What global warming is to Al Gore, so is the issue of control to the leader. However the inconvenient truth is that control is an illusion. Keith Coats, global leadership guru explores the concept of leadership and control in this insightful article on invitational leadership.
Archive for the 'Articles' Category
A few years ago, some of the TomorrowToday team attended a workshop by Jennifer Deal. She certainly challenged our thinking. Her contention was that all the focus on generation gaps in the workplace was obscuring the fact that there are many similarities between people of all ages. She is right, of course - and it is a good “corrective voice” for business to hear. As much as there are certain distinctive characteristics of different generations, each person in your company is nevertheless still that: a person, a human being. As such, they have certain drives, ambitions, requirements and characteristics that should not be neglected.
Jennifer Deal has now turned that research into a book. We were sent a review and summary of the book, and thought you’d be interested in reading about the 10 principles for engaging staff, young and old. This is a great book that will help you not become stuck when thinking about different generations, and not overcompensate for generational differences.
You can purchase the book at Amazon.com or Kalahari.net.
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| You are receiving this E-zine because you subscribed to the free service from TomorrowToday.biz. These updates are intended for business decision makers and people thinking about the future, and are only sent to those who request them. To remove your name from our list or to change your email address, see the instructions at the bottom of this email. Please do not reply to this email - no human being looks at the replies. To contact a real human being at TomorrowToday.biz please email Graeme Codrington. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
TomorrowToday is a world-class provider of multimedia-driven, edutaining, strategic keynote presentations. Our team of keynote presenters and consulting futurists are consistently rated as the top presenters at industry events, conferences and strategy sessions. Let one of us be the highlight at your next event! Use one of our proven frameworks, or let us work with you to customise for your specific requirements. Our strategic insights have assisted hundreds of clients to understand tomorrow, and apply that understanding today.For a client list, go to 
Crowdsourcing is a technique that progressive companies are using to translate the enthusiasm of their most highly-engaged customers into valuable marketing, branding, or product-development insight. Dean van Leeuwen, TomorrowToday’s UK and European director, who has an MBA and extensive work experience in marketing, looks at this new trend and provides practical guidelines for customer-led organisations.
The opening line of the best selling business book of all time is as succinct as it is true: “Good is the enemy of great”. Jim Collins’ 2001 bestseller, “Good to Great” explains how most companies never become great because they are already good. They have become prisoners to their past – not feeling any need to push boundaries, innovate, prepare for the unexpected, stretch themselves or make necessary changes to ensure sustainable success. Dr Graeme Codrington argues that this is a recipe for disaster, that only future-focused leadership - who have the guts to look forward and not back - can avert.
In this article, Keith Coats, our resident leadership expert, visits one of his favourite themes: the company as a village. He explains the four key requirements for developing successful and resilient organisations: belonging, mastery, independence and generosity.
Continue reading ‘The New Village: Building Courageous Companies’
Many people will agree with Pete Laburn, strategy consultant and part of TomorrowToday’s network, that strategy just doesn’t work in most companies. Its either about just getting a plan done for head office, or we actually don’t have the time to lift our heads above the daily grind to see into the future. In this article, Pete argues that there is one dominant reason why strategies fail, and that is that the only strategy that organisations will deliver is the one that they are capable of delivering. He suggests three critical elements for developing organisational capability for implementing strategies.
Buppies - Black yuppies. Black young upwardly mobile professionals. Research shows that this is one of the fastest growing demographic groups in South Africa, but many companies and leaders have no idea how to manage them. Aloysias Maimane, a new member of the TomorrowToday team and a top South African presenter and facilitator, provides some insights into this important group.
Continue reading ‘Buppies - coming to terms with young black staff’
I spend much of my time helping companies to create corporate cultures that will attract and retain talented young people. This involves looking at everything from terms and conditions of employment, remuneration policies and bonus schemes, to office layout, use of technology, management styles and team dynamics. One of my biggest frustrations is that very often those within an organisation who understand what needs to be done to get top talent to work there are overruled by those who are focused on saving money, efficiencies and creating “lean and mean” environments.
We live in an era where competitive advantage is found less and less in the products and services a company offers - mainly because the competitors are so closely aligned that the market can’t tell the difference between them. We live an era where technology is pervasive, markets open, and global competition the norm. In such an era, the only really sustainable competitive advantage is your people. This is why there is currently a “war for talent” in every industry across the globe.
Continue reading ‘Yes, it will cost more’
Leadership in today’s world is not easy. I suspect it has never ‘been easy’ but with the contemporary levels of complexity, connectedness and ubiquitous change these are indeed unique times in which to live and lead. The twin challenges that leaders face, that of leading diversity and understanding the inherent paradoxes, demands from leaders new mindsets that lead to new behaviours. All of this converges, like the Leader’s personal perfect storm, when it comes to leading Talent, or those we refer to as the, ‘Bright Young Things’. This article article explores six keys to understanding and leading Talent. It may even shed some light on those ‘Bright Young Things’ who inhabit your household! Continue reading ‘Leading the Whatever Generation – the ‘Bright Young Things’’
Boomers (in their 40s and 50s) and Xers (in their 20s and 30s) have very different communication styles and needs. In the workplace, they can drive each other crazy. Barrie Bramley provides some excellent insights into why this communication gap exists, and gives some great practical solutions for Boomers and Xers.
