When Lou Gerstner took over as CEO of IBM in 1993, he took the reigns of an old and prestigious institution with a rich history. Gerstner had no computer industry experience, but he did have deep leadership experience. And taking over at IBM he would need every bit of it: IBM had suffered a multibillion dollar loss and was burning cash.
“There’s been a lot of speculation as to when I’m going to deliver a vision of IBM [but] the last thing IBM needs right now is a vision,” Gerstner said at his first press conference. He needed to make some tough decisions and get the his new team members working together effectively – fast.
Despite the undeniable impact of sound leadership on the success of any organisation, there remains an apparent lack of understanding when it comes to the specific core competencies every leader ought to prioritise while carrying out their professional responsibilities. To be clear, this does not mean these leaders are wholly unfit or ineffective; instead, it only indicates that these professionals have not yet maximised their own potential or the potential of the organisation they are charged with leading.[Continue Reading …]
Reality TV is probably not your first call when trying to improve your leadership skills, but you may find surprisingly good insights there.
Most people have never heard of Kitchen Nightmares or Hotel Hell, both of which are reality shows run by acclaimed British chef and entrepreneur Gordon Ramsay. He is invited by supposedly excellent restaurants and hotels that somehow fail to generate income or have any noticeable number of customers.
