Oh!! This is time for all part 2 posts I guess. A few days back I wrote a piece on leadership under the topic ‘Winning Welch way’. Out of curiosity, I also posted that article in the Welch’s website http://www.welchway.com/. Believe it or not, I got a reply in my mail from Welch. Unbelievable!! The following is his reply verbatim.
“Dear Vinoth:
Thank you for your thoughtful and comprehensive email on leadership. I think the most important thing any of us can do is be ourselves and act with conviction and passion.
I wish you great success doing that.
Best,
Jack Welch”
Oh!! It’s really unbelievable. But hey, it might have happened that one of the website admin could have replied on behalf of Welch. But what the heck! Let’s be optimistic and imagine that Welch himself has read the post and replied… ha ha.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Saturday, June 14, 2008
How to lead your peers - 2
A few days back I posted a piece on how to lead your peers. Here is another interesting case study on it from Harvard online portal.
http://discussionleader.hbsp.com/watkins/2007/10/managing_your_peers_what_would.html
Let me know what you think.
http://discussionleader.hbsp.com/watkins/2007/10/managing_your_peers_what_would.html
Let me know what you think.
Winning Welch way
We relish heroes! We always look upon them! We wanted to be them when we grow up! We emulate them! We copy the way they talk, the way they walk and sometimes we even laugh the way they laugh! Our heroes are the people whom we want to be!
Then we grow up! We get a job or become a leader. We feel wonderful! What a great time to get into action all that we wanted to be! Just like our heroes!
Jack Welch is my hero. Not because he is the sort of hero I wanted to be. It’s because he is the sort of hero I never wanted to be. He is the sort of guy who I not only wanted to be but also the sort I wish I never had to put up with.
Not anymore!
My heroes have always been the super hero types; The ones who charm their way out of adversity and command respect with ‘super human’ charisma; they spread the picture of perfection, sophistication and elegance personified. I wanted to be one of them. The ones who hold the finest of French wines, wearing a ubiquitous smile in their face and mesmerize the fellow fragile humans out of their comfort zones. The ones whom you can see in those luxury car ads. I always wanted to be one of them. The ones driving the deals and the board room, who are looked upon as a natural leader. The ones for whom nothing can go wrong and display a picture of perfection. Yeah. I always wanted to be one of them.
Not anymore!
What I found out eventually that, though I always strived to be one of them and act like one of them, it lit upon me that I never really liked to work under them. Don’t take me wrong. They are not any less inspirational. In fact they are more inspirational as leaders than any other kind are. They exist in media, books and the movies. But when it comes to reality, when it comes to the real people with ‘blood and skin’ they never really inspire or to put it in a correct perspective they never really exist.
I have met such people in real life. I have worked my best under them but never really had my view of a perfect leader towards them until later I realised what clicks for a leader. No one bestowed such change of mindset on me better than Jack Welch. Now I know that you are as damn sure as I am that I have never worked under him. I never have. But I have worked for other Jack Welches elsewhere. Again, not that I have worked for picture perfect leaders. But that their uniqueness comes from their imperfection, their humanity.
There is reason why Welch has made such considerable impact on me. Not because he has lead the world’s largest enterprise successfully for many years. But because of all the dozens of books I have read so far which has created an image of virtual down pouring of thoughts from heaven into me, Jack Welch’s book created an image of someone standing next to me, touching on my shoulders and showing the way as it is. Though sometimes it's hard to swallow. He never gives you step by step protocol to success, nor do it like me to win propaganda. He simply says – damn, there’s awful lot of things to do. Go grab it and do it the way you do it and be real.
His first book, ‘Straight from the gut’ felt like a 100 meters dash. Made me wonder if this guy ever had time to breath. Such an amount of exuberant action packed life. The striking aspect is that he had an opinion on virtually anything under the sky. Nobody in this world have any clue on what is going to happen to this world. Nobody has a clue. So everyone follows the lead of the person who has strong convictions, who knows exactly what to do. It never really matters if that conviction is right or not. All it matters if you have a strong conviction or not.
His second book, ‘Winning’ though a management guide book never gives a step by step formula for managerial success. But it gives amazing insight of looking at things the way it is. Something which gets you out of your comfort zones and urges you to put things under perspective. The template I wish I follow.
In midst of all this, it’s not like Welch is the perfect man to follow. He had survived two divorces in his life, few heart attacks; he has been described in the media as an arrogant corporate despot. He made his share of mistakes in his stint as the CEO of the GE. But despite of all this, the reason which makes him my hero and the prime message he wants to convey to all of us, which perhaps explains his few short comings and the enormous success in his life is, in a nutshell is this.