In sessions that we conduct on Talent management with both those who lead talent and those who are considered talent everything goes brilliantly until the end of the day when we ask: “So, what are you going to do now?” At this point there is generally a throwing up of hands into the air and a frustrated whining sessions begins. What it basically boils down is the passing of the talent ‘hot potato’ from one person or group to the next. Executives say HR has strategies in place, HR says it is the role of line management, line management says that they are disempowered by top-down processes or too busy with operational delivery to do anything differently…
As we facilitate these sessions we come in first hand contact with the frustrations that sit in this space. This article briefly deals with the conversations and frustrations most commonly raised. It will then propose options and actions that should be considered by the various stakeholders in this dynamic, from executives and other leaders right down to the talent themselves.
Continue reading ‘Whining, Moaning, and Achieving: Dealing with frustrated talent in the workplace’
Recognised experts in any field often rely on nothing more than a hunch. Time (and hard work by others) typically proves them to be right. Where does that innate gut instinct come from? Can you learn it? Can it be transferred? These are questions that get Aiden Choles interested in investigating wisdom continuity as a critical organisational capability.
Continue reading ‘Assessing Wisdom Continuity within your Organisation’
In the past two e-zines, John Maxwell has outlined the BEE question and the BEE problem. Now, in this final contribution, he focuses on one of the possible solutions to BEE. He is involved with an innovative Trust that is changing how BEE is done, and taking it to where it was intended to be: grass roots upliftment of South African society. TomorrowToday does not necessarily endorse John’s trust, but we fully support innovation and community development. Read and enjoy!
Continue reading ‘A is for Apple, BEE is for Business. Part 3: The Solution’
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GraemeCodrington - Yes, it will cost more
KeithCoats - Whatever: Leading the Next Generation - Six essential things leaders need to know about leading TalentLeadership in today’s world is not easy. I suspect it has never ‘been easy’ but with the contemporary levels of complexity, connectedness and ubiquitous change these are indeed unique times in which to live and lead. The twin challenges that leaders face, that of leading diversity and understanding the inherent paradoxes, demands from leaders new mindsets that lead to new behaviours. All of this converges, like the Leader's personal perfect storm, when it comes to leading Talent or those we refer to as the 'Bright Young Things'. This article explores six keys to understanding and leading Talent. It may even shed some light on those 'Bright Young Things' who inhabit your household!
AidenCholes
JohnMaxwell
You are
receiving this E-zine because you subscribed to the free service from
TomorrowToday.biz. These updates are
intended for business decision makers and people thinking about the future, and
are only sent to those who request them. To remove your name from our list or to
change your email address, see the instructions at the bottom of this email.
Please do not reply to this email - no human being looks at the replies.
To contact a real human being at TomorrowToday.biz please email Graeme Codrington:
graeme@tomorrowtoday.biz.
Policy makers are reassessing the way our country looks after its aged. This article looks at some of the issues demanding their attention.
Continue reading ‘What’s lacking in the care of our senior citizens?’
I have come across a website that I believe understands the market and the thinking of boomers on the verge of a change of lifestyle. Just as the younger generation uses back packing hostels when traveling, this group has identified the need for a similar style for the older generation. The site is www.elderhostel.org.
The site focuses on adventure in lifelong learning. There are more than 8000 all inclusive learning adventures in more than 90 countries around the world. These adventures focus on history, culture, nature, music, outdoor activities, skills and crafts.
Here are a few current adventures to wet your appetite:
Food and Culture of Tuscany
The Ionia Odyssey: In the footsteps of Homer
Birding the hotspots of Costa Rica
A loaf of bread, a jug of wine: A taste of Provence
Opera in Italy: A feast for the senses.
This article is part of the February 2007 TomorrowWisdom.biz ezine. To automatically receive it each month, visit TomorrowWisdom.biz.
We are also building up profiles of people who are close to retyring and rewiring for a new season in life. Add your profile to the list!
Tired of the constant pressure of corporate life Bruce decided he no longer needed this kind of life. With no dependents he and his wife sold-up house and business and moved into a rustic coastal cottage they now call home. Turning to what they love, voluntarily dabbling in a variety of ventures of their choice and simplifying their lifestyle will be the new context in which they life and work.
In different shapes and forms, thousands are doing the same. And it is not only those with the financial muscle or those close to the end of their careers who are doing so!
Continue reading ‘Downshifting - Changing the gears’