Many of you are aware that I often write about the importance of creating and maintaining a values based and strong corporate culture. In my opinion, it goes hand in hand with the importance of strong leadership. In fact, it is one of the longest lasting, most pervasive and highest return initiatives that an outstanding leader can accomplish for their organization.
Two Harvard Business School professors wrote a book entitled The Ownership Quotient on the subject. In the book, they discuss the top 10 lessons of those that create and nurture the best cultures. Here are the 10 lessons (as adapted from an HBR article):
1) Leaders must state the organizations purpose, values and vision and set the example by living the values through their behavior, the measures the set and monitor and each of their actions.
2) The values have to have "teeth" in them so that there are consequences if you do not adhere to the values.
3) The culture is so strong that it is noticeable and commented upon by employees in expressions such as " that would not be allowed in the culture" etc. When the informal comments begin to mock the culture take warning that you are not living the values.
4) Organizations with good and strong cultures have effective succession processes as the culture enables the development of leaders and will ease the transition.
5) The values of the organization are also used to select the "right" customers as well as the "right" employees. The values are so strong that the company will not violate their values to generate revenue.
6) The result is "the best serving the best".
7) Organizations with values based and strong cultures enjoy outstanding employee and customer loyalty.
8) Organizations with good and strong cultures enjoy labor cost advantages. This advantage is due to many reasons but one major reason is that employees know what is expected of them and work well as teams for a common good.
9) One of the risks to be managed with a strong culture is creating a cult that thinks they have all the answers. A good culture is one that is not only strong but adaptive and creates an open minded atmosphere.
10) Nurturing and maintaining a good and strong culture starts at the top with leaders who remember who they are there to serve (not the other way around) and hold themselves to the same values, not above them.
I will repeat my favorite definition of corporate values and culture which is how your employees act and the decisions they make when no one is watching. How does your organization measure up on this list of the top ten lessons learned?
Till Next Time,
Gail
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
CIVICS LESSON AND BUSINESS LESSON
Regardless of which side you are on regarding health care reform, we have all been getting a civics lesson along the way. Apparently, the Senate Parliamentarian will be on TV today! In addition to a civics lesson, there is another lesson in all of this drama. Rules and structure do not matter until something goes wrong and then they mean everything. Mike does a great session in our leadership workshops on the need to stop before approving something new and ask the question "what if it does not work"? Good risk management requires that you have thought about what you will do if it does not work out the way you had planned. Do you have the best structures and rules in place?
I am sure that both Democrats and Republicans have been reading rules that they have not thought about for years, if ever.
So in addition to the civics lesson, use this moment in history to also learn a business lesson. Structure and governance rules seem unimportant until the moment that they are crucial. Do not wait till the crisis. Check your organization's governance today. A good site for board governance is www.boardmember.com.
Until Next Time,
Gail
I am sure that both Democrats and Republicans have been reading rules that they have not thought about for years, if ever.
So in addition to the civics lesson, use this moment in history to also learn a business lesson. Structure and governance rules seem unimportant until the moment that they are crucial. Do not wait till the crisis. Check your organization's governance today. A good site for board governance is www.boardmember.com.
Until Next Time,
Gail
Monday, March 8, 2010
ICELAND - A GLIMPSE AT THE FUTURE?
A few years ago we took a great trip to Iceland. We hopped around the island hiking and traveling to remote locations from black sand beaches to an inactive volcano rim to tiny towns tucked in nordic style locations on the water.
The year after, Iceland went bankrupt. The Cliffnotes version is that Iceland's three largest banks offered above market interest on deposits, borrowed in the public markets and lent the incoming funds out in a very aggressive manner to speculative borrowers.
The overleveraged borrowers who overpaid for assets all of a sudden could not service their debts. Then the great asset bubbles deflated and the borrowers could no longer pay back the banks. The three largest Iceland banks, that somehow grew to 10 times the size of Iceland's GDP, failed.
The Iceland kroner crashed as did the banks and the Icelandic economy. Google the Financial Times for a good series on Iceland. One bank was an internet bank, Icesave. Icesave had attracted over $5 billion of deposits from UK and Dutch depositors. Of course when the banks failed, the tiny Iceland deposit insurance fund was instantly bankrupt.
What did the UK and Dutch governments do? They reimbursed all their citizens deposits with Icesave?
