By Hector Rivera Davila
January 2013
Even the best executives can feel like
they're daring the impossible these days. Here are effective leadership
techniques to consider. French philosopher Paul Valery could have been
describing the year
2003 when he said, "The trouble with our times is that the future
is not what it used to be."
At a time when we can be certain only of continuous economic upheaval,
geopolitical turmoil, and technological change, effective leaders are
those who
manage uncertainty effectively. No single trait or action is
responsible for a
leader's success. Different styles are appropriate for different
situations.
Nevertheless, apart from matters of personal style, most great business
leaders
follow a consistent set of principles:
1. Live with integrity and
lead by example. Integrity is the internal sense of
right and wrong that guides everything a successful person does. Living
with
integrity and leading by example build the kind of trust that is
critical for
high-performance organizations.
2. Develop a winning strategy
or big idea. In an age of competitive intensity, a
leader must develop a winning strategy based on a company's competitive
advantages and customer needs. Not only must leaders come up with a big
idea,
but it also has to be the right big idea. Many companies have come up
with bold
strategies that are wrong or for which the timing is off. The key is to
build
on the core things that the organization truly does best -- and bridge
this to
what matters most to customers (as defined by what they will pay (or
wager)for).
3. Build a great management team.
One
person cannot do everything alone. The best business leaders nurture
highly
successful management teams built around complementary skills and
shared
values. Nowhere is the need to create a great management team more
crucial than
in startups where entrepreneurs are attempting to grow a fledgling
company into
a successful, sustainable corporation.
4. Inspire employees to
achieve
greatness. Employees today are looking for deeper meaning from
work. Successful
business leaders know how to tap into employees deepest motivations
and
desires by emphasizing the higher purpose of their organization. On a
day-to-day
level, great leaders also empower
their workers by being supportive and
getting out of their way as much as possible.
5. Organize for flexibility
and
responsiveness. With information
technology facilitating instantaneous global communications, today'
successful
business leaders know how to break down slow, overly formalized
hierarchies and
decision-making processes.
The important thing is to have the right
people solving problems -- no matter where they are located,
geographically or
hierarchically, in the organization.
6. Implement consistent
management
systems. To be most effective, a company's values
and strategies should be reflected across all company management
practices.
Take a good look around your organization, and make sure your
performance-measurement techniques, compensation practices, and
information system protocols are in
line with your leadership principles.
The bottom line for effective leadership
is this: When leaders follow a set
of clear, enduring principles,
traditional measures of corporate performance tend to improve as a
natural
result. And that, in turn, provides a clear road map for finding
success in
uncertain and volatile times.
About the Author:
Hector Rivera Davila's resume includes serving as Casino Director for Marriott
International, Hilton International, Ladbrokes, Sol Melia in
international
assignments. 27 years in casino
operations and developments. Gaming Commissioner for Puerto Rico
implementing new laws for
gaming. Currently working as senior consultant for Cayuga Hospitality
in charge of the Latin American Region which includes Central, South
America and the Caribbean. |
