...and why is that so important? Growing up I learned how to take care of my cars myself. Tune-ups, wheels, brakes, engine timing etc. were all things that kept my cars running. And just like driving a car out of alignment decreased fuel inefficiency and added wear and tear to the vehicle, so leading a business or organization out of alignment is just as inefficient and, I could argue, irresponsible in today’s current economic environment.
So what do we mean by “Business Alignment”? Wikipedia identifies no less than 15 definitions depending on whether you are a role-playing gamer or a biochemist. To a leader in today’s business environment, it means the level of congruence between the Vision of the business to the desired results expected from day to day operations. What we know to be true is when a business achieves alignment it holds a competitive advantage through increased effectiveness and efficiencies. What is a competitive advantage worth to your business in 2009?
Business Alignment is much easier to define than execute as it occurs throughout the entire business. If you look at championship teams in any professional sport you find it is not just the players on the field who contributed to the overall success. The front office, the back office, the coaches, scouts and support staff all had a role to play and were very much aligned to the desired result – win the championship. When it comes to your business Super Bowl, is your Vision and Business Strategies in alignment with your team on (in) the field? Are you making the necessary game plan adjustments as your competitor(s) change their game plans mid game? Is your support staff recruiting capable and compatible people and training more than one deep in key positions? Finally, are the business goals robust enough for the new rules of your marketplace?
Lead Well
Rick Lochner
Monday, February 9, 2009
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Now is the Time for Action…
…Not Fear! We are all familiar with Franklin D. Roosevelt's words:
"...the only thing we have to fear is fear itself - nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance."
He said these words at the beginning of his inaugural speech on March 4, 1933. As I read through the entire inaugural address to understand his full context, it occurred to me he was speaking about Leadership, both his and that of the citizenry of that time. Fast-forward to today and we find the message of leadership remains resolute. The National Bureau of Economic Research recently confirmed we have been in a recession since this time last year. But that is not really the headline. The real headline is whether we allow ourselves and our business to get caught up in the fear.
While I, like many others have been negatively impacted by the events of the last several months, the weakened economy, poor consumer confidence and uncertain stock markets do not affect my focus on my personal and professional Goals and Vision. A recession has no sway over my desire and ability to help organizations, individual professionals and students achieve sustained success when times are good as well as when times are tough. FDR's words were a call to action for improved results, a call to action not unlike what I am suggesting now.
* Now is the time to plan for 2009 and the future
* Now is the time for creative and inspirational thinking
* Now is the time for renewed confidence in you, your family, community and country
* Now is the time to focus on what success means for you and your business
* Now is the time to be responsible for your actions and that of your organization
* Now is the time to invest in your personal and professional brand
* Now is the time to align your business with its Vision, Mission, Strategy and Goals
* Now is the time to put Fear behind you
* Now is the time to have fun and smile more
* Now is the time for Positive Attitudes and Purposeful Actions
As we take stock of our circumstances and craft our plan of action to advance, I believe we have 2 choices. We can wait for someone to tell us what to do next, a bailout of sorts. Or we can reach out to someone (mentor, adviser, coach etc.) who can help us with our accountability to the actions necessary to achieve improved results and sustained success.
Lead Well.
Rick Lochner
"...the only thing we have to fear is fear itself - nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance."
He said these words at the beginning of his inaugural speech on March 4, 1933. As I read through the entire inaugural address to understand his full context, it occurred to me he was speaking about Leadership, both his and that of the citizenry of that time. Fast-forward to today and we find the message of leadership remains resolute. The National Bureau of Economic Research recently confirmed we have been in a recession since this time last year. But that is not really the headline. The real headline is whether we allow ourselves and our business to get caught up in the fear.
While I, like many others have been negatively impacted by the events of the last several months, the weakened economy, poor consumer confidence and uncertain stock markets do not affect my focus on my personal and professional Goals and Vision. A recession has no sway over my desire and ability to help organizations, individual professionals and students achieve sustained success when times are good as well as when times are tough. FDR's words were a call to action for improved results, a call to action not unlike what I am suggesting now.
* Now is the time to plan for 2009 and the future
* Now is the time for creative and inspirational thinking
* Now is the time for renewed confidence in you, your family, community and country
* Now is the time to focus on what success means for you and your business
* Now is the time to be responsible for your actions and that of your organization
* Now is the time to invest in your personal and professional brand
* Now is the time to align your business with its Vision, Mission, Strategy and Goals
* Now is the time to put Fear behind you
* Now is the time to have fun and smile more
* Now is the time for Positive Attitudes and Purposeful Actions
As we take stock of our circumstances and craft our plan of action to advance, I believe we have 2 choices. We can wait for someone to tell us what to do next, a bailout of sorts. Or we can reach out to someone (mentor, adviser, coach etc.) who can help us with our accountability to the actions necessary to achieve improved results and sustained success.
Lead Well.
Rick Lochner
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