Friday, March 13, 2009

Steer The Company… The Final 4 Keys.

As expected, we now come to the final four keys to victory…

ARMY. If you believe that most organizations have the right
people, you are right. But why do they still falter greatly?
Well, because “right” is not enough, you need “better” people.

“Personnel selection is decisive.
People are our most valuable capital.” - Joseph Stalin

Yet, once you attract “better” people, it doesn’t stop there.
You got to invest in them. You got to grow them, keep them
happy, reward and discipline as well. And take note, when you
delegate, it should come with some power.

“I stand for the square deal… I mean not merely that I should
stand for fair play under the present rules of the game, but that I
should stand for having those rules changed so as to work for a
more substantial equality of opportunity and of reward for equally
good service.” - Theodore Roosevelt

Thus, to effectively lead people, you should know how to handle
people. In many instances, a Leader who is a good story-teller
would prove to be critical. He would be able to bring clarity to the
team through embodiment; and the balance of reward and
discipline through the moral of the story.

Childish? Think again.

It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it.

“A simple and proper function of government is just
to make it easy for us to do good and difficult for us
to do wrong.” - George H.W. Bush

ENVIRONMENT. While we talk about terrain in battle, here in
our business analogy, we would specially look into its weather.
Therefore, it’s knowing when to bring an umbrella or what is it for.
It’s having the nose of when to be sober or when to attack.

When you develop a good sixth sense and combine it with sensible
forecasting techniques, you will get a good grip of what to expect.

When you are constantly aware of what’s going on around you,
you will know what to adjust and prepare for.

In battle as in competition, never underestimate your opponent…
you may know their weapons but you may not know their capacity
to make the environment work for them. Hence, do your homework.

As while we can not really stop the rain from falling, take heart,
we can use the inclement weather to surprise the enemy… or to
seek opportunities and advantages; and of course, avoid landmines.

“Opportunity makes a thief.” - Francis Bacon

TIME. We keep hearing from many leaders, “timing is vital.” But
then, I would just like to remind you, “time waits for no one.”
Your future is today. Whatever is lost in time is lost forever.

Therefore, while rushing is never preached but thorough thinking,
do not… I say, do not procrastinate.

“We must use time as a tool, not as a couch.” - JFK

Your future is today. Whatever you do today would affect your
tomorrow.
So do not just wait for opportunity to come, but create
that opportunity you want for your organization.

“He that will not apply new remedies must expect new evils:
for time is the greatest innovator.” - Francis Bacon

In Leadership, in goal-setting… time is of the essence.

ALLIANCES. While your men are your allies, getting your
neighbors involved would strengthen your defenses. Countries
that united for a common goal saw their interests served as well.

For companies, it could come in the form of associations and alike.
Joining such, gives you a louder voice on government policies
as well as immediate access to some essential information and
updates in your industry.

“Knowledge is Power.” - Francis Bacon

Yet more than knowledge, without organized effort in the form of
cooperation among peers, crucial training for employees, and
strong management support… everything would be an uphill climb.

“Mr. Morgan buys his partners; I grow my own.” - Andrew Carnegie

We can see then that it is your alliances from within that would
ultimately spell the difference. Hence, strengthening our base
would be like an insurance for the long haul.

To steer a company… with consideration to all 8 keys to victory:
battlefield, resources, attitude, schemes, army, environment, time,
and alliances… inevitably boils down to the control of your army.

"THE CONTROL OF A LARGE FORCE is the same in principle
as the control of a few men; it is merely a question of dividing up
their numbers.” - Sun Tzu

The question now is “how do you get commitment from followers”?
How do you motivate? How do you lead? Is it through “rewards”?
Coercion? Expertise? Position? Charisma?

Your ways determine your strength… as “that” Leader.

Finally, when we have the necessary information, whether it’s
from inside or outside the organization… problem-solving and
decision-making would be more accurate and timely.

With these, steering a company would not really be that tough.
Oh, do I hear theoretical? Well, everything starts in the mind…
and the rest is just a matter of guts, of flexibility, of quick, critical
thinking, of knowing why the company exists and of understanding
what makes it tick.

“In the emerging global economy, everything is mobile: capital,
factories, even entire industries. The only resource that’s really
rooted in a nation – and the ultimate source of all its wealth –
is its people.” - Bill Clinton

Remember…
Steering The Company is simply a matter of deployment & work methods.

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