We know that you and your people devote significant time, energy, and human and financial resources to achieving your strategic goals. But, are you satisfied with the results your’re getting? Research suggests that high percentage of companies fail to implement their strategies. It’s clear that new perspectives and tools are required if companies are to succeed in today’s highly competitive, change-filled environment.
Jim Collins, in his book Good to Great, claims that in order to succeed, we need to “get the right people on the bus.” However, if “all the right people” are intending to go somewhere together, the bus had better be in good order or they will not arrive at the intended destination.
The bus, of course, represents the environment and the organizational system in which the “right people” work. It has become abundantly clear that organizational systems are stronger than individuals and that good people can fail in dysfunctional systems. Unfortunately, the dysfunctional systems in which some people work are invisible, which allows these systems to simply grind people up. The solution? The invisible needs to be made visible. Then steps can be taken to strengthen the organization and turn its performance management system into one that is fully supportive of people who are attempting to produce on a strategy.
My purpose is to share a proven system of strategy-focused execution and innovation that supports continuous high performance and the “right people.” We have dedicated this system to executives and managers like you, who in the role of producer, are accountable for delivering through the efforts of others.
Boss Talk, our first book, came out in 2000. During the years following its publication, we’ve had an opportunity to test, revamp and verify our notions about how leaders at all levels can effectively and efficiently get intended results. My associates and I have seen firsthand the typical mistakes leaders repeatedly make, and we’ve had a chance to observe what happens when they try our system and tools. We’ll share some of our success stories here, along with what leaders and managers have taught us.
This blog is our attempt to distill what we’ve learned from our consulting work with companies of all sizes since we published Boss Talk over nine years ago. The high-performance system we will share with you grew out of our observations and our work at companies large and small over the past 18 years. We are indebted to Adobe Systems, Agilent Technologies, BEA Systems, Align Technology and ETM, Inc., and VaST Technology for their support in developing this system. Our overriding purpose has been to provide CEOs, VPs, directors, managers, supervisors and contributors with the perspective, key concepts and tools that will lead to immediate and lasting improvements in innovation and productivity.
A number of books have appeared that speak to execution and the difficulty companies have executing their strategies on a consistent basis. The good news is that there is now more attention being paid to execution as opposed to developing a strategy and just letting it happen. The bad news is the books that address execution continue to miss the key element at the heart of productivity.
In my next blog I will share a perspective (new way to view organizations)with you and set a context for succeeding in your work. I look forward to your questions and comments and mostly……..your stories.
Till then, here is to Great Leading through Better Interactions.
All the best Rob
