Peter Holmes a Court – on Business Ethics and Leadership

Peter Holmes a Court – on Business Ethics and Leadership

Businessman Peter Holmes a Court spoke to a packed room at the Edmund Rice Centre Ethics in Business Forum in August 2008. I was privileged to attend and take some rough notes.

Holmes a Court related the woes of the world economy to an over-supply of Alpha leaders at the top of organisations. The Alpha leader is the CEO [leader] who says “I know the answer – follow me”. Such leaders have a fear of losing. A dreaded fear of ruin. It’s the fear factor that causes such CEOs to keep the market up when it needs to go down as part of a natural cycle. The result of such fear is talking up the market and gross manipulation that led to the sub-prime crisis in the USA and worldwide markets.

The Beta CEO [leader] on the other hand works on the premise that the answer lies within organisation and encompasses factors such as protection, regulation and risk, diligence, energy and regular strategy.

The Alpha leader “knows” what to do whether in parenting, community service or leading a corporation. The risk for the Alpha leader is getting it wrong. In which case the Alpha leader will find someone to “blame”, a scapegoat or other way out.

The Beta leader believes that it is very hard to beat the market. Things naturally go in cycles. By managing risk, the beta leader moves with the ebbs and flows to successfully manage the organisation. Beta parenting was also used as an example by Holmes a Court.

For me the speech provided many insights not only in leadership but in the area of group facilitation. In practice there are alpha facilitators who “control the pen” which means that all content goes through them. Alpha facilitators keep tight control of the group structure using ‘U’ shape, classroom and large table configurations. They like the focus to be on them and having complete control of the process. The risk of alpha facilitation is that people don’t tell the truth and as a result no change happens.

On the other hand, Beta facilitators makes sure that “everyone has a pen”. In beta facilitation the structure is more fluid utilizing circles and café style small groups. A Beta facilitator prepares well and manages the risk to ensure that powerful insights are possible.

http://www.erc.org.au/goodbusiness/page.php?pg=0803incoming0#1

Why Change Implementation is the New Frontier

Why Change Implementation is the New Frontier
A huge gap is emerging between those who know what needs to be done and those who have tools and skills to implement the change in an organisation.
In larger organisations, teams of consultants, analysts, leaders and change managers are involved in the planning of change. In smaller organisations the business owner often with an advisor decides what needs to be done.
When it comes to the crunch, knowing ‘what’ is the easy part. It’s in the ‘how’ or implementation that things nearly always come unstuck. How many well designed plans translate into real success and how many change programs deliver lasting benefit?
Those who follow the three stages of implementation will significantly increase their chances of success. The 3 stages, i) Alignment, ii) Traction and iii) Integration will be outlined in future editions of ‘Changing the Game’. http://www.tincanlearning.com/tincan_u.htm

Sole Practice Intensive | Parramatta | 19 Feb 2008

Sole Practice Intensive

Sole Practice Intensive (Public):

Special introductory rate: $299 inc 10% GST
This special rate includes: 6 x 1.5 hr group sessions; 6 x e-learning modules; Mentoring on the fly.
Sole Practice Intensive has been successfully running since mid 2007 as The Holistic Practice Cafe
The revised focus will assist those committed to sole practice in any area of endeavour
6 week intensive starting February 19, 2008 | 9:39 AM – 11:00 AM
Cafe Conti (Upstairs) 2/31A Fennell St, North Parramatta
Registration and/or expressions of interest

Frontline Leaders Intensive | Feb 12, 2008 | SME

Frontline Leaders Intensive
SME Edition | Public Program | North Parramatta

SME Edition (Public):
Details

Special introductory rate: $499 inc 10% GST (RRP $999)
This special rate includes: 6 x 1.5 hr group sessions; 6 x e-learning modules; Mentoring on the fly.
Frontline Leaders Intensive was officially launched during Small Business September 2007
with support from NSW Department of State and Regional Development
6 week intensive starting February 12, 2008 | 7:00 AM – 8:30 AM
Cafe Conti (Upstairs) 2/31A Fennell St, North Parramatta
Registration and/or expressions of interest
http://www.stickytickets.com.au/315/Frontline_Leaders_Intensive.aspx

Corporate Edition (In-House):
Frontline Leaders Intensive is proven to be both cost effective and very successful in organisations as an in-house program.
Corporate edition effective group size 12 - 20 plus.
For more information contact: Greg Jenkins | +61 2 9874 0418 | info@tincanlearning.com

PowerPoint Is Evil:

PowerPoint Is Evil:

'Power Corrupts. PowerPoint Corrupts Absolutely' says Edward R. Tufte, professor emeritus of political science, computer science and statistics, and graphic design at Yale.
Imagine a widely used and expensive prescription drug that promised to make us beautiful but didn't. Instead the drug had frequent, serious side effects: It induced stupidity, turned everyone into bores, wasted time, and degraded the quality and credibility of communication. These side effects would rightly lead to a worldwide product recall.
Yet slideware -computer programs for presentations - is everywhere: Several hundred million copies of Microsoft PowerPoint are churning out trillions of slides each year. Slideware may help speakers outline their talks, but convenience for the speaker can be punishing to both content and audience. The standard PowerPoint presentation elevates format over content, betraying an attitude of commercialism that turns everything into a sales pitch. Read the full story: http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/11.09/ppt2.html

Dr. Martin Seligman on Happiness:

Dr. Martin Seligman on Happiness:

Psychologist Martin Seligman has identified three components of happiness: the hedonic life, the engaged life, and the meaningful life.

- Hedonic is the most fleeting – it is the pleasure we get from buying a new television or from eating chocolate.

- Engaged is what you are when you are absorbed by what you’re doing, usually to the extent that time flies.

- The meaningful life is a life that serves something beyond yourself, whether religious faith or helping others.
Seligman believes that happiness can be improved. Most people concentrate too much on hedonic happiness – which feels good at the time but offers little lasting impact – and too little on engaged and meaningful happiness.

By discovering your strengths – those activities that engage you the most – and concentrating on developing those areas that offer lasting happiness, overall mental wellbeing can be increased.

In general, Seligman recommends that people be thankful for what they have rather than focus on negatives, help others, savour the smallest pleasures, formally express gratitude to people who help them, learn to forgive, and spend time with family and friends. Essentially, people will be happiest when living a good life rather than trying to acquire pleasure.
See www.authentichappiness.org for tests and other exercises.

The Earth Charter - Social Change Agents in Action

The Earth Charter - Social Change Agents in Action

The development of the Earth Charter is a great example of how a small group of change agents can have a major global impact. The Earth Charter is a declaration of fundamental principles for building a just, sustainable, and peaceful global society for the 21st century

Spearheaded by change agent Mikhail Gorbachev, The Earth Charter was created by the largest global consultation process ever associated with an international declaration with inputs from more than 5000 people. The Earth Charter has been endorsed by thousands of organizations representing millions of individuals. Many thousands of individuals have also endorsed the Earth Charter

The 4 principles of the Earth Charter:

1. Respect and Care for the Community of Life

2. 2.Ecological Integrity

3. 3.Social and Economic Justice

4. 4.Democracy, Non-Violence and Peace

Learn more about the Earth Charter http://www.earthcharter.org/