Roger North, Author at North Group Consultants

November 4, 2011

Two Leaders – Two Outcomes by Roger North

How can two leaders doing virtually the same tasks get such vastly different organizational results? I’ve been thinking about that question as I’ve observed two leaders lately.

There are many similarities. Both leaders work very hard. No questions about commitment or work ethic. Both communicate clearly and consistently. Communication does not appear to be the difference. Highly organized? Yes, for both.

But here’s the situation. When I walk into the first organization, I feel and see enthusiasm, energy and engagement. When I walk into the second organization, I feel and see hmm…I guess I would call it lethargy.

And, you probably don’t need me to tell you this. The first organization is growing…fast! The second organization is, well, unfortunately it is shrinking.

Does the feeling you get in each firm and the direction those firms are headed have anything to do with their leaders? Of course it does! So where does the difference lie?

Since our beginning in 1997, North Group has believed that “being comes before doing”. Put another way, who you are (as a leader) matters more than what you do.

My favorite example of this principle is President Ronald Reagan. Few would argue that Mr. Reagan was an intellectual or a policy “wonk”. Nor would we contend that he was a financial expert or even a great manager. Do you remember his nickname while in office? “The Great Communicator.”

Here’s my message. I don’t think it was actually about the words Mr. Reagan was communicating. Rather, it was that we believed Mr. Reagan. We actually thought that he believed his own words of optimism and hope for a bright future. We believed that Mr. Reagan’s heart was in his words. His “being” came before his “doing”.

Isn’t that what we ask of our leaders? Sincerity, authenticity, belief? When our leaders are “being” people – essentially those who consistently elevate the interests of others above their own – organizations (even countries) thrive. When we don’t believe in our leaders’ intentions? Well, lethargy, atrophy, poor morale…

What we believe about our leaders matters. Who our leaders are matters. Being comes before doing. Are you a “being” leader?

We welcome your comments at blog@northgroupconsultants.com.

July 20, 2011

The Weight of the Job by Roger North

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is a golfer now. Yeah, she’s a Stanford professor and a best selling author in waiting. But I am most interested in her conversion to golf. She has a history as an achiever, including as an accomplished pianist and tennis player, so naturally she is turning to the hardest sport of all.

A recent issue of Golf Digest featured an interview with the former Secretary. One of her many thoughtful responses really grabbed my attention. She was asked if she would ever tee it up with President Obama, himself an avid golfer. Her response? “Oh sure, absolutely. I know what it’s like for him. People have absolutely no idea how pressurized those jobs are. You never, ever feel any release from it. You get up in the morning feeling the weight of the job, and you go to bed at night feeling the weight of the job.”

Wow! What a terrific description of what it feels like to be a leader. I identified with Secretary Rice’s comment about the pressure of being a leader. Now don’t get me wrong, I’ve never held the future of the free world in my hands. But I function most of the time as a leader. I’ve felt the weight of those responsibilities as I’ve gone to bed at night and as I’ve awakened in the morning. You’re familiar with that feeling, aren’t you?

Secretary Rice goes on to say: “I remember so well, a few days after I’d left government, waking up and thinking, what’s that? Oh, it’s the absence of pressure! So, anything President Obama can do, whether it is shooting hoops or going out and hitting golf balls, I hope he does it.”

What about you? How do you take care of yourself? How do you relieve the pressures of leadership? I would go as far as to say that you owe it to those you lead to find ways to get away from the pressures of leadership. Why? Because leaders need to lead from a place of wholeness. A place where they can consistently place the interests of their organizations, employees and clients ahead of their own. It takes a whole person to do that consistently well. To take care of others, you must take care of yourself.

Me? I’m trying to get Secretary Rice on the phone to see if she can make a 1:00 tee time on Friday.

We welcome your comments at blog@northgroupconsultants.com.