Positive Leadership: Dedication

Positive Leadership: Dedication

Positive Leadership: Three Keys to Acquiring and Turning Around a Poorly Performing Business

Which distressed firms are worth trying to turn around?

Focus on those companies with an iconic brand name, one that people remember even if the company is down and out; a credible product, or at least the prospect of a credible product; and finally, talent or the prospect that a talented team can be hired. Talent is the key.

How do you motivate talent?

Down-and-out companies don’t have much money to spend. This means you have to build a team of people who are willing to work for the end game. You need people who have the passion, the perseverance and the courage to really walk in the darkness every day, one foot in front of the other, until they see the light.

How do you determine whether people stay?

If something is deeply distressed, the chances are there is some fault with the people on the ground. Sometimes it’s the culture, further crippled by an exogenous force. You never want to eradicate all history and prior knowledge, so at least give people a chance. But if they are not capable of self-reflection, if they can’t take any responsibility for where they are, they will never be the team to succeed. The one thing about this world is that truth is cold and hard, but it’s the first point on the path to hope and salvation: If you don’t want to hear the truth, then there is no future for you in the company.

Positive Leadership: Three Keys to Acquiring and Turning Around a Poorly Performing Business

Positive Leadership: Inspired Leadership - The Historical Perspective on the London 2012 Olympics

In January 2003, a storm was gathering in Washington, Whitehall and Baghdad when the then Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell went to the cabinet with the idea that London should bid for the 2012 Olympics. 

“We started with no votes around the Cabinet Table,” she said. She went round the departments one by one, to Health, Education and Transport, and told them what the Olympics could do for everyone. Tony Blair, whose last minute lobbying later proved so crucial, dismissed the idea at first.

Tony Blair was much more preoccupied with Iraq, and rightly so. I said to him, “How are you going to answer this question. We’re the fourth largest economy in the world, London is the greatest city in the world, we would like to think. What will you say to someone who asks you ‘Why didn’t you dare bid to host the games?’ I’ve never forgotten the way he looked at me.

In his memoir, Blair recalls that Jowell lectured him to man up:

“I really didn’t think that was your attitude to leadership. I thought you were prepared to take a risk. And it is a big risk. Of course we may not win but at least we will have had the courage to try.” When Tessa says this, you feel a complete wimp and rather ashamed. You know she is manipulating you, but you also know it’s a successful manipulation.

I got a call the next morning from his Principle Private Secretary saying ‘The Prime Minister will support your recommendation.”

Two years later, the American businesswoman appointed to lead the bid Barbara Cassani resigned, because she didn’t think an American bid leader would win the games. “She deserves great credit,” said Dame Tessa Jowell.” She said the person who could win it is Seb Coe.

It was only six months later that the double Olympic gold medallist stood on stage in Singapore and said:  ”To make an Olympic champion it takes eight Olympic finalists. To make Olympic finalists, it takes 80 Olympians. To make 80 Olympians it takes 202 national champions, to make national champions it takes thousands of athletes. To make athletes it takes millions of children around the world to be inspired to choose sport.” Jacques Rogge was up not long later, opening his envelope and reading out the word “London.”

From the very start, the London 2012 Olympic bid has been characterised by the single-minded passion, persistence, vision and determination of all those involved in hosting the Games. Congratulations!

For more background into the bid process for the London 2012 Olympic Games, see: http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2012/06/international-olympic-committee-london-summer-olympics)

Positive Leadership: Inspired Leadership - The Historical Perspective on the London 2012 Olympics

Positive Leadership: Lessons from Linsanity

In the US today, Jeremy Lin is the man-of-the-moment, the new New York Knick Rock Star. Lin’s face is everywhere. The Knicks point guard has taken the world by storm. He has led the Knicks to a winning record since he became a starter.  His highlights include hitting a game-winning 3 pointer at the buzzer to beat the Toronto Raptors and nationally televised wins over Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers and the defending champion Dallas Mavericks. During this time Lin became the first NBA player to score at least 20 points and have seven assists in each of his first five starts. Ever.

But here’s the part of the story that bothers us: Many in the media are portraying Jeremy Lin as an “overnight LINsation,” as ESPN put it.

Let’s look at what Lin’s “overnight” really looked like.

