Delvin R. Chatterson's Blog, page 16

Justin Trudeau’s lessons in leadership

It’s not all hope and happy optimism  

I thought he was “just a high school teacher….”, but apparently he was better schooled in the family business than I thought.

Justin Trudeau is a very different personality from his father, but just as inspirational a leader and communicator. Quoting Sir Wilfred Laurier, possibly our most inspiring and exemplary Canadian Prime Minister, he has shown us the “sunny way” to a better Canada. Not just doing better and contributing more to a better world, but also feeling better about being Canadian.

What can we learn from Trudeau’s leadership of the Liberals that brought them from near oblivion to a majority government in just three years? Being a charming and handsome young man is not necessary and communicating hope and happy optimism is not sufficient.

The key element for Trudeau was the hard-work getting ready to present himself as a legitimate candidate for Prime Minister. Most important in his opinion, was all the time and effort spent listening to and connecting with Canadians of all ages, regions and interests across the country. He learned a lot and gave his supporters more confidence in him at the same time. He was able to test policies and ideas with future electors.  And he learned that he could get away with a lot in revealing himself and occasionally looking foolish, naïve or inexperienced, as long as he was authentic. He learned not to put on a false smile or read somebody else’s lines in order to play political games. The more we saw of him the better we liked him.

His sincerity, generosity and compassion all appear genuine. (The skeptics may still think he’s just a good actor and we’re blinded by the charm and good looks, but most of us are convinced we are getting the real deal in the Justin we now know.) There is no denying his commitment, energy and enthusiasm for doing the right thing for all Canadians. It seems to be contagious.  We are all feeling more generous, caring and compassionate since Monday and happy and proud to be the Canadians we thought we were. Even the conservative Canadians that voted for the other guy are expressing those sentiments.

The euphoria may end soon, however, as the new Prime Minister has to make hard decisions and say no to some popular ideas or adjust his promises to meet real world constraints – economic or geopolitical. His next conversation with President Obama may be on the tactics of lowering expectations.

So, the real tests of leadership begin with his swearing in as Prime Minister on November 4th, but we should recognize how much he has accomplished already with leadership based on the personal touch, caring and compassionate listening, being authentic and genuine, risking exposure of his faults and weaknesses, and consistently communicating energy, optimism and enthusiasm. Those are the qualities of leadership that will cause people to follow and support the cause.

 

 

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Being #1 – It’s hard to get there and may not last long

Jason Day achieved his goals on the weekend, winning the BMW Championship, leading in the FedEx Cup standings and becoming No. 1 in the World Golf Rankings.

It was the No. 1 ranking that he was most excited about – a lifelong goal achieved at age 27 after six years as a professional golfer.  And proudly the third Australian after Greg Norman  (before the Tiger Woods reign) and Adam Scott more recently.  Day has been impressive with nearly flawless golf over the last two months and dominant in three of his last five tournaments, including the British and Canadian Opens. He is now one of only five golfers in the last 36 years that have one five or more PGA tournaments in a season.  The others are Tom Watson, Nick Price, Vijay Singh and Tiger Woods – 10 times! (We still can’t get used to him not being a threat to win every outing.)

Jason Day announced his goal to be No. 1 eight years ago when he first started on the PGA Tour and was ridiculed for it. It did seem an impossible dream when Tiger Woods was well into his longest reign at the top of World Golf Rankings over the five years that ended in 2010.  And now competition is even tougher, as Day readily acknowledges.  Over the last five years, the No.1 spot has changed names 19 times (three times in the last two weeks between Day, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy) among eight different players, including Woods again in 2013.

Driven by competition.

Day explains his motivation and performance as being inspired first by Tiger Woods and now by his biggest challengers – Spieth and McIlroy.

Another reminder: competition is good for everybody.

 

 

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Astonishingly irresponsible and incompetent leadership at VW

All justified in the relentless pursuit of #1 in auto sales.

Volkswagen’s emission test cheating is just the most recent example of incompetent, irresponsible leadership pursuing sales at any cost, ignoring the risks.

Apparently it was a brief success for the man responsible for US sales, Martin Winterkorn – he is now CEO of Volkswagen, but he should be expecting to be fired this week. Somehow VW justified promoting “clean diesel” to sell cars and save the planet, while installing a device to cheat during emissions testing before belching pollution on the road - exceeding regulatory requirements by up to 40 times!

I have been preaching for years the theme of  “enlightened entrepreneurship” and the first principle is to avoid the focus on short term profit and recognize that the primary objective of any business is to build sustainable long term value.  (Chasing short-term sales revenue is the first mistake; an early learning experience for most entrepreneurs.)

