Leadership from a different perspective – Yours

Naked Leader Week – 66 – Monday 2 August 2004

Leadership from a different perspective – Yours

 I receive many e-mails from people who feel trapped inside large organisations. Some feel there is nothing they can do to make changes, while others are determined that their future will be different from the past.

I received an inspiring e-mail from Spain last week from someone who is determined to so something about it. They wish to remain anonymous:

“Dear David

I was lost on the road. My situation in the company I work for became very frustrated as it is full of negativity and blame. The company has been around for 20 years and have a diverse cultural mix that normally is a good thing. I joined as a sales development manager, being responsible for developing new markets.

Now, the funny thing is, the company are not willing to do the right investments, as it is not in the traditional focus. This comes back to the management and how they think. We work in a reactive way, instead of proactive.

The vision is lost. The entire office I work in suffers from frustration; they wander around leaderless without inspiration.

And then, one day, I thought about who owned my life – me, or someone else. And I also thought that if I don’t do something about it now, I never will. As a result, I am now working on an “action plan” or ethnical plan if you wish, of how to bring a cultural change in my company. All the discussions I have had in the office with the “grassroots” tell me the same story, but no one is acting upon this

It is a matter of “know what to do and do it”… The question I asked myself is, HOW can I bring myself to do the change and how will my senior management act? If the company wants to survive, a change is definitely needed, but no one is acting upon it.

My plan has been to take this up with my closest manager and communicate openly about the issues and suggest a change – or several. Most of the people here say: “it is impossible to change the ideology of this company, it’s like talking to a mute”…

I am not afraid and I will set the minds and potential free!”

People often tell me that leadership is far easier to apply in our personal lives than in our organisations. I agree, however what is an organisation, if not its people. What is your organisation, if not you?

With love

David

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