Leadership is tested during tough times. It is easy to lead during days and years of plenty. But few people can lead during difficult times. Since February 2020, the world has been besieged by a deadly Coronavirus pandemic. The initial response was to curtail movements and enforce lockdown. But many people started dying in their homes from diseases like poverty, loneliness, financial stress, and general hopelessness. The lockdown had to be lifted. For many businesses, times are tough. Revenues continue to decline steeply, as customers churn or lack purchasing power. Costs of operations are increasing, as compliance costs raise. The…
To win with leaders, clarify the expected outcomes
You have been engaged as a consultant to lead a transformation project, where do you start and how do you give confidence to the client that the project will be delivered as planned? The starting point is to define and confirm the project outcomes. You want each outcome to be precisely defined in terms of measurable indicators. For a marketing intervention, instead of writing increase sales, it is better to write “grow sales from the current US $40m to the US $50 million after the project.” That way, you can break down the project and ask the right questions. For…
Creating team cohesion starts by building trust
I am often asked how to build team cohesion quickly. My answer is always to recommend the leader to start by fixing trust among the team members. People can work for years together but fail to know each other well. We usually refer to these kinds of people as “familiar strangers.” Familiar strangers at the work plan cannot build winning teams and create the momentum to transform any business. Such people suffer from mood swings. Today one of the team members could be upbeat and energetic, the following day they are like a snake. Wasting a lot of time on…
Here is how to implement projects successfully
I have been involved in the implementation of many projects. I have learned from experience that if you want to make an impact on any project instantly, make an appointment with the top senior person/ team and spend a lot of time you can have with them at the start of the project. Use that time well. Try as much to ask questions and let them speak. Listening is not a sign of weakness. You may be thinking that as a consultant, you should be speaking, sharing insights right away to impress the team with your exposure and skills. Only…
Great leaders think like great Chess players, part 2
In part 1, you learned how to plan your Chess game to gain an advantage. In brief, you need to have more materials of high value and have a superior piece or development. I want you to see each piece on a chessboard as a man you must lead to victory. You are the leader. Your ultimate aim is to protect the King under your care, which is known in the business parlance as shareholder value. In any project, start by identifying the King. What is the ultimate end game? What is the desired outcome? What is that you must…
Great leaders think like great Chess players, part 1
It is easy to become a great leader with knowledge, even basic knowledge, of the game of Chess. For some reason, I gained access to a board game early in my life. But for some reason, we learned how to play draft, and not Chess. Unlike Chess, Draft is a basic game that lacks rigor, creativity, and strategy. Though I was so good at it. It was the wrong game! That is where nature makes a difference. The mentorship to young ones about the right moves and career choices to embrace. You can imagine my exasperation and disappointments, when later…
