Leadership from a brief perspective

Naked Leader Week – 199 (w/c Monday 26 March 2007)

Leadership from a brief perspective

Boris Yeltsin, the first-ever democratically elected leader of Russia, had a reputation for never using a few words, when many would do.

At one press conference, with deadlines short, this was the interchange:

Journalist:     “Mr Yeltsin, How’s it going? And please, could you answer in just one word?” (Much laughter and good natured applause)

Mr Yeltsin:     “Good” (Bewildered silence)

(Pause)

Journalist:     “Mr Yeltsin, could you just expand on that?”

(At this point another journalist shouts – “in two words”)

(Pause)

Mr Yeltsin:     “Not Good”

I love brief answers, and my favourite of all time came last week – out of the blue.

On my last ever IT leadership event called Take Your Place, everyone has a question to answer in one minute, and we are strict they take a full minute.

Michele Hughes, IT Executive for Procter and Gamble, was asked the question – “How do you keep this message of your future – your choice, sustainable, so it doesn’t just disappear into the memory?”

A massive question. We all wondered how Michele would keep to just one minute!

She sat there in silence for a few moments, and then she said:

“Live it”

From one of the final delegates on one of the final questions on the final event of its kind after five years, the definitive “answer.”

A part of me thought – “Why have I written two books, when those two words would have done?”

Live it

Thank you Michele, thank you

Please, whoever you are, wherever you are, live as if you mean it.

David

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