> 2. Be innovative. A leader must learn to think on
> his or her feet.
Could you clarify the importance in the connection between being
innovative and "thinking on his or her feet" ? Below are some of my
views.
I do not see the critical connection between "thinking on his or her feet"
and being innovative. Why can't one be innovative while sitting back in
the chair or while taking a shower (recall the "what if . . " commercial).
How does the "thinking on your feet" mode give you time to be innovative ?
I tend to relate thinking on one's feet more to the skill of fire
fighting. And the skill of fire fighting is more of a reactionary,
survival mode of "do what seems most obvious and convenient to douse the
flames" - the quick fix. No innovative expectations there, and not really
ideal conditions for being innovative and creative.
I have observed over the last few years that those who have good fire
fighting skills do not have seem to demonstrate innovative, visionary
skills (either because they do not have the capacity, or the culture does
not reward it). Fire fighting deals with the present (those with good
auditory skills seem to become the fire fighters of the organization, and
traditionally, the ones in charge), whereas being innovative and visionary
means seeing, creating, and living in an future different than the present
(those with good visual skills seem to lean toward this skill).
Bill Walsh wrote an interesting article in Forbes' June 5th ASAP titled
"Beware the Crisis Lovers". He warns of the crises managers looking to
create crises and encourage chaos in times of stability so that they can
become heros again.
-- TFYY93A@prodigy.com (MR GEOFFREY F FOUNTAIN)