Awaken the Sleeping Giant Within. (#237)
The Confident Leader
BOOST YOUR LEADERSHIP IN UNCERTAIN TIMES
During a coaching session this week, Chris, a CEO, expressed his regret over the recent layoffs he and his leadership team carried out. “Many of those let go were long-term employees,” he said, “but it was necessary.” Here was his reasoning.
“Victory goes to the fittest.”
– Herbert Spencer (English philosopher and sociologist)
This Week’s Edition
McKinsey reports that a significant portion of organizations, estimated at around 20-30%, face considerable revenue losses due to inefficiencies in their processes. Many companies are not functioning at optimal efficiency levels.
Clarify Your Thinking
The media is reporting layoffs and expense-cutting measures by many organizations. The most infamous is the federal government. Under the direction of Elon Musk, DOGE, the Department of Government Efficiency, is reducing the government workforce and cutting costs to streamline government operations.
The CEO of JP Morgan, Jaime Dimon, is also getting in on the action. During his recent all-hands call, he criticized his team for their lack of performance, primarily resulting from their work-from-home policy.
In my coaching practice, more than half of the leaders I work with seem to be experiencing organizational changes like these. Following the pandemic and its effects, there appears to be an age of leadership enlightenment.
Leaders are awakening to a new level of decision-making in leadership. If leaders don’t genuinely take care of business, their companies won’t remain in business for long. Leaders understand that they must guide their organizations effectively and successfully, focusing on:
Increased revenue. Reduced expenses. Streamlined operating procedures. Investment in technology. Enhanced and more innovative strategic solutions.
Old Thinking: Why are our margins lower than they used to be? I am concerned they won’t bounce back. I don’t want to have to make any layoffs, and I feel stuck. What we used to do worked really well. I hope it’ll turn around.
New Thinking: The entire business climate has changed. I’m not sure our organization is optimized for today’s environment, let alone for the future. I need to rally my team and think through how to make it fit for the fight.
Thoughts Lead to Actions
Chris recognizes that his company must implement changes to succeed in its highly competitive market. Although his team boosted revenue last year, profits remained stagnant. He is acutely aware that he is the leader of the entire organization and is accountable to the shareholders.
He has to make tough decisions to keep his organization on its toes, even if that means reducing his force. That’s the job.
Many headwinds exist beyond a leader’s control, including taxes, tariffs, inflation, rising competition, and technology disruptions.
That doesn’t mean there aren’t other available levers to create the change needed to thrive in an uncertain future. As you reflect on your leadership, here are three things to consider during your leadership thinking time this week:
1. What is your organization’s future Vision?
- Revenue targets
- Profit margin
- New services and markets
2. Are your operations optimized to achieve the Vision?
- Sufficient staff? Too many?
- Standard operating procedures are written and followed.
- Investment in technology?
3. Hard decisions that need to be made?
- Trim headcount?
- Set higher expectations?
- Hold people accountable to their performance levels?
It is time to rise to the moment. At some point, we will have an upcycle. Use this time to prepare your organization for the fight. Condition it for the race it will be called to run.
Boost Your Performance
Watch this week’s video to learn more about getting fit for the fight.
What’s Your Opinion?
What is your current approach to awakening to the leadership moment? Share it with me at robin.pou@robinpou.com.
If you are going to be a leader, you might as well be a good one. Don’t let doubt count you out. Have a confident week!
Robin Pou, Chief Advisor and Strategist
We live to make bad leadership extinct so forward this newsletter to others who strive to be confident leaders.
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What is “The Confident Leader”?
During the Covid-19 Pandemic, I began a video series called “Panic or Plan?” It was designed to equip leaders to navigate the doubt they experienced and to rise in the confidence they needed to lead during turbulent times. It took off. I then started this newsletter to equip leaders in the same fashion each week for the doubt that crashes across the bow of their leaderSHIP.
