Building a better organization through strong leadership.

A guest blog by Patrick Mazzariol and Tricia Underwood. 

The most important asset to an organization is the people making employee retention a critical element of the organization.  An employee’s reason for leaving their company may not be what you suspect: more money, a better title or a new career opportunity.  In fact, when one million people were polled by Gallop in 2008, 82 percent responded, stating that, “I left my manager not the company.” The same poll found that there is a high correlation between employee satisfaction and performance, and an even higher correlation between leadership practices and employee satisfaction. A manager’s leadership skills have greater influence on employee fulfillment at work that most companies are willing to recognize. Companies must take an active role to build key leadership qualities and environments, less face the revolving door of employee turnover and a weaker organization.

“Big successes come from dealing with the little things.” claims Reuben Mark, former CEO of Colgate-Palmolive.

“If you have good numbers, show them up front!” begins Reuben Mark. The numbers for Colgate-Palmolive are indeed impressive. Speaking as a guest at the Harvard Business School, the former CEO of Colgate-Palmolive can show a total return of some 4200% during his 23-year tenure. This is more than 40% higher than peer companies. But Mr. Mark claims that this success is due to the company’s ability deal with the small, everyday issues. This may not make for dramatic headlines, but they are universal things that have kept the company in business since its creation in 1806. 

Peter Drucker Forum 2013: “What Would Drucker Say Now?; What Have We Learned?” The concluding discussion

In the concluding session discussion “What Would Drucker Say Now?” at the 5th Global Peter Drucker Forum, Rick Watzman, the executive director at the Drucker Institute and Steve Denning a Member of the Board of Directors at Scrum Alliance and a Forbes contributor lead the debate. The discussion is then continued by Lukas Michel, Founder & Managing Director at Sphere Advisors and AgilityINsights, before Pierre Hessler the chairman’s delegate at Capgemini gives an overall synthesis and brings the conference to a close.

Peter Drucker Forum 2013: “The Two Faces of Complexity” by Julian Birkinshaw

During the last session of the 5th Global Peter Drucker Forum, Julian Birkinshaw looked at the two faces of complexity.

Peter Drucker Forum 2013: “The embarrassment of complexity” by Helga Nowotny

At the 2013 Peter Drucker Forum, Helga Nowotny looked at the embarrassment of complexity and in particular its positive sides. She argued that complexity can expand human capabilities by the clever use of technology linked to novel organizational forms. It humbles us in view of what can and cannot be predicted.

 

BOOK REVIEW: “A Song in the Night: A Memoir of Resilience” by Bob Massie (2012)

“From my earliest moments, my life was marked by deep joy interrupted regularly by searing physical pain.”

Born with hemophilia, Bob Massie’s story is literally stunning. I was fortunate enough to attend one of his talks recently and like some fifty odd colleagues I was spellbound for over an hour as he talked about the struggles he has had to overcome. He is not bitter or filled with regret. He final message is one of this hope and joy. “If I am lucky,” he says  “I have another 10 000 days on this Earth and I intend to enjoy every single one of them.”

A Song in the Night sets out his life story. Read this book and if you ever get the chance, find out where Mr. Massie is speaking and go and listen to him. 

BOOK REVIEW: “The Global Achievement Gap” by Tony Wagner (2010)

This week’s edition of The Economist contains a review and discussion of Amanda  Ripley’s “The Smartest Kids in the World: And How They Got That Way.” The book readdresses the paradox that the USA has the best universities in the world but does badly on international tests in secondary education.  The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) ranking places the US 25^th out of 56 participating countries for mathematical skills, just ahead of Latvia, and behind the Slovak Republic.  Ms. Ripley’s book is largely reiterating many of the ideas by Tony Wagner in his book, “The Global Achievement Gap.”  Ignored for several years when it was first written, it has today become a highly influential book.