dispatches from the new world of work

Chip to Tom ...

Chip Bell to Tom Peters (12.20.2005): "If you were asked to be the keynote speaking coach to a new company CEO eager to do a great job, what is the one thing you would advise the CEO
to do (or not do)?"

TP: (A) Read 2 books. (1) Bossidy (& Charan) on execution ... Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done. Main takeaway: Bedrock #1 for corporate success is a "culture of execution." (FYI, Bob Nardelli did this brilliantly at Home Depot, despite pressure to do sexier stuff first.) (2) Read Lou Gerstner's book ... Who Says Elephants Can't Dance: Inside IBM's Historic Turnaround. Main takeaways: Listen first, then do vision no matter how high the pressure for a "scintillating vision." Also, you must tackle head-on the extant culture head; Gerstner reluctantly did this and did it well, but Carly Fiorina didn't at HP (she led with "vision").

(B) And: LISTEN! LISTEN! LISTEN! (The answers are already out there, typically among the most exercised and disenchanted.)

(C) And: COMMUNICATE! COMMUNICATE! COMMUNICATE! (Esp: Keep the board informed of everything, especially hiccups!)

(D) And: Work proactively in every "little" which way, each and every day to "live" and "ooze" INTEGRITY! (Integrity begets trust which begets a good place to work which begets performance.)

(E) And: Remove or marginalize ASAP the career "career corporate politicians."

(F) And: "Do a GE": Elevate HR to the head table on the Right Hand of God, with great HR talent and an HR seat with equal power to that of the CFO. (Again, Nardelli did this spectacularly at Home Depot!)

Chip: "One thing" is cute ... but the above SIX are musts! Use all six of 'em, but do NOT feel free to choose "the best one"—SIX or naught!

Tom Peters posted this on 12/20/05.

Comments

And as before, the CIO on the board since the Internet presence provides radical new opportunity and partnerships - like the new AOL / Google scheme.

Posted by Sean at December 20, 2005 12:58 PM

I would be interested to see how someone could pull all 6 of those things off DURING a keynote speech.

Posted by Nick at December 20, 2005 2:30 PM

I'm not sure, but believe Tom read the question as:

"Tom, as a keynote speaker, how would you coach a CEO."

I think Chip wants to know how Tom would advise a CEO who wants to be a keynote speaker.

Tom?

Posted by Tom Asacker at December 20, 2005 3:43 PM

I agree with Tom (Asacker).
Its about the key elements that a CEO could (or should or MUST) focus as he/she starts off -
Its more than just the guidelines for keynote speaker

Posted by Tanveer Saleem at December 21, 2005 2:40 AM

Great stuff Tom. But what about reminding new CEOs not to forget about the value of their family at home. Life balance is key to long term success.

Too many families get left behind when over-zealous CEOs have a passionate affair with the company that they're managing. Share the passion!

Posted by Tom O'Leary at December 21, 2005 7:00 AM

Sean ... yes! CIO, CFO, C-HR. (Whadda about CMO [marketing!], CiO [innovation!], CSO [sales!], CDO [design!] ... in fact, lotta key "C's," esp in Sarbanes-Oxley world where there must be a zillion independent outsiders on the Board.)

Tom A: damn good point; never occured to me. If speaker: somehow be yourself, don't be stiff, reveal your soul, emphasize the integrity bit first & foremost.

Trevor: hate to quote a Yank "football" coach, but ... Vince Lombardi: "You do not need to like your players, but you must love them." I.e. "love" (grace, etc) also has pride of place on the job (as you preach).

Posted by tom peters at December 21, 2005 10:17 AM

As an afterthought ...

I want to share this posting I made on my own Blog yesterday about 'Soft is Hard' - maybe aspiring Chief Executivess could help me with this?

Was I wrong in my career to be too 'soft'?

It is a rhetorical question by the way - NO is the right answer :-)

I am soft and proud of it!

Here is my Blog posting:

Sofit is Hard

I have become involved in a fascinating Blog discussion with my friend Sriram in Hong Kong about the merits of â€™softâ€™ and 'hard' approaches to leadership and management. Sriram's excellent Blog is at this link http://ksriram.blogspot.com/

It made me think about this subject quite a lot. It is an interesting topic that is very close to my heart. I have always believed â€˜Softâ€™ can definitely be â€˜Hard.â€™ I worked in the NHS for 35 years and at various times in my career;

I was told I was too soft as a manager - I should be harder
I was told my heart ruled my head too often
I was told I did not have the ruthlessness needed to reach the top
I was told I was too close to the staff I manage
I was told I was too close to patients and their carers
I was told I was too easy going
I was told that I was idealistic
I was told I was too trusting of people.

I would probably agree with all those things said about me.

However with time to now reflect about that list I would rather be remembered for those 8 qualities then a list of the opposite 8 qualities;

Too hard
Head always rules heart
Ruthless
Distant and removed from staff
Distant and removed from customers
Inflexible
Pessimistic
Miss trusting of people
I have never accepted one has to be ruthless and hard to be successful. Just because one is concerned about other people; fairness; integrity; and the other â€˜softerâ€™ stuff does not mean one cannot at the same time, be decisive and consistent. There is a balance to be found.

I also think the qualities in the first list do not mean that you cannot be â€˜tough when the going gets toughâ€™. I am happy to receive counter arguments on this. I will carry on being driven by the items on list one â€“ it has stood me in good stead for my life so far.

We all have strengths and preferred styles â€“ mine happens to be more on the softer side. There is always a risk that people will take advantage of good nature but I remain optimistic and trusting.

The greatest leader I have ever met is also the most humble and â€˜softâ€™ person I have ever met. His concern is always for people.

Posted by Trevor Gay at December 21, 2005 10:34 AM

Extremely helpful!!! Thank you!!!

Peter H.W. Melms
Wauwatosa, WI

Posted by Peter Melms at December 21, 2005 7:58 PM