Why would they do this? They were not UK and Dutch obligations. Hey, all those "innocent" depositors were getting an above market interest rate. Did they think there was no risk?So, the UK and Dutch governments now want Iceland to repay the $5 billion. In today's jaded financial world, $5 billion sounds like a rounding error. It is only $5 billion. Let me show you how much $5 billion is to Iceland.
Iceland only has 300,000 citizens. That's right, 300,000; about the size of Cincinnati. So $5 billion amounts to $18,000 for each citizen. Not each family, each citizen. So on Saturday, the citizens of Iceland voted on whether or not to ratify an agreement made by their government to repay the UK and Dutch governments. They voted 93% against paying them back. 93%!!!!
The UK and Dutch governments have pledged to keep Iceland out of the EU. The IMF has threatened to hold back more loans to try to stop Iceland's freefall. The threats fell on deaf ears.
I can hear the Icelanders at the polls now. 'I have a family of four. I am not voting to take on $76,000 of debt because some bankers took deposits, paid themselves big salaries and then lent the money to companies that couldn't pay them back. So they won't let us into the EU. Big deal. And so what the IMF won't lend us money. The money Iceland borrows is just to repay the money all the banks borrowed and threw away.'
This referendum appeared to be a way the Icelanders could finally show how frustrated and angry they are at all involved. The way out? That will take a much longer blog.
But here is today's thought. How many more countries will go through an Icelandic event?
Cheers
Friday, March 5, 2010
SHOULD GREECE SELL ISLANDS?
There appears to be some in the German government that think that Greece should sell some of its islands to raise money to reduce debt. Once again sounds like creditors dealing with a financially troubled company. Sell your non-core assets. This will not be the last time or the last country where you will hear this.
I expect to hear suggestions such as these for the next 10 years. What do I hear for this Mediterranean island? These works of art? This slightly used military hardware?
Stay tuned.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
SOVEREIGN DEBT & THE EMPEROR WITH NO CLOTHES
There has been much written and spoken about the financial state of various countries, especially Greece at the moment. I received an email from a friend regarding a one page piece written by George Soros on the situation which on one hand offered a solution and on the other hand admitted the solution wouldn't work.
When I returned from the golf course, where I have successfully raised my handicap (it is easier than lowering it), I sent off this rambling reply.
As for the Soros piece, I am afraid the situation is too complicated and interrelated to address in a one pager. We appear to live in a world where the vast majority of the countries on the planet are overlevered by any measure and especially against GDP. Think of the situation as an industry where most of the players have too much debt and supply far outstrips demand (only much more complicated.)
The past two decades of globalized growth were fueled by easy and cheap credit which overstated global demand and inflated asset values as we all know now. Add to that the large recession we have been enduring (oh, that's right it is over, I forgot) and you get worldwide deleveraging of the consumer, albeit involuntarily, and unprecedented leveraging by governments to mitigate the short term effects of the recession.
The various governments had to print money (stimulus programs) to replace trillions of credit which disappeared due to the Lehman failure. (Please thank the US and UK governments for this.)
Some countries have and will blow up. See Iceland for a small but meaningful story of asset bubbles and overleverage. Following in short order, Dubai, Greece, Spain, Ireland, Portugal, Italy, Eastern European countries, Baltic countries and oh yea, Argentina which still has its leftover debt problems.
Behind the curtain is the UK. The UK has massive levels of consumer debt; much more than the US. This will restrain the consumer from spending and spurring the growth required to address the problem. The UK will have to push the pound down to import customers from other countries to be the UK's consumer. Good luck.
So, back to our troubled industry of broken countries (technical term). All these overleveraged countries need growth like troubled companies need sales. However, their infrastructures assume credit driven growth which isn't on the horizon. In fact they are all relatively shrinking as tax revenues have nose dived everywhere. As a result, they will have to cut expenses (read 'formerly essential services'). This will lead to anywhere from protests to riots (again see Iceland and Greece).
Interest rates are artificially low right now. Personally, I see this as a transfer of wealth from savers (getting nothing for their money) to borrowers (paying nothing for their money). These low interest rates have propped up asset values somewhat because 'what else can you do with your money?' if you have any. Asset values have also been propped up by convenient accounting changes to mark to market accounting which is further propping up commercial real estate and the banking industry.
