Executive Advantage: Resilient Leadership for 21st-Century Organizations

216 Pages·2013·4.41 MB·English

by  Jacqui Grey

i
Executive
Advantage
ii
THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
iii
Executive
Advantage
Icon
to come Resilient
leadership for
21st-century
organizations
Dr Jacqui Grey
iv
Publisher’s note
Every possible effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this book
is accurate at the time of going to press, and the publishers and author cannot accept
responsibility for any errors or omissions, however caused. No responsibility for loss or
damage occasioned to any person acting, or refraining from action, as a result of the material
in this publication can be accepted by the editor, the publisher or the author.
First published in Great Britain and the United States in 2013 by Kogan Page Limited
Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of research or private study, or criticism or review,
as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, this publication may only be
reproduced, stored or transmitted, in any form or by any means, with the prior permission in
writing of the publishers, or in the case of reprographic reproduction in accordance with the terms
and licences issued by the CLA. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside these terms should
be sent to the publishers at the undermentioned addresses:
120 Pentonville Road 1518 Walnut Street, Suite 1100 4737/23 Ansari Road
London N1 9JN Philadelphia PA 19102 Daryaganj
United Kingdom USA New Delhi 110002
www.koganpage.com India
© Jacqui Grey, 2013
The right of Jacqui Grey to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in
accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
ISBN 978 0 7494 6828 6
E-ISBN 978 0 7494 6829 3
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A CIP record for this book is available from the British Library.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Grey, Jacqui.
Executive advantage : resilient leadership for 21st-century organizations / Jacqui Grey.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-7494-6828-6 – ISBN 978-0-7494-6829-3 1. Leadership. 2. Executive ability.
3. Organizational change. 4. Success in business. I. Title.
HD57.7.G744 2013
658.4’092–dc23
2012034464
Typeset by Graphicraft Limited, Hong Kong
Printed and bound in India by Replika Press Pvt Ltd
Contents
Contents v
Acknowledgements ix
Biography xi
Dr Jacqui Grey FCIPD xi
Introduction 1
Banish Executive Gremlins – become
a resilient 21st-century leader 1
The 21st-century leadership dilemma 5
Overview 12
Resilience under fire – Executive Gremlins are derailing your business 17
v Why Executive Gremlins cause strategic change programmes to fail 17
MBO to flotation 22
Joint venture 23
Recession, downsizing and internal takeovers 25
An internal takeover 26
Social media, whistleblowing and
ContEnts breaking the brand 27
Bullying 29
Leaders’ experiences 31
Feeling threatened through change 32
Why is it important to talk about change? 33
The secret
weapon! 37
Human needs and Executive Gremlins 37
Belief systems – where do they come from? 40
The emotional bucket 42
Executive Gremlin: Unimportant 44
Executive Gremlin: Unlovable 47
Executive Gremlin: Control 50
Learning to handle your gremlins 53
Your reality is
not their reality 55
Acknowledgements ix Your reality and conflict 57
Exploders, stuffers and covert stabbers 57
LEAP! 60
Biography xi The Executive Advantage
10-Step Solution
for Resilient
21st-century Leaders© 67
A process for identifying and handling Executive Gremlins in the context of
the organization 67
Introduction 1 Neuroleadership and the 10-Step Solution 97
The evolution of brain development 98
So what is going on in our heads now? 98
The SCARF model and Executive Gremlins 103
Neuroleadership and gender – are we wired differently? 111
Does SCARF apply differently to men and women? 114
01 Resilience under fire – Executive Gremlins are W o m e n
on the edge 119
Women need to start believing in themselves and self-promote 123
derailing your business 17 Don’t try to be superwomen! 126
Use your gender difference;
don’t just be a stereotype 128
The double glass ceiling 128
Why Executive Gremlins cause strategic change Why aren’t there more women on boards? 131
Women must want it badly enough 137
Getting more women on boards – top tips for CEOs 140
programmes to fail 17 AThctei ons for the individual 143 rot starts
at the top 145
MBO to flotation 22 Pbouosirn ess performance 145leadership behaviours derail
Authenticity and storytelling 147
Joint venture 23 FUancdtieorpnes rafonrdm minagfi abso ards, leadership1 t5ea0ms and individual board members 151
Off target! 152
Recession, downsizing and internal takeovers 25 T h1e 5in5vestment in improving leadership behaviours and performance is worth it 154
Think longer term and bigger picture 156
An internal takeover 26 LReisakd ers must be wil1li5n9g to take personal risks 157
Organizational investment 161
Social media, whistleblowing and breaking the brand 27 T21hset -century Solution for Organizations 163 Executive Advantage
