadership.com/articles
CONVENTIONAL WISDOM
* Are you and your team ready to learn from some brilliant leaders?
* Do you want to create a powerful strategic plan that can be implemented?
* Are you willing to use a proven method to get the results you want?
If you answered yes to these questions then you are ready to bring Dr. Rebecca Staton-Reinstein into your organization to facilitate your strategic planning and execution efforts. Her Conventional Wisdom Strategies Methodology has worked in the public, private and non-profit sectors and it can work for you.
South Florida Residents -- Special Invitation
June 24, Tower Club Networking Breakfast -- I'll be presenting "Conventional Wisdom" and, while tickets last, you're invited to be my guest. Call Debra at our office for details and registration. 305-652-3466
3 WAYS TO GAIN FROM DR. REBECCA
* Book Dr. Rebecca in to speak for your next conference: "Conventional Wisdom -- Lessons Leaders Can Learn from the Founding Fathers" introduces the robust planning disciplines used to create the US Constitution in the Constitutional Convention, ratify it and implement it. Your team can learn from Washington, Hamilton, Madison and the other Framers and apply those lessons to improve your bottom line results.
Call for booking information: 305-652-3466 and ask for Debra or e-mail: DoctorRebeccaSR@cs.com
Based on her forthcoming book: Conventional Wisdom Eleven Lessons Leaders Can Learn From the Founding Fathers
* Invest in Success Planning: a 'How-To' Guide for Strategic Planning and start using this practical step-by-step methodology to guide your team to creating and implementing a successful plan for bottom line results. Based on years of actual planning success in diverse organizations this guide is ideally suited for small businesses or departments in larger organizations to get their plans and results on track today for success tomorrow.
Order today at: www.AdvantageLeadership.com/book.html
OR Check out:
* American Management Association Bookstores in Atlanta, Washington, San Francisco, New York or Chicago
* Management Centre Europe Bookstore in Brussels, Belgium
* Mediterranean Management Centre Bookstore in Nicosia, Cyprus
* AMAZON: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0972624503/qid=1117467070/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-8039684-6682411?v=glance&s=books
* Quality Assurance Institute: http://www.qaiusa.com/products/index.html
* Bring Dr. Rebecca in to coach your team through the planning and execution phases of a successful strategic initiative. Each year a limited number of organizations are accepted to work with her directly to develop and implement a plan that gets bottom line results. Will yours qualify?
** Are you ready to create a disciplined approach to success?
** Are you ready to build your team into a success engine?
** Are you ready for rigorous analysis of your results and root causes?
If you ARE ready, contact Dr. Rebecca today for a complementary readiness session:
Dr. Rebecca Staton-Reinstein, President
Advantage Leadership, Inc.
633 NE 167th Street, Suite 1015
North Miami Beach, FL 33162
Phone: 305-652-3466 Fax: 305-652-3866
www.AdvantageLeadership.com
Rebecca@AdvantageLeadership.com
IT LEADERS AND MANAGERS
Are you an IT Leader, newly appointed or needing to become more business and strategy oriented? Then sign up for our ONLY PUBLIC OFFERING of "Managing the IT Department" offered at Management Centre Europe in Brussels, December 19 - 21, 2005. For details: http://www.mce.be/events/1211
"You are a talented IT engineer or technical person who has recently been promoted to take on the job of running an IT department. You have high potential but your key leadership and management skills must be developed. You now need to become more effective at managing people, understanding the dynamics of your team and motivating them to maximise their performance. At the same time, you have to manage projects, priorities and resources in a fast-evolving business environment. And finally, you need to build confidence and visibility to take on higher-level positions in the future. This is the programme for you."
Can't make it Brussels? Ask us about a special program for your company. Leading IT today requires more strategic thinking than ever to be successful. Dr. Rebecca Staton-Reinstein, 305-652-3466, Rebecca@AdvantageLeadership.com
Dr. Rebecca Staton-Reinstein, President
Advantage Leadership, Inc.
633 NE 167th Street, Suite 1015
North Miami Beach, FL 33162
Phone: 305-652-3466 Fax: 305-652-3866
www.AdvantageLeadership.com
Rebecca@AdvantageLeadership.com
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