My style of leadership LO8977

GaltJohn22@aol.com
Thu, 8 Aug 1996 21:17:34 -0400

Replying to LO8921 --

In a message dated 96-08-08 10:40:18 EDT, you write:

>Personal Pledge to Those Who Work With Me
>
> The following leadership principles have served me well over the years.
> Please read them carefully because this is the environment I will endeavor
> to create under my stewardship.

Well . . . I'm not sure this is ALL good. Indeed, I find a lot that is
a. Disingenuous, and,
b. Abrogative in it.

For example . . .

Your dissertation provides no vision for the organization at all (other
than a rather thin "This is how I want the PROCESS to run" sort of
vision.) Insofar as I can read, there is not one concrete goal stated,
only sort of "touchy feely" "wishes".

See, what I find objectionable is, at best, you speak of process rather
than result, yet all these folk, first you, are really measured by result.

The statement does nothing (for me) toward INSPIRATION ( though it, at
least admits inspiration may exist); it certainly REQUIRES no creativity
though it ALLOWS creativity.

It is, further, arrogant in its statement that you require your
subordinates to work "...at least as hard..." as you. Basically, that
statement REALLY says "I know I work harder than you and I 'hope' you
recognize this."

In all, I'd say you will never succeed with such a statement. Perhaps in
a static environment such as big government, education, etc.

Try, if you will, mapping this statement to Thomas Edison's inception of
GE. Watson's genesis, even Bill Gates. The environment you describe will,
ever so slightly, improve an arthritic, existing organization which has
been under poor leadership for quite some time. It is, IMHO, unllikely to
EVER create any lasting value.

I am not attacking you, sir, but, rather, this idea you seem to have that
this philosophy is superior (or even good). To me, it MIGHT improve what
IS but will never create anything worthwhile.

As an example, IMHO, anyone requiring your permission to be creative can't
BE creative in the first place. Genius is not "long-suffering".

The good news is that your ideas MIGHT unlock the mediocre from the
substandard, and that is a win of some import.

- Hal

Hal Popplewell
GaltJohn22@aol.com

-- 

GaltJohn22@aol.com

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