Moreover, the current interest rates are not indicative of the true credit risk of these countries. The low rates are a stop gap to stop the recession (I forgot again that the recession is over). I see devaluations and hyperinflation in the future. This is the time honored way financially troubled countries deal with their debt when they can't pay back the debtholders.
Finally, the US continues to skate by as the biggest debtor nation on the planet (think the emperor with no clothes). Curiously, not only is there no plan in sight to reduce the debt, there isn't even a plan to stop the debt from growing. And this is the world's reserve currency? Only because all the other currencies are worse.
More to follow in the future.
When I returned from the golf course, where I have successfully raised my handicap (it is easier than lowering it), I sent off this rambling reply.
As for the Soros piece, I am afraid the situation is too complicated and interrelated to address in a one pager. We appear to live in a world where the vast majority of the countries on the planet are overlevered by any measure and especially against GDP. Think of the situation as an industry where most of the players have too much debt and supply far outstrips demand (only much more complicated.)
The past two decades of globalized growth were fueled by easy and cheap credit which overstated global demand and inflated asset values as we all know now. Add to that the large recession we have been enduring (oh, that's right it is over, I forgot) and you get worldwide deleveraging of the consumer, albeit involuntarily, and unprecedented leveraging by governments to mitigate the short term effects of the recession.
The various governments had to print money (stimulus programs) to replace trillions of credit which disappeared due to the Lehman failure. (Please thank the US and UK governments for this.)
Some countries have and will blow up. See Iceland for a small but meaningful story of asset bubbles and overleverage. Following in short order, Dubai, Greece, Spain, Ireland, Portugal, Italy, Eastern European countries, Baltic countries and oh yea, Argentina which still has its leftover debt problems.
Behind the curtain is the UK. The UK has massive levels of consumer debt; much more than the US. This will restrain the consumer from spending and spurring the growth required to address the problem. The UK will have to push the pound down to import customers from other countries to be the UK's consumer. Good luck.
So, back to our troubled industry of broken countries (technical term). All these overleveraged countries need growth like troubled companies need sales. However, their infrastructures assume credit driven growth which isn't on the horizon. In fact they are all relatively shrinking as tax revenues have nose dived everywhere. As a result, they will have to cut expenses (read 'formerly essential services'). This will lead to anywhere from protests to riots (again see Iceland and Greece).
Interest rates are artificially low right now. Personally, I see this as a transfer of wealth from savers (getting nothing for their money) to borrowers (paying nothing for their money). These low interest rates have propped up asset values somewhat because 'what else can you do with your money?' if you have any. Asset values have also been propped up by convenient accounting changes to mark to market accounting which is further propping up commercial real estate and the banking industry.
Moreover, the current interest rates are not indicative of the true credit risk of these countries. The low rates are a stop gap to stop the recession (I forgot again that the recession is over). I see devaluations and hyperinflation in the future. This is the time honored way financially troubled countries deal with their debt when they can't pay back the debtholders.
Finally, the US continues to skate by as the biggest debtor nation on the planet (think the emperor with no clothes). Curiously, not only is there no plan in sight to reduce the debt, there isn't even a plan to stop the debt from growing. And this is the world's reserve currency? Only because all the other currencies are worse.
More to follow in the future.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
THE NEW CONSULTANT
Recently, I read three different WSJ articles that all made me think of the changes in the consulting industry. The first article, The Campus Consultant is about the growing numbers of companies that are using professors from University Executive Education programs instead of hiring consulting firms to assist them in assessing the best path forward for the company. The second article, Interim Managers Take Longer Roles is about the growing numbers of companies that are using interim managers for longer periods of time and for a wider variety of projects and purposes. The third article, SAP Sees Return To Growth covers SAP beginning to see top line growth in both software and consulting services.
Many years ago, the consulting industry learned how to work cooperatively with the major software vendors to serve clients. Although neither party particularly likes to work together, they were forced to do so by the market. Interim managers has, until now, been the province of the restructuring and bankruptcy consulting firms not a service of the large multi- service firms. Strategy work has largely been the property of the boutique strategy firms, although all the large multi-service firms have some offering. The Universities always had professors doing some strategy consulting work but they were not a major competitor to the large firms.
The large firms have learned to team and partner with the software firms, as noted earlier. The future will require them to significantly expand their teaming abilities. With the number of retired executives expected to grow dramatically over the next few years, there will be countless numbers of qualified semi-retired executives that companies can hire on a project basis. The multi-service consulting firms would be smart to begin now to expand the types of services they offer through teaming arrangements rather than only by their full time staff. The should have a stable of semi-retired executives available and a relationship with a University through its executive education programs.