Enlightened entrepreneurship and building sustainable long-term value requires consideration of the consequences for all stakeholders – owners, employees, customers, suppliers, communities and the planet – and making decisions accordingly.  The concept is clearly not understood or badly neglected by Volkswagen (and GM management that ignored a faulty ignition switch that is considered to have been responsible for 67 or more deaths in their vehicles.)

Modern automobiles are complicated and the challenges are daunting to ensure that safety and regulatory  requirements are met.  But long term value of the company and the brand require exceptional care and attention to customer perceptions of quality and performance.

Recent experience with BMW suggests they are leaning in the right direction. My 2015 BMW435 purchased in April was recently voluntarily recalled with over 2000 other BMWs to be replaced with a new car “out of an abundance of caution and potential concerns about long-term vehicle quality” as they were all stuck in ice and salt water during an ice storm in Halifax.  Not exactly good news, but at least pre-emptive action to avoid the risks rather than shut-up and keep on selling. (It’s worth noting that other European manufacturers were also frozen into that outdoor storage area. Have you heard of any other “Halifax ice storm recalls”?)

Unfortunately, it all makes us even more suspicious of sales pitches and marketing claims.  And not just those of car sales people and the auto industry. Whether it’s “clean diesel”, “fat free”, “organic”, “ethical”, “green”, “free trade”, or any other appealing theme, I’m a skeptic.  You should be too.

The post Astonishingly irresponsible and incompetent leadership at VW appeared first on Learning Entrepreneurship.

Looking for inspiration

 

Looking for inspiration in the clouds, from the 26th floor rooftop above the St. Lawrence.

I’ve been regularly hiking in the stairwell of our condo building, doing laps from the 10th floor.  Trying to get in shape for hiking in the Rockies with my brother in October. It’s 440 steps and 330 feet from the basement to the rooftop.  A lap takes 11 minutes non-stop and the view is not usually this good, unless the window washers leave the door open to the rooftop.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoyed the view, cleared my mind and went back to my desk with new enthusiasm.  I recommend the strategy to get yourself inspired.

Be better.  Do better.

The post Looking for inspiration appeared first on Learning Entrepreneurship.

“How can she be this good with these clubs?”

Another Canadian golfer achieves world class status. Brooke Henderson, only 17 years old but a golfing phenomenon, won her first LPGA event last weekend by eight strokes!

She started young and obviously has tons of talent, but she did it her way. Scott Stinson, National Post sports columnist quotes her women’s amateur team coach checking her golf bag when she arrived as a 14-year old amateur and remarking “How in the world can she be this good with these clubs.” Apparently she had a mix of brands, sizes, grips and designs that she used to make any shot she needed. Sometimes with the same club, she could bend it left or right, hit it long or short, high or low. A special talent that she developed following her older sister and parents around the golf course in Smiths Falls, Ontario. “She grew up knowing it was fun to hit stupid shots,” said her coach.

As I have been advised myself: Learn to play like a child does. Forget about the club selection, the stance, the grip and the swing technique, just look at the target and find a way to put the ball there. Then practice until you can do it consistently. In other words, keep it simple. Just do it. (My apologies for the Nike slogan as her sponsor appears to be Ping.)

Is there a lesson there for entrepreneurs?

Yes. Stop worrying about the tools and the techniques. Go back to enjoying your passion for the game and find a way to make it fun again.

The post “How can she be this good with these clubs?” appeared first on Learning Entrepreneurship.

Friendly Competition Inspires Everybody

Friendly Competition Inspires Everybody

The PGA Championship on Sunday saw the fans’ new favourite Jordan Spieth against the talented Australian Jason Day in a head-to-head contest that was an impressive display of superb golf and exceptional sportsmanship. Inspiration for us all. Meanwhile Rory McIlroy, the third superstar in this newly anointed trio of golf’s “Big Three” was lurking not far behind, in spite of it being his first competition after six weeks of recovery from a sprained ankle.

All three young players continue to demonstrate great respect for each other as competitors and for the traditions and history of the game. Fiercely competitive all, they keep it in perspective. As McIlroy himself said recently, “It may be a big deal to those of us in this bubble, but in the rest of the world only a very small percentage are even interested.”

And in spite of the big stakes, they are all friends. Chatting and grinning, enjoying each other’s good shots, Spieth and Day continued battling to the 18th hole. Winning by three shots, Jason Day won the Championship and $1.8 million while making history with the lowest score ever in a Major golf tournament at -20. Jordan Spieth had to settle for second and only $1 million, but also made history beating Tiger Woods’ record for lowest score in the four Majors in one year at -54. (He won the first two – the Masters and US Open.). He also bumped Rory McIlroy out of #1 in the World Golf rankings.

