"Finger Pointers are notorious for avoiding mirrors."
THE DEN OF CHIEFS PT. 1
FOUR WALL SANCTUARY
Inside the C-Suite, The Chief Executive must identify opportunities to strengthen alignment among its members. Balancing competing personalities, leadership styles and a host of priorities, the “Den” is best served by a leader focused on collective synergy and holding Suite members accountable.
Advances in technology have provided an excuse for executives to rely on automated management tools, abandoning traditional means of data sharing. Today, C-suite members manage departments with fingertips, minimizing real-time physical interaction.
Behind the protection of four walls, Suite members hastily make decisions without observed evidence. Even more damaging is when the leader of the "Den" embraces and encourages this form of leadership, while leaving systemic issues unchecked.
As Chief Exemplar and leader of the pack, you set the tone for alignment and accountability within the "Den."
"Business becomes personal when ambition precedes loyalty."
THE DEN OF CHIEFS PT. 2
RECOGNIZING SABOTUERS
Misalignment within the “Suite” can also contribute to conflict among its members. Considering the egos that accompany the titles, there’s no shortage of opportunities to disagree or descent from a previously agreed upon strategy.
Conflicts over budgets, staffing, and direction, could pit the best of colleagues against each other. If unchecked, these disagreements could lead to voluntary departures and even worse—sabotage.
A direct challenge or undermining could come from anyone within your C-Suite. Some leaders assume loyalty and rapport will prevent potential threats to their posts. Keep in mind that both tenured and newly appointed members have ambitions to ascend as well. Leaders who fail to identify patterns of subversive behavior are more likely to be dethroned.
C-Suite members are as loyal as their options. Leaders must be prepared to confront potential sabotage.
"Both Foresight and Hindsight provide great insight."
A VIEW OUTSIDE THE DEN
Leaders who conflate a corporate retreat with C-Suite alignment accomplish neither.
For senior leaders, workshops and training courses are a great gesture, however, they just don't work. Your people will come back to the den, try it for a day and, soon forget about it. To properly address the needs of your Suite, you'll need to explore more effective alternatives.
Corporate retreats provide more incentive to “slack off” than actually getting to the root of synergy challenges. You’ll spend resources sending people away, instead of addressing issues in real time. In most cases, strategy retreats are anathema to your pursuit of alignment.
CRAIG NEAL® THE COLLABORATOR®
ALIGN YOUR C-SUITE WITH MAIN STREET®
Leaders who become too comfortable with delegating become even more lax with follow through. Alignment within your C-Suite is critical to successfully lead the pack. To run an effective "Den" You're going to need the right skills to lead your team of leaders. As your trusted Advisor & Collaborator, we'll focus on leadership strategies & methods specific to alignment. Together, we'll focus on engaging your people, customers, suppliers and more. You'll benefit from the transference of skills that address the issues and enhance your leadership capabilities.