What about your industry? What changes do you need to consider?
Until Next Time,
Gail
Many years ago, the consulting industry learned how to work cooperatively with the major software vendors to serve clients. Although neither party particularly likes to work together, they were forced to do so by the market. Interim managers has, until now, been the province of the restructuring and bankruptcy consulting firms not a service of the large multi- service firms. Strategy work has largely been the property of the boutique strategy firms, although all the large multi-service firms have some offering. The Universities always had professors doing some strategy consulting work but they were not a major competitor to the large firms.
The large firms have learned to team and partner with the software firms, as noted earlier. The future will require them to significantly expand their teaming abilities. With the number of retired executives expected to grow dramatically over the next few years, there will be countless numbers of qualified semi-retired executives that companies can hire on a project basis. The multi-service consulting firms would be smart to begin now to expand the types of services they offer through teaming arrangements rather than only by their full time staff. The should have a stable of semi-retired executives available and a relationship with a University through its executive education programs.
What about your industry? What changes do you need to consider?
Until Next Time,
Gail
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
EXECUTIVE WOMEN NETWORKING
Happy New Year!! Similar to Mike, I am ready to blog again. Hope you are all ready to read and comment.
Last week, I went out to dinner and to see a play with a group of 25 business women. We had a great time and I made several good contacts. This evening of fun came about as a plan one night while I was out to dinner. Anita, Cindy and I were having dinner to discuss some Shelter Our Sisters business. Anita began to recommend a play to us that she had recently seen. Cindy made the comment that it would be a fun girls night out to go see the play. We each began to ask friends if they were interested and the next thing we knew it had grown to 25 women. Thank goodness Anita was willing to do all the coordination. Since every woman was invited, there was a level of trust that does not exist when you attend a formal "networking" event. I made three very good contacts that I believe can help me in my business and two contacts that I believe I can help in their business. That is a very successful night especially when you consider I was only there to have fun and see a great show. By the way, dinner and the show were great.
For those of you that have been following the blog for some time, you know that I am a recent convert to the idea that women should network to create the "old girls club". I am not suggesting that women should exclude men from their networks or in anyway be unfair or biased. However, I have recently come to realize that women should add networking with other women to their other connections. However, I have been struggling with how to do this in a way that works for me. Personally, I find formal networking organizations too forced and artificial for my taste. The other night, I found what works for me. Small, personal, social events that assist in connecting some of the women in each of three women's networks to one another. It was great!
While I am writing about women networks, this can be applied to any group. So get a friend or two and plan a social evening doing something you enjoy. Then each of you invites a few of your friends and the group grows. The night of the event, just let everyone meet one another! Simple but effective.
Until Next Time,
Gail
Last week, I went out to dinner and to see a play with a group of 25 business women. We had a great time and I made several good contacts. This evening of fun came about as a plan one night while I was out to dinner. Anita, Cindy and I were having dinner to discuss some Shelter Our Sisters business. Anita began to recommend a play to us that she had recently seen. Cindy made the comment that it would be a fun girls night out to go see the play. We each began to ask friends if they were interested and the next thing we knew it had grown to 25 women. Thank goodness Anita was willing to do all the coordination. Since every woman was invited, there was a level of trust that does not exist when you attend a formal "networking" event. I made three very good contacts that I believe can help me in my business and two contacts that I believe I can help in their business. That is a very successful night especially when you consider I was only there to have fun and see a great show. By the way, dinner and the show were great.
For those of you that have been following the blog for some time, you know that I am a recent convert to the idea that women should network to create the "old girls club". I am not suggesting that women should exclude men from their networks or in anyway be unfair or biased. However, I have recently come to realize that women should add networking with other women to their other connections. However, I have been struggling with how to do this in a way that works for me. Personally, I find formal networking organizations too forced and artificial for my taste. The other night, I found what works for me. Small, personal, social events that assist in connecting some of the women in each of three women's networks to one another. It was great!
While I am writing about women networks, this can be applied to any group. So get a friend or two and plan a social evening doing something you enjoy. Then each of you invites a few of your friends and the group grows. The night of the event, just let everyone meet one another! Simple but effective.
Until Next Time,
Gail
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