As we continue with the no normal, new normal or whereever we land once we are out of these economic doldrums, it will take leadership - more even than technical skills and management - to succeed. So here are a few leadership tips I have used with mid-level and senior executives:
Maintain a positive demeanor, even during heavy squalls. Move with confidence and authority; the attitude and morale of your colleagues will be favorably influenced.
Establish clear priorities, complemented by clarity in direction you give to people. Avoid vagueness and generality; change is hard enough on folks.
Emphasize short-term objectives when a few solid wins will elevate morale. Ask people to stretch but make goals achievable, then shoot off fireworks when they are surpassed.
Go looking for bad news; get resistance to change out in the open. Make it easy for people to let you know about what requires attention. Don't be the last to know!
Pay close attention to transitions - people, clients, systems, economic. Careful monitoring (but not micro-management) may be needed to keep everyone on track.
Re-recruit your best people. Uncertainty brought about by change often makes them receptive to outside enticements.
Encourage risk-taking and initiative. Make it clear that you will tolerate mistakes as long as there is thoughtful effort, and action-orientation toward improvement.
Protect your service quality, and reaffirm your supplier partnerships. Stay close to customers (someone else wants their business!). Client satisfaction is your top priority even as change might be occurring internally.
A leader's job is to make others succeed, and to feel that their contribution means something.
Happy New Year, and here's to a prosperous 2012!
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Monday, December 5, 2011
Antietam
By September 1862, the Union position was grave. Lee had manhandled Union armies, Maryland's support for Lincoln's cause was cooling and Great Britain was threatening to recongnize the Confederacy - perhaps even use the powerful British navy to break the Union blockade of the South. Lincoln needed a victory badly.
Knowing the stakes were high, and that another victory might tip the balance heavily in favor of the Confederacy, Lee decided to invade Maryland. He crossed the Potomac and camped near Frederick. There he issued orders to divide his force and gave instructions to his commanders to concentrate near Sharpsburg, along the Antietam creek. McClellan, in command again, kept his much larger army between Lee and Washington, and moved slowly west toward the rebels.
Then a stroke of luck - a Union officer found Lee's orders in a field near Frederick wrapped around cigars. A rebel officer had carelessly dropped them while in camp. McClellan now had the key to defeating Lee, since the orders revealed that the rebel forces were divided, and gave details on the routes to be taken by each of the Confederate corps.
Lee's army was arrayed along the Antietam Creek east of Sharpsburg MD and McClellan moved into position to attack. Lee urgently called all of his forces to oppose the Union army. On the morning of September 17, 1862, the 75th anniversiary of the Constitution, the battle opened. The two armies battered each other all day, with the rebels falling back then holding all along the line. By day's end, the positions were nearly the same as morning, except for the carnage.
Antietam is the bloodiest day in American history. More than 23,000 casualties were suffered by both armies, more than the US on D-Day. Both sides had suffered equally, but McClellan still had large fresh forces to attack, and Lincoln urged him to destroy Lee's army. Next morning, the attack Lee expected never came, McClellan being an inordinately cautious field commander. Lee escaped across the Potomac.
Lincoln had a victory at last against Lee, and decided to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. The British backed away from supporting the Confederacy. And Maryland confirmed Union support.
Yet, by failing to destroy Lee's battered army the next day, McClellan missed a chance to end the war, and avoid the killing of another 400,000 Americans in the next 30 months of war.
Knowing the stakes were high, and that another victory might tip the balance heavily in favor of the Confederacy, Lee decided to invade Maryland. He crossed the Potomac and camped near Frederick. There he issued orders to divide his force and gave instructions to his commanders to concentrate near Sharpsburg, along the Antietam creek. McClellan, in command again, kept his much larger army between Lee and Washington, and moved slowly west toward the rebels.
Then a stroke of luck - a Union officer found Lee's orders in a field near Frederick wrapped around cigars. A rebel officer had carelessly dropped them while in camp. McClellan now had the key to defeating Lee, since the orders revealed that the rebel forces were divided, and gave details on the routes to be taken by each of the Confederate corps.
Lee's army was arrayed along the Antietam Creek east of Sharpsburg MD and McClellan moved into position to attack. Lee urgently called all of his forces to oppose the Union army. On the morning of September 17, 1862, the 75th anniversiary of the Constitution, the battle opened. The two armies battered each other all day, with the rebels falling back then holding all along the line. By day's end, the positions were nearly the same as morning, except for the carnage.
Antietam is the bloodiest day in American history. More than 23,000 casualties were suffered by both armies, more than the US on D-Day. Both sides had suffered equally, but McClellan still had large fresh forces to attack, and Lincoln urged him to destroy Lee's army. Next morning, the attack Lee expected never came, McClellan being an inordinately cautious field commander. Lee escaped across the Potomac.
Lincoln had a victory at last against Lee, and decided to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. The British backed away from supporting the Confederacy. And Maryland confirmed Union support.
Yet, by failing to destroy Lee's battered army the next day, McClellan missed a chance to end the war, and avoid the killing of another 400,000 Americans in the next 30 months of war.
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