Then we grow up! We get a job or become a leader. We feel wonderful! What a great time to get into action all that we wanted to be! Just like our heroes!
Jack Welch is my hero. Not because he is the sort of hero I wanted to be. It’s because he is the sort of hero I never wanted to be. He is the sort of guy who I not only wanted to be but also the sort I wish I never had to put up with.
Not anymore!
My heroes have always been the super hero types; The ones who charm their way out of adversity and command respect with ‘super human’ charisma; they spread the picture of perfection, sophistication and elegance personified. I wanted to be one of them. The ones who hold the finest of French wines, wearing a ubiquitous smile in their face and mesmerize the fellow fragile humans out of their comfort zones. The ones whom you can see in those luxury car ads. I always wanted to be one of them. The ones driving the deals and the board room, who are looked upon as a natural leader. The ones for whom nothing can go wrong and display a picture of perfection. Yeah. I always wanted to be one of them.
Not anymore!
What I found out eventually that, though I always strived to be one of them and act like one of them, it lit upon me that I never really liked to work under them. Don’t take me wrong. They are not any less inspirational. In fact they are more inspirational as leaders than any other kind are. They exist in media, books and the movies. But when it comes to reality, when it comes to the real people with ‘blood and skin’ they never really inspire or to put it in a correct perspective they never really exist.
I have met such people in real life. I have worked my best under them but never really had my view of a perfect leader towards them until later I realised what clicks for a leader. No one bestowed such change of mindset on me better than Jack Welch. Now I know that you are as damn sure as I am that I have never worked under him. I never have. But I have worked for other Jack Welches elsewhere. Again, not that I have worked for picture perfect leaders. But that their uniqueness comes from their imperfection, their humanity.
There is reason why Welch has made such considerable impact on me. Not because he has lead the world’s largest enterprise successfully for many years. But because of all the dozens of books I have read so far which has created an image of virtual down pouring of thoughts from heaven into me, Jack Welch’s book created an image of someone standing next to me, touching on my shoulders and showing the way as it is. Though sometimes it's hard to swallow. He never gives you step by step protocol to success, nor do it like me to win propaganda. He simply says – damn, there’s awful lot of things to do. Go grab it and do it the way you do it and be real.
His first book, ‘Straight from the gut’ felt like a 100 meters dash. Made me wonder if this guy ever had time to breath. Such an amount of exuberant action packed life. The striking aspect is that he had an opinion on virtually anything under the sky. Nobody in this world have any clue on what is going to happen to this world. Nobody has a clue. So everyone follows the lead of the person who has strong convictions, who knows exactly what to do. It never really matters if that conviction is right or not. All it matters if you have a strong conviction or not.
His second book, ‘Winning’ though a management guide book never gives a step by step formula for managerial success. But it gives amazing insight of looking at things the way it is. Something which gets you out of your comfort zones and urges you to put things under perspective. The template I wish I follow.
In midst of all this, it’s not like Welch is the perfect man to follow. He had survived two divorces in his life, few heart attacks; he has been described in the media as an arrogant corporate despot. He made his share of mistakes in his stint as the CEO of the GE. But despite of all this, the reason which makes him my hero and the prime message he wants to convey to all of us, which perhaps explains his few short comings and the enormous success in his life is, in a nutshell is this.
Be real!
Yes he is sort of guy who I never wanted to be. And yes, the true leader will never make you act like him. The true leader will make you act like you. And that is why he is my hero.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
How to lead your peers
Leadership could be a grand success when the team gives the leader the benefit of doubt. There are no clashes of egos, when the leader has the trust over the team on the basis of the undoubted seniority/ skill. Often the best examples for leadership could be derived from watching cricket. Hansie Cronje and Steve Waugh gained enormous respect from their team based on their seniority and the father figure they possess. Sachin might have been young when he was handed over the captaincy and he might not have produced successful results, yet he never suffered the lack of respect purely as the result of his skill. Let us take your own example. Imagine you are going to a new job and you have the choice to select whom you will report to. You have two choices. A blue eyed guy who might barely be a year or two older to you. Or you could choose a middle aged person who is like more of a father figure to you. Now, given that you have no other information, most of you would rather go for the ‘father-figure’ person. This option will never hurt your ego. It may later turn out that the ‘blue-eyed’ guy might be a better leader than the ‘fatherly-figure’ person. But you will most probably give the benefit of doubt to the ‘father-figure’ person on the first impression. Similarly it might hurt you less if the most talented guy in your team leads you. Somehow that talented guy is a geek or an alien who is not a direct competition to you and your mortal competitors. It hurts your ego less. We are more open to report to the person who has the respect based on the seniority/ skill achievement.
