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Category: Leadership

  • The role of a CVO in an infinite game

    For playing the infinite game of business with an infinite mindset the modern day CEO needs to be a visionary putting people’s priorities first over bottom line ,stock markets etc.

    A finite mindset wherein bottom line , profit margins become the first priority over people issues , though successful in the short term can lead to severe detrimental effects in the long term.

    This is why the need of the hour is no longer a CEO but a CVO(Chief Vision Officer) who would put people priorities first , make the life of employees meaningful and inspiring in advancing the “just cause” of the organization.

    Simon Sinek makes a mention of the same in his book titled “The Infinite Game”

  • Why a CFO or a COO may not fit as the CEO?

    Look at Apple and how selection of John Sculley at the helm nearly killed Apple.Sculley it is said was obsessed competing with IBM.

    When Michael Dell stepped down and Kevin Rollins took over , same story which is why the same way Apple brought back Steve Jobs , Dell had to bring back Michael Dell.

    Something similar happened to Microsoft when Steve Ballmer took charge.

    All these individuals Steve Ballmer , Kevin Rollins , John Sculley inspite of being super talented miserably failed as CEO’s.

    This is because as CFO or COO a person can succeed inspite of not putting people’s priorities first.

    Whereas in the infinite game without putting people priorities first a CEO can succeed in the long term but never in the long term.Once the focus shits first to bottomline and numbers the company culture and internal trust takes a huge beating.

    Simon Sinek brings out this point in his book titled “The Infinite Game”.

  • FIVE STEPS to CREATE STORIES

    If you are looking for your next story, watch out for these five steps to create  compelling stories.

    1) Travel more be it personal or business

    2) Keep changing your mode of transport to work – use carpool , bus etc. to get connected with more people

    3) Say yes to more and more event invitations even though they may seem weird

    4) Dont run away if you bump into someone weird

    5) Convince your spouse to do something adventurous e.g. new method of exercising to stay fit.

    Margot Leitman has provided these fascinating tips in the book titled ” Long Story Short”

  • Storytelling tips for the day

    Long Story Short by Margot Leitman has awesome tips for storytelling and is a must read for any novice in search of an engaging story.

    Tips for the day , extracted from the book:

    1) When Things Start to get weird , dive into the crazy

    2) Never Put yourself in danger for the sake of a story

    3) Storytelling is not about bashing someone.It is about being brave enough to tell your own story to inspire others to feel better with their own lives

  • “Best” vs “Better” mindset

    Any mission statement focusing on being the “best” is not going to survive in the long term.This is because winning is always for the short term.

    On the other hand , a mindset focused on getting “better” is infinite minded and an stand the test of time.This is because such a mindset does not focus on winning or losing but continuing to play the infinite game.

    Simon Sinek makes a mention of this in “The Infinite Game”.

  • Avoid Product centric mission statements

    By making product as a hero in egocentric mission statements , the organization culture suffers.

    This when happens shifts the spotlight on the product and enginnering teams at tbe cost of other teams for e.g. Accounts , customer support.

    These departments start perceiving themselves as second grade citizens and do not feel inspired to advance something bigger than the product or themselves.

    Though sometimes successful in the short term they can never stand the test of time.

    Simon Sinek makes a mention of the same in his book titled “The Infinite Game”.

  • Pitfalls of a egocentric product specific mission statement

    Garmin’s mission statement read as follows:

    “We will be the global leader in every market we serve and our products will be sought after for their compelling design , superior quality & best value”

    This is an example of product specific egocentric mission statement.Garmin focused on the product with a finite mindset.Needlessly to say this could not stand the test of time making Garmin irrelevant in the age of smartphones.

    Simon Sinek makes a mention of the same in his book titled “The Infinite Game”.

  • Long Story Short tips for the day

    Storytelling tips for the day from the book “Long Story Short” by Margot Leitman.

    1) Revealing Vulnerable Moments from our Everyday lives almost always pays off

    2)Find the Recurring Theme in your life , use it and go deeper

    3) Take a close look at your QUIRKS , take a close look , they may be the key to a great story

  • Similarities between Jim Collin’s BHAG and “Moonshot”

    Referring to the below mentioned URL , Jim Collin’s BHAG as mentioned in his book “Built to Last” has been cited here for the purpose of illustrating its similarity with a “Moonshot”.

    https://www.jimcollins.com/concepts/bhag.html

    “A BHAG (pronounced “Bee Hag,” short for “Big Hairy Audacious Goal”) is a powerful way to stimulate progress. A BHAG is clear and compelling, needing little explanation; people get it right away. Think of the NASA moon mission of the 1960s. The best BHAGs require both building for the long term AND exuding a relentless sense of urgency: What do we need to do today, with monomaniacal focus, and tomorrow, and the next day, to defy the probabilities and ultimately achieve our BHAG?”

    Though a moonshot and BHAG both apparently do not look like finite goals yet they are possible to achieve which does not make them a suitable fit in an infinite game where the vision should be one which is impossible to attain , yet entice followers to be part of the same for leaving behind a legacy.

    Thus this makes both BHAG and “Monnshot” different from a “Just Cause”.This point has been mentioned by Simon Sinek in his book titled “The Infinite Game”.

     

  • How is a “moonshot” different than “just cause”

    “Moonshot” associates  Kennedy’s inspirational arousal of his countrymen towards the audacious vision of human landing on moon.This Apollo mission was thought of as something that would be a new beginning for mankind and seemed like a then impossible mission.This is what inspired Neil Armstrong and fellow astronauts in making this as reality.

    Though this was indeed a game changer and a very proud moment for mankind , the effort was short lived and could not stand the test of time.This is where “moonshot” is different from a “just cause”.

    A just cause on the other hand is infinite in nature.It articulates an inspirational vision that seems attainable but the more  we move towards the target the destination seems further & further away.It is the vision that keeps the followers engaged to continue playing the infinite game from generation to generation thus helping to leave a legacy behind at each phase.

    So while drafting a mission statement having a “just cause” we should not confuse a “moonshot” for a “just cause” and clearly realize the differences to inspire more and more people.