KEITH McFARLAND- 3 Levels of Leadership: Building Breakthrough Capabilities
Sep 28 2008
Reduce the Job of leadership to 3 Words:
1) Strategy
2) People (We need to optimize these 3 categories)
3) Execution
1 Man Band- all infrastructure, resource, run through 1 decision-maker, risk is too great.
• Start up or crisis
Tribal Band- strong leader with helpers
Sovereign Organization- leadership creates a hologram of the minds of people
Strategy- (Strategic Planning) a collection of ideas of how we’re going to web
Psychology of Routines- Strategy helps you breakthrough the routine
1) Most companies think about Strategy too seldom -> Should do it every 90 days!!!
a. What are 3 most Strategic important accomplishments we’ve had in last 90 days? (some element of how we’ve changed the field of play)
b. What are 3 most important strategic ways we fell short of our strategic potential?
c. What are 3 most important things we’ve learned about our strategy?
You could build a strategy in 48 hours that is 90% as good as 3-month planning.
Expand the discussion to involve line – level employees so Executive Managers to come to same conclusion you already know.
2) Don’t be too exclusive – should include 25-30 people
3) Don’t be too CEO-centric – natural tendency to differ to power
Strategy Routine
The Problem A Solution
When Too Infrequent 90 – Day Cycle
Who Too Exclusive Democraship
How Too CEO-Centric “Insultants” (question fundamental assumptions)
Breakthrough Thinking
The Problem A Soultion
“Great People” Myth Heroes Vs. Bricklayers
Cumbaya Teambuilding Link Strategy & Team Performance
Lack of Systematic Thinking Exec Development Milestones
There is no such thing as “the right person” – everyone has got issues.
Everyone is made right by the quality of the corporation.
Known entity that you’ve got to change poopy diapers
Left Side Right Side
Write names of direct reports Write all positive things about person
CEOs are people people, loyalty is a liability
Fins a mentor for VP Marketing ($10M Company) ($50M Company)
The Problem A Solution
Loose link between Strategy & Execution 90-day resets feed action
No “after-action” description (What went right, what went wrong, what are we going to do differently to improve next time)
Division, Goal, Objective, Tactics
-Managers
-Young Up and Comers
-Sales people
-Criticizers
Heroes will fight overtly with bricklayers & bricklayers will fight back dirty. Need to tap each person’s “inner bricklayer” or “inner hero.”
Managers – the sky is the limit is you learn to love to score without touching the ball.