Three very impressive and talented young men of character. Inspiring us by demonstrating that competition does not have to be like war. You do not have to hate your opponents as enemies. All is not fair. You can still focus on winning while playing by the rules and respecting your competitors.

Keep it in mind for your next round.

 

The post Friendly Competition Inspires Everybody appeared first on Learning Entrepreneurship.

Business challenges continue. Time to revise your plans?

Time to reflect on current challenges and revise the plan?  

 Any time is a good time to take a look at doing better this year.

 How are we doing so far? 

It seems that we are always in uncertain and challenging times. Maybe that’s what they mean by the “new economy”. But we have been here before and it has been even worse in the past. Still, the current environment and recent events have us wondering again about the impact on our businesses.

What are the right management strategies and action plans to get through this year and build a more resilient, stable and successful business for the future?

Here are the lessons we have learned in the past: 

1. Do not react to the headlines.

They are primarily trying to get your attention and a train wreck, death or disaster are always more interesting than a business success story. You will not likely get balanced or insightful input to your planning or decision making from the daily news. You will have to dig deeper. Make sure your market feedback and competitive analysis are both current and accurate.

2. Communicate. Communicate. Communicate.

Keep employees and customers informed. They are also worried and confused and need to be reassured that they can count on you. You may not have good news for them, but it will be appreciated that they are hearing directly from you and are not left guessing what’s next.

3. Keep on Selling.

Now is not the time to cut back on marketing and sales. Your efforts will be even more conspicuous and effective if your competitors are suddenly reducing their marketing and sales efforts. Be selective and very focused. Work on building stronger customer relationships by being relevant and responsive to the current circumstances. Calmness, confidence and competence are very appealing to those potential buyers who are still spending and want reliable, long term suppliers.

4. Do quickly what obviously needs to be done.

If it’s clear to you, it’s also clear to the people affected. They are waiting for you to act and will be more confident and proactive themselves if they see you taking action. Face the facts, don’t fight the facts. Now may even be a good time to take advantage of the heightened awareness of crisis and make the hard decisions that you have been avoiding. Everyone will be more willing to accept the consequences.

5. Adapt.

Remember Darwin’s “survival of the fittest”: those who adapt to their environment are most likely to survive; not the strongest nor the biggest. This is not the time to be stubbornly persistent and sticking to your plans. Look around and be creative. Your destination may still be the same, but the route, the vehicle, the driver and the passengers may need to be changed.

6. Be confident, but cautious.

Recognize the difference between taking a calculated risk and taking a wild swing hoping for the best. Make a decision if the potential outcomes and the probabilities are reasonably clear, but hold fire if they are not.

7. Show conspicuous leadership.

This is not the time to hide in your office. Strong leaders understand the need to be the most conspicuous communicator on current issues. No one can do it better than the one who is ultimately responsible for taking action. We may not all be adept at it, but we can all speak with more sincerity than any spokesperson or intermediary on our concerns, our strategies and our plans. Good management will be tested again and again, but good decisions will mean a better business for the future. Keep at it and better times will follow soon.

Stay hopeful and be optimistic.   

Learn more with Uncle Ralph’s Books for Entrepreneurs

Two new books: “Don’t Do It the Hard Way” and “The Complete Do-It-Yourself Guide to Business Plans.” are available online or at your favourite bookstore. To learn more or buy a copy: Click here

 

 

The post Business challenges continue. Time to revise your plans? appeared first on Learning Entrepreneurship.

Challenging times continue. Time to revise your plans?

Time to reflect on current challenges and revise the plan?  

 Any time is a good time to take a look at doing better this year.

 How are we doing so far? 

It seems that we are always in uncertain and challenging times. Maybe that’s what they mean by the “new economy”. But we have been here before and it has been even worse in the past. Still, the current environment and recent events have us wondering again about the impact on our businesses.

What are the right management strategies and action plans to get through this year and build a more resilient, stable and successful business for the future?

Here are the lessons we have learned in the past: 

1. Do not react to the headlines.

They are primarily trying to get your attention and a train wreck, death or disaster are always more interesting than a business success story. You will not likely get balanced or insightful input to your planning or decision making from the daily news. You will have to dig deeper. Make sure your market feedback and competitive analysis are both current and accurate.

2. Communicate. Communicate. Communicate.

Keep employees and customers informed. They are also worried and confused and need to be reassured that they can count on you. You may not have good news for them, but it will be appreciated that they are hearing directly from you and are not left guessing what’s next.

