“Let’s see if your walk is as good as your talk.”
From “Zatรดichi kenda-daiko”
(1968)
On Management – the fourth article in our five part "What is Fusion?" Series.
In this series we’ve talked about Communication, Sales and Culture Building. This article focuses on Management Development and applies to anyone who leads – not just those at the top. Around here, we do it in two flavors: Management Practices for Teams and Executive Counsel for Individuals.
Let’s begin with a specific First Principle, then discuss how First Principles are employed in Management Development at Fusion:
First Principle:
Life is a combination of the conceptual and the concrete. Actions and words. What leaders say and what they do.
The alignment, or lack thereof... between words and actions is what convinces us that this is a leader who's serious – who means what they say – who's worth following – emulating. Or not.
In the vernacular, it's called "Walking Your Talk."
Study Example:
At a national meeting, the leader delivers a rousing speech: Unique, Stylish, Passionate! Though she and her direct reports had enjoyed and mastered “Ready, Set, Go!®”; this executive was so taken with the feelings of the moment that she abandoned her hard won discipline and simply held forth! Unfortunately, the message to the troops was: Yes we spent millions teaching you to deliver as a team, working from a shared discipline, and a shared set of stories, but the Boss just went off the reservation and did it her own way. Of course everyone loved the speech; yet they wasted no time in pointing out the Actions vs. Words dissonance in the senior’s conduct. She didn't "walk her talk."
*Was there a mistake?
*How will the executive’s actions be perceived around the firm?
*Can she salvage the investment in "Ready, Set, Go!" or should she move on and not look back?
*Can she re-integrate the conceptual and the concrete and get her communication strategy back on track?
*Is it important for Management to Lead by Example in demonstrating mastery of the skills taught to the ranks?
Discuss.
The Art of Management may be best expressed as the mastery of the unique daily expression of such "First Principles."
One doesn't so much "teach" management, as much as facilitate or counsel individuals and teams in the process of becoming familiar with first principles, then introducing them into their daily flow. First, get the idea. Make it concrete! Don't change a winning game...stay on the reservation!
How We Do It
Management Practices
For leadership teams: to create a quarterly forum for the discussion of first principles and the steady accumulation of a shared team perspective about what Management is, and how it is most effectively practiced.
Over time, individuals become more practiced, nuanced and effective at managing, and contribute to the larger goal of creating an experienced and cohesive management team – all working from the same set of principles.
Group sessions, in retreat or by conference call.
Executive Counsel
For individuals: an intimate setting in which to get down to it! What's working, what isn't? Which principles apply, and how do we work them into our daily practice?
Private, in person, by email or telephone.
Life: a magical combination of the conceptual (words) and the concrete (actions).
"Walk your talk" and your people will follow you anywhere!
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