April 15th was tax day for most, but for women leaders in construction, architecture and engineering, it was day 1 of Groundbreaking Women in Construction, a conference sponsored by the Women Builders Council and McGraw Hill. I had the pleasure of leading the first event of the day, a workshop on Visionary Leaders, the New Champions in Business. Here’s what I did and what I learned.
My premise was simple: 1. Visionary leaders, the New Leader in business, will be the most successful executives in the next decade. 2. There are major differences in the way these new leaders operate to create their unique approach. 3. Once leaders embrace the hallmarks of this new paradigm, they have a clear vision of success and a way to get there. 4. As soon as we begin to shift our mindset and expose our organizations to the hallmarks of the new leader, we go beyond hierarchy and power to unleash the real potential of our businesses, colleagues, and leaders. Continue reading…
Managers in the middle are a critical, but unreliable link between business strategy and strong results. They are the “working leaders,” the vital glue that holds the organization together and makes it hum. These managers are capable of driving change at the front line, where it counts. Senior leaders need to engage them and give them the accountability they need to excel. Middle managers are capable of doing more.
A manager in a professional services firm compressed a bureaucratic process by 16 months. He explained his approach this way:
“While it usually takes 18 months to get the necessary reviews and approvals on a large, highly visible project, I knew we had only 8 weeks. I persuaded my colleagues to re-set their priorities because the firm’s reputation was on the line. We met the new schedule and everyone owned the outcome. It was quite remarkable.” Continue reading…
