wisdom to win

 Wisdom to Win
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Ram Charan (1939- )Ram Charan

 

Indian management consultant who works in America (pictured right).

 

Key books

 

Execution (2002),written with Larry Bossidy (pictured right below)

The main job for leaders is execution, getting people to deliver results and achieve the organization’s objectives like customer satisfaction.Ram Charan

 

This is achieved by the successful combination of:

 

1. Strategy 

Formulating a strategy that delights present and future customers, and being passionately committed to achieving it.

 

2. People 

  • motivating people to carry out the customer driven strategy (by rewarding performance, setting clear customer driven aims, and knowing and satisfying employee needs)
  • effective employee selection and appraisal - getting the right people in the right jobs at the right place.
  • improving people's capabilities through continuous learning and coaching.
  • being honest about the realities facing the organization.
  • making sure the corporate culture emphasizes strategy execution.

 

3. Operations

Ensuring that every organizational activity achieves the strategy’s aims through:

  • minimizing costs.
  • maximizing people's motivation (see above).

 

4. Leadership

Leaders should be emotionally strong from:

 

a) authenticity 

(being true to yourself).

 

b) self-awareness 

(knowing your strengths and weaknesses).

 

c) self-mastery 

(taking control with self-confidence).

 

d) humility 

(listening to and learning from others).

 

Key quotes on strategy

The missing link between aspirations and results (definition of execution)

Realism is the heart of execution.

 

 

Leadership in the Era of Economic Uncertainty (2008)

 

In times of crisis leaders must:

 

1. Communicate and act with urgency

Within ten days of the banking and economic collapse in 2008, DuPont’s chief executive, Chad Holliday (pictured right below), ensured that all of its 60,000 employees had talked to a manager about:Ram Charan

  • what needed to be done to deal with the crisis.
  • their suggestions for saving money.

 

2. Create cash

A company’s survival is dependent on cash.

Vital are

  • reducing costs.
  • cost efficiency (minimizing the cost of new investments).

Keep only essential employees, products and markets.

 

3. Management intensity

Closely examining the company and its customers.

 

4. Ground-level intelligence

 Information gathering about key success factors, particularly the needs of customers and suppliers.

 

5. Co-ordinate

Effectively combining people in teams from different product divisions and management functions (like marketing, innovation and finance).

 

6. Set targets

People must be given frequent (even weekly) targets to

  • focus on results.
  • create a sense of urgency.

 

7. Build for the future

Planning for when business will improve and investing in new products that satisfy customers’ future needs.

 

8. Act with authenticity

  • facing reality.
  • inspiring others with vision, integrity, credibility, humility, honesty and realistic optimism.

 

Key quotes on business success and employees

They need a vision that will turn their lightbulbs on, generating creativity and ideas (about employees).

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Quotes