Focus Magazine - Spring 2016 - (Page 34)

LEADERSHIP/MANAGEMENTDEVELOPMENT Developing Leaders Who Excel at Strategy Execution ■ By Rick Lepsinger I within your organizations, here are n 2006, the NBA introduced a new two ways you can enhance their ability basketball made of synthetic material. Spalding designed the to execute: Knowing what makes new ball to be easier to handle and leaders excel at execution and bounce better on the court. Despite conducting assessments. the upgrades, many NBA players Know What Makes a began experiencing cut fingers and torn ligaments, and the ball was Leader Excel at Execution sticking to their hands during games. Whenever your organization What tested well in the manufacturer's implements a strategy, it's inevitable lab did not work well on the court. something will happen to alter the course of the original plan. Leaders Aer complaints from stars like must be able to manage change Shaquille O'Neal, LeBron James and eﬀectively and be able to adapt when Steve Nash, NBA Commissioner they encounter obstacles. ey must David Stern admitted it was a mistake be flexible and not view changes as not to consult with players before failures, but as making the decision to change the ball's Whenever your organization adjustments to the objective design. e NBA implements a strategy, it's they are went back to using the leather ball aer inevitable something will happen to working on. Other just a few months of alter the course of the original plan. important using the synthetic characteristics of leaders who excel at one. e strategy was wellstrategy execution include: intentioned, but its execution did not play out well. Had the league solicited * Action Orientation: Being able to take practical action when input from players during the process, necessary to handle a problem or it would have saved a significant situation. amount of time and money. e real world oen interferes with * Problem-Solving: e ability to even the most solid strategies, setting find cause of and solution to a oﬀ a whole list of derailments. complex issue. Priorities shi. Timelines get pushed * Decision-Making: e ability to back. Plans change. ese situations weigh the pros and cons of require leaders with strong strategysituations and take the best action execution skills. Much of the work of possible. identifying and developing these skills * Results Orientation: Understand falls to human resource professionals what results are most important to and talent managers. the strategy and focusing on how to If you are on the front lines of achieve them. hiring, promoting and training leaders 34 * Leading Cross-Functional Teams: e ability to influence others when you don't have established authority. ose involved in hiring and promoting need to be able to identify these qualities in candidates. Ask candidates to provide specific examples of situations when they had to act quickly, solve complicated problems and think through an important decision. Conduct Assessments and Develop Training Before you can address your company's leadership challenges, you must identify the gaps. Conduct assessments to determine the extent to which your existing leaders and highpotential employees have the skills FOCUS | SPRING 2016 | www.L-TEN.org http://www.L-TEN.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Focus Magazine - Spring 2016

Focus Magazine - Spring 2016
From the President: Change is in the Air
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Guest Editor: 'Training Event' or 'Learning Experience'?
Directions: Engaging with Life Sciences Leaders
Front of the Room: 'It Can't Be Me, Right?'
Neuroscience: The Science of Imitation
Bristol-Myers Squibb: Launching a New Global Selling Model
Accelerating the Journey to Customer-Centricity
Cognitive Science: Creating More Effective Multimedia Learning
The Art of Sales Improvisation – Your Competitive Advantage
Developing Leaders Who Excel at Strategy Execution
Learning Technologies for Event-Based Training
Defending Your Sales Process
Virtual How: Market Access Training
Ad Index
Focus Contacts
5 Questions with Kevin Kruse

Focus Magazine - Spring 2016