3. Keep on Selling.

Now is not the time to cut back on marketing and sales. Your efforts will be even more conspicuous and effective if your competitors are suddenly reducing their marketing and sales efforts. Be selective and very focused. Work on building stronger customer relationships by being relevant and responsive to the current circumstances. Calmness, confidence and competence are very appealing to those potential buyers who are still spending and want reliable, long term suppliers.

4. Do quickly what obviously needs to be done.

If it’s clear to you, it’s also clear to the people affected. They are waiting for you to act and will be more confident and proactive themselves if they see you taking action. Face the facts, don’t fight the facts. Now may even be a good time to take advantage of the heightened awareness of crisis and make the hard decisions that you have been avoiding. Everyone will be more willing to accept the consequences.

5. Adapt.

Remember Darwin’s “survival of the fittest”: those who adapt to their environment are most likely to survive; not the strongest nor the biggest. This is not the time to be stubbornly persistent and sticking to your plans. Look around and be creative. Your destination may still be the same, but the route, the vehicle, the driver and the passengers may need to be changed.

6. Be confident, but cautious.

Recognize the difference between taking a calculated risk and taking a wild swing hoping for the best. Make a decision if the potential outcomes and the probabilities are reasonably clear, but hold fire if they are not.

7. Show conspicuous leadership.

This is not the time to hide in your office. Strong leaders understand the need to be the most conspicuous communicator on current issues. No one can do it better than the one who is ultimately responsible for taking action. We may not all be adept at it, but we can all speak with more sincerity than any spokesperson or intermediary on our concerns, our strategies and our plans. Good management will be tested again and again, but good decisions will mean a better business for the future. Keep at it and better times will follow soon.

Stay hopeful and be optimistic.   

Learn more with Uncle Ralph’s Books for Entrepreneurs

Two new books: “Don’t Do It the Hard Way” and “The Complete Do-It-Yourself Guide to Business Plans.” are available online or at your favourite bookstore. To learn more or buy a copy: Click here

 

 

The post Challenging times continue. Time to revise your plans? appeared first on Learning Entrepreneurship.

Defining “Professionalism”

Yesterday I learned the definition of professionalism from an electrician and a plumber doing some work in our new condo.  It was impressive and maybe not a surprise from a highly recommended local contractor, but in sharp contrast to a “professional” business evaluator later in the day.

The two tradesmen simply demonstrated clear competence in their field of expertise and sincere respect for the customer. Demonstrated how?

They both called ahead to confirm, arrived on time with all the right tools and equipment, respected the staff on site and the building rules of access, politely introduced themselves and carefully assessed the requirements, explained the work before starting, did the work quickly and efficiently, explained any issues or difficulties they encountered, took care of the premises, cleaned up afterwards, explained the invoice and handled the payment before leaving. All very professional, by my definition. Not always delivered as well by the so called professionals, as I was reminded later in the day.

During dinner about 8:00 PM, I received an unexpected call from a business evaluator wanting to arrange a visit to a client’s business recently sold and going through due diligence. It was a rude introduction on a poor connection from home with kids and dogs in the background. “I got a message to call you”, but he did not know much more than that. Definitely not a good first impression and leads me to expect less than professional service when we meet.

My recommendations and referrals are instead going with my compliments to Jodoin Électrique et Plomberie in Verdun, Québec.

It doesn’t matter what trade or profession you are in, professionalism may be your competitive edge. Keep all your staff and associates on a high level and it will make a difference to attracting and retaining customers.

See more comments from “Uncle Ralph” at: http://learningentrepreneurship.com/learning-blogs/e2eforum-blog/

 

 

 

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Humble Excellence – It works for Entrepreneurs too.

The newest Masters Champion, Jordan Speith, set a few golf records and is already being compared to Tiger Woods and setting up to challenge Rory McIlroy for World No. 1.

But what was most impressive was his quiet and humble confidence under the brightest spotlight and highest pressure against the best golfers on the planet.  This kid can play and does it with humility and polite respect for the game, the commentators and the fans.  Not the brash, arrogant or aloof young Texan we might expect.  Not over coached on PR and political correctness, he is completely genuine and open about himself and his game.

I have often suggested that the worst combination of characteristics to kill successful performance is the mix of arrogance and incompetence.  Jordan Speith is the exact opposite. Clearly a superb golfer who has mastered the whole game – the techniques, the strategy and the mental strength – and he remains calmly confident and humble about it all.

A great example for entrepreneurs.  No flash and self-promotion, just quiet, confidence and gentlemanly, respectful conduct. It works in business too.

 

 

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