Key trends for 21st-century leadership 163
Bullying 29 KLoeyss 2 o1fs mt-ceeanntiunrgy be1h6a5vioural capabilities 164
Loss of community 165
Leaders’ experiences 31 Ethmeyp luosyeede st o be 165 are more cynical than
So how do we encourage inclusive leadership? 170
Feeling threatened through change 32 SWuhpapto irst mfoern 2to1rsitn-cge?n tury organizatio1n7s4 172
The benefits of mentoring for mentors 175
Why is it important to talk about change? 33 QThuea lbiteinese fiotfs ao fg omoedn tmoreinntgo rf or mentee1s7 6 176
C o n c l u s i o n s
and summary 183
Further reading 187
Bibliography 189
02 the secret weapon! 37 Index 199
Human needs and Executive Gremlins 37
Belief systems – where do they come from? 40
The emotional bucket 42
Executive Gremlin: Unimportant 44
Executive Gremlin: Unlovable 47
Executive Gremlin: Control 50
Learning to handle your gremlins 53
vi Contents
03 Your reality is not their reality 55
Your reality and conflict 57
Exploders, stuffers and covert stabbers 57
LEAP! 60
04 the Executive Advantage 10-step solution for Resilient
21st-century Leaders© 67
A process for identifying and handling Executive Gremlins
in the context of the organization 67
05 neuroleadership and the 10-step solution 97
The evolution of brain development 98
So what is going on in our heads now? 98
The SCARF model and Executive Gremlins 103
Neuroleadership and gender – are we wired
differently? 111
Does SCARF apply differently to men and women? 114
06 Women on the edge 119
Women need to start believing in themselves and
self-promote 123
Don’t try to be superwomen! 126
Use your gender difference; don’t just be a stereotype 128
The double glass ceiling 128
Why aren’t there more women on boards? 131
Women must want it badly enough 137
Getting more women on boards – top tips for CEOs 140
Actions for the individual 143
07 the rot starts at the top 145
Poor leadership behaviours derail business
performance 145
Authenticity and storytelling 147
Factions and mafias 150
Contents vii
Underperforming boards, leadership teams and individual
board members 151
Off target! 152
The investment in improving leadership behaviours and
performance is worth it 154
Think longer term and bigger picture 156
Leaders must be willing to take personal risks 157
Risk 159
Organizational investment 161
08 the Executive Advantage 21st-century solution for
organizations 163
Key trends for 21st-century leadership 163
Key 21st-century behavioural capabilities 164
Loss of meaning 165
Loss of community 165
Employees are more cynical than they used to be 165
So how do we encourage inclusive leadership? 170
Support for 21st-century organizations 172
What is mentoring? 174
The benefits of mentoring for mentors 175
Qualities of a good mentor 176
The benefits of mentoring for mentees 176
Conclusions and summary 183
Further reading 187
Bibliography 189
Index 199
viii
THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
ix
ACkno WLEdGEmEnts
many thanks to the people who kindly agreed to be interviewed
for this book. They were:
Ansell, Clive – CEO Tribal Technology, Tribal Group plc
Barry, Subha – ex chief diversity officer, Merrill Lynch
Berry, Maggie – MD, womenintechnology.co.uk
Bingham, Liz – managing partner for People and Talent, UK and
Ireland, Ernst & Young
Boyle, June – director and head, Scotland YSC
Briault, Fiona – operations director, Central Retail, Asda
Brown, Tim – CEO, Postcomm
Brushfield, Rachel – career coach, Energise Ltd
Cox, Bruce – MD, Diamonds, Rio Tinto
Duberry, Jackie – director HR and corporate services AHDB
Furniss, Jane – CEO, Independent Police Complaints Commission
Lattimor, Andrea – Risk, Compliance and HR director, Intelligent
Processing Solutions Ltd (iPSL)
McBain, Mandy – Lieutenant Commander Royal Navy, Naval
Service Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy
Mendelson, Michelle – EMEA head of diversity and inclusion,
Credit Suisse
Merry, Chris – CEO, RSM Tenon
Mills, Eleanor – associate editor, The Sunday Times
Mohan, Stephen – MD, Operational Services, Cofunds Limited
Murphy, Vanessa – Diversity and Inclusion Manager, Royal Navy
x Acknowledgements
Murray, Kevin – chairman, The Good Relations Group, part of
Chime Communications plc
Phillips, Mark – SVP Medicine and Process Delivery, GSK
Roussouw, Michelle – director in the Board and Advisory
Practice, Stonehaven Associates
Shanker, Siva – corporate finance director, SEGRO
Small, Jeremy – group company secretary, Axa UK Ltd
Tucker, Terry – director of learning and organizational
development, Barchester Healthcare
Wax, Ruby – TV presenter and leadership communication
specialist
Wigley, Bob – chairman, Yell and Stonehaven
Many thanks also to the people who informally gave their views.
These include Sarah Churchman, head of diversity at PWC, Linda
Pollard OBE, Dr David Rock, CEO at The Neuroleadership Group,
Dr Anne Moir, Helen Wells, director of Opportunity Now and Sarah
Williams Gardner, government affairs director at IBM UK Ltd. Your
time and support are greatly appreciated.
Illustrations by Hadleigh Maunder