Of course that might not be the case always. You might bump into a team with a peer like leader or there might be situations when you are filling the leadership role. Situations will become tight then. You don’t have the trust of the team by default and you have to earn every ounce of it. Peers might underperform when you are their leader, even when you deserve the leadership more than them. Dealing with this opens up a whole new challenge. It requires a whole different mindset. The formula for success is not so evident. The people management skill is the most precious commodity here. There are some options that you can try. In fact I will go ahead and share with you some solutions which I myself gathered from different resources. But before moving on to those pointers, let me reiterate the most obvious yet complex feature of leadership: striking the right balance between leading from the front and leading from behind.
Here are the few suggestion on how to successfully lead your peers. (Eloborated from source: http://stacistringer.wordpress.com/2008/02/18/how-to-successfully-lead-your-peers/).
1. Gain Trust- you must show your team members that you are there to work with them. Any peer will detest the very idea of them working for you. You must create the encironment where everyone works towards a common goal. Put the team ahead of you. You must be thier buddy. (as against the mentoring for younger subordinates).
2. Listen & Collaborate- Let your team members know their voice is important. That their ideas are valuable and you can work together to improve the path to your goal by working together. More heads are always better than one!
3. Avoid Micromanaging -As a leader, when you begin to micromanage you lose the trust of your team. You begin to take over their task and it becomes a one man show. This defeats the purpose of the team. Encourage your peers to share your responsibility of a leader. Do this not as an instruction but as a common consensus based leadership. A good leader must make thier peer subordinates feel more powerful.
4.Direct constructive criticism toward your goal - If team members are off task or moving in a different direction come together as a group and define your common goal again. Never put down a team member but build off what they’ve done and find a way to move on from there.
5. Express Each member is vital to group success- Without the team you as a leader will be alone to accomplish this goal. Every person brings ideas, personality, and passion to your team. Without certain members you may not be able to move forward. Be a cheerleader. Let them know without them this project would not be happening
6. Communicate -Without communication your team will go nowhere. Your team must trust that they can come to you for help if they are stuck. Without communication the team doesn’t know if they are moving forward or standing still. Communicate the good and the bad. Each member must be knowledgeable about all aspects of your project
There are some of my own suggestions. Let us come to that later. (If you had noticed in this article, I presented my opinion in a way of a suggestion/ information rather than as an instruction/ advise. One of the ways to lead a peer)
Of course that might not be the case always. You might bump into a team with a peer like leader or there might be situations when you are filling the leadership role. Situations will become tight then. You don’t have the trust of the team by default and you have to earn every ounce of it. Peers might underperform when you are their leader, even when you deserve the leadership more than them. Dealing with this opens up a whole new challenge. It requires a whole different mindset. The formula for success is not so evident. The people management skill is the most precious commodity here. There are some options that you can try. In fact I will go ahead and share with you some solutions which I myself gathered from different resources. But before moving on to those pointers, let me reiterate the most obvious yet complex feature of leadership: striking the right balance between leading from the front and leading from behind.
Here are the few suggestion on how to successfully lead your peers. (Eloborated from source: http://stacistringer.wordpress.com/2008/02/18/how-to-successfully-lead-your-peers/).
1. Gain Trust- you must show your team members that you are there to work with them. Any peer will detest the very idea of them working for you. You must create the encironment where everyone works towards a common goal. Put the team ahead of you. You must be thier buddy. (as against the mentoring for younger subordinates).
2. Listen & Collaborate- Let your team members know their voice is important. That their ideas are valuable and you can work together to improve the path to your goal by working together. More heads are always better than one!
3. Avoid Micromanaging -As a leader, when you begin to micromanage you lose the trust of your team. You begin to take over their task and it becomes a one man show. This defeats the purpose of the team. Encourage your peers to share your responsibility of a leader. Do this not as an instruction but as a common consensus based leadership. A good leader must make thier peer subordinates feel more powerful.
4.Direct constructive criticism toward your goal - If team members are off task or moving in a different direction come together as a group and define your common goal again. Never put down a team member but build off what they’ve done and find a way to move on from there.
5. Express Each member is vital to group success- Without the team you as a leader will be alone to accomplish this goal. Every person brings ideas, personality, and passion to your team. Without certain members you may not be able to move forward. Be a cheerleader. Let them know without them this project would not be happening
6. Communicate -Without communication your team will go nowhere. Your team must trust that they can come to you for help if they are stuck. Without communication the team doesn’t know if they are moving forward or standing still. Communicate the good and the bad. Each member must be knowledgeable about all aspects of your project
There are some of my own suggestions. Let us come to that later. (If you had noticed in this article, I presented my opinion in a way of a suggestion/ information rather than as an instruction/ advise. One of the ways to lead a peer)
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