Lin said he dreamed of playing in the NBA as a child. There’s a You Tube of 6 year-old Jeremy Lin showing off his dribbling skills. The product of two 5-foot-6 engineers, most laughed when he laid out his career choice.

As a high school senior, he led Palo Alto (CA) High School to a state championship over nationally ranked #1 Mater Dei High School. His coach was quoted as saying that the school was so well known for its academics that when the players returned with the trophy, they were reminded “how well the robotics club” had done the same week.

Lin sent out 25 DVDs and resumes to colleges, yet received no college scholarship offers – not even from Stanford, which was less than a mile from Lin’s High School! He chose to play basketball for Harvard. Ivy League schools offer no athletic scholarships.

In his junior year Lin was the only NCAA Division 1 player to rank in the top ten in his conference in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, blocked shots, field goal percentage, free throw percentage, and three-point shot percentage.

Lin’s name was not called in the 2010 NBA draft.

He signed with his hometown favourite, Golden State Warriors but spent most of the 2010 season on the inactive list.

Three times that year he was sent down to the developmental league then called back up to the Warriors. 

He finished his rookie season averaging 2.6 points per game playing in 29 games for the Warriors.

Lin sought the advice of coaches on his weaknesses, then hired a shooting coach during the off season and worked hard to improve his shot.  

On the first day of the 2011 training camp the Warriors waived Lin. The Houston Rockets claimed him off waivers three days later.

Lin played seven minutes in two pre-season games for the Rockets. The Rockets waived Lin on Christmas Eve.

On December 27th the Knicks signed Lin as a back-up. Three weeks later, he was sent back to the developmental league.

On January 23rd Lin was called back up by the Knicks.

On February 4th Lin had 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists in a victory over the Nets.

Then the LINsanity started!

Look how long it took Jeremy Lin to become an “overnight” success. Look at that roller coaster of emotions. No scholarship offers? Not drafted? Cut on Christmas Eve? Yes, Lin admitted to crying. Yes, Lin admits that he thought about quitting.

The Roman philosopher Seneca once stated, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”

The problem is most of us see a guy like Lin and focus on the eye-popping lightning storm of his success. We don’t want to look at the ugly, monotonous, boring dust storm that was his preparation.

The second part of the Jeremy Lin story that inspires us is that he kept fighting and working until he found the right situation for his talents. He had to land in the right environment with the right coach to become a “sensation.” Mike D’Antoni was indeed the right coach to use the skill set that Lin had, but it took timing and misfortune of having stars Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire out for Lin to be given room to operate in his own style. Ironically, people are now wondering if superstar Anthony is the one that can fit in with the formerly unknown Jeremy Lin.

The lessons from Jeremy Lin’s story are many. Believe… Persevere... Practice… Improve… Believe… Persevere… Practice… Improve…

And in the end you have to find the right place, the right time, the right environment, the right coach that will allow you to unleash your greatest potential.

So if you are not there keep searching, because only you can find the place and the people that set you on your path to success!

Story time is over, now this is about you as a leader.

Who is your Jeremy Lin?  Who on your team have you “decided” on?  We are not talking about your high potential person on that list in the succession plan.  We are talking about your third stringer, the person that you “know” will always be a marginal performer.

What do you really know?

Have you given them reins and a chance to perform?

Or are you stifling them with your assessment of their potential?

Jeremy Lin is a basketball player. He has, and is, working hard at his craft. He certainly hasn’t given up or felt sorry for himself, but this story is as much about coaches and scouts and leaders as is it about Jeremy.

The best leaders look for and see the potential in their team members.  If you don’t see it, you won’t give people an opportunity to use it, develop it, and move towards that potential.

Do you see third string guards or Jeremy Lins?

Be careful what you look for, you are very likely to find it.

Positive Leadership: Lessons from Linsanity

Positive Leadership: Hard Work Matters

Dr. Angela Lee Duckworth is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. Angela studies non-IQ competencies that predict success both academically and professionally. Her research populations have included West Point cadets, National Spelling Bee finalists, novice teachers, salespeople, and students. Her research validates what we all know to be true: hard work matters!

Positive Leadership: Hard Work Matters

Persistence Wins!

Persistence. 

You must have more than your fair share to succeed. There's plenty of advice out there about knowing when to give up!

Tom Peters' advice? Hold out longer than anyone thinks is wise.

Persistence Wins!