Reinventing a Brand From the Inside: A Podcast with New Balance CEO Rob DeMartini – OC Podcast 016

 

 Reinventing a Brand From the Inside: A Podcast with New Balance CEO Rob DeMartini - OC Podcast 016: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Rob DeMartini is the CEO of New Balance.  New Balance is in the midst of a reinvigoration of its brand.  The company is over 100 years old, but is making some very interesting strides towards reestablishing itself as a premiere athletic shoe brand.  In this episode, we speak to Rob about leading this charge and what it is taking both inside and outside the company to make this change successful.

Contact
www.organizationalchampions.com
www.twitter.com/ThompsonOC
www.twitter.com/OrgChamps

Tags: athletic, CEO, conversation, leader, NewBalance, organizational, Podcast, shoe, webcast

Organizational Champion Webcast 07 – Connected Leader

 

 Organizational Champion Webcast 07 - Connected Leader [36:47m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Show Notes:

In today’s episode, Mike and Murray discuss the value of engaging and staying connected to all stakeholders as a leader.  It isn’t always easy be available, open, and vulnerable as a leader but as we move forward, leaders who can’t do that will be shuffled to the back of the pack.  We will talk about how to be a connected leader and why you might not have a choice…

In The News:
Small Business Sees Thaw

Question:
What does a Champion do right now to make sure that her company/division/team is ready to move when the economic stoplight finally turns green?

Links:
Blue Ocean Strategy
Who’s Got Your Back?
Mind of Moms Summit
Rockfish Interactive

Tags: champion, connected, leader, mike, organizational, Podcast, thompson, webcast

The Organizational Champion Webcast – Ep. 05

 

 The Organizational Champion Webcast - Ep. 05 [31:55m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Show Notes:

In the News:

The Best of Behance: Best of Behance’s 99% Conference: 13 Tried and True Practices For Making Ideas Happen.

http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/linda-tischler/design-times/best-behance-13-tried-and-true-practices-making-ideas-happen

The ECChO Model:

ECCho Discussion:

I. Recap The Definition of a Champion
II. Discuss the Model (Quick Overview)
III. The Enlightened Leader

Why is this important for leaders?

What is the value proposition of a company being led by enlightened leaders?

What is the value of a company producing enlightened leaders?

SPONSORS:

The Organizational Champions Podcast is sponsored by www.ChampEm.com.
Production considerations for the Organizational Champions Webcast by www.sviworld.com.

Tags: champion, enlightened, leader, organizational, Podcast, webcast

Enlightenment is the Key Differentiator of Extraordinary People

Becoming enlightened is the first step toward becoming an organizational champion because the process starts with you. Living enlightened means living true to yourself and your unique design – authentically, genuinely, consistently. Naturally living out your core propensity is necessary for personal efficiency and effectiveness. Don’t diminish the importance of personal growth and improvement, however. But realize that your best improvement will grow from your core sense of self. If you’re an introvert, you’ll likely never be a natural extrovert—but you might learn to communicate better. If you’re an academic, you might not be an artist (though these aren’t mutually exclusive)—but you might learn to think more creatively.

Those who fail to understand who they are often fail to lead naturally, always trying to fit into someone else’s leadership mold. This only leads to frustration and inefficiency. Through perspective and understanding, embrace who you are naturally—pursue growth from your core, and unleash your unique and valuable gifts.

• Discovering yourself gives you a new found significance and sense of purpose.
• Discovering yourself gives you more freedom to move through life and run wild as you’ve defined your own playing field.
• Discovering yourself gives you new energy and passion that allow you to bring your best to any situation.

The road to enlightenment begins with self-discovery. And the road to self-discovery isn’t always easy. In fact, many people find it a very difficult trek. But by accepting the difficulty—even embracing it—we discover ourselves, and through that discovery we can enlarge ourselves and our impact.

Tags: book, champion, development, enlighten, enlightened, leader, Leadership, organizational, theorganizationalchampion

Are the Best Leaders Likeable?

Business Pundit recently put out, yet, another article that suppresses the ideal of a charismatic CEO. Regarding the hiring of charismatic CEO’s, Business Pundit states, “It’s an attractive ideal that often results in disaster.”

I’m amazed at how often charisma is painted as a bad trait for CEO’s and executives. Editors and consultants are constantly highlighting the stories of the steadiest, unemotional and guarded CEO’s. We have labeled the best leaders as true book smart-academic-analyzers who are unable or unwilling to connect, socially.

Does guarded mean smart? Is a smart person unwilling or unable to connect socially? No. But in society, we love to label, and labels often stick – to our detriment.

There is no question that the most extraordinary leaders, smart or not, are likeable. And likeability isn’t represented by popularity seekers or political glad-handers. Likeability is represented by those who are genuine, trusted, inspiring, interesting, bold, vulnerable, and serving.

Compare these records:

In comparison, the likeable leaders were much more successful. Guarded CEO, Frank Lorenzo, led Continental Airlines into bankruptcy while Southwest Airlines thrives. Jerry Yang, the founder of Yahoo! was fired by the board because he was a passionless leader who was unable to connect. Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos connects to hundreds of thousands of people on the hour. Emotionally charged and transparent, Bill Walsh won three Super Bowls while Paul Brown won none. Both of these coaches competed for the same job in Cincinnati. Brown was hired because he was more guarded than was Walsh. Most of us know the amazing story behind humble man Sam who was often photographed on one knee surrounded by Wal-Mart associates. Contrast Sam with William Dillard II who is in constant battles with his executive board.

Likeability, approachability, charisma are important attributes for today’s leaders. Why? Because good PR plans can’t spin rotten personalities anymore. We are all the media, and words and reputations travel fast. Today, we are easily exposed.

If the CEO isn’t liked, the product brand is likely not liked.

Research supports the charisma argument as emotional intelligence quotient (EQ) is proving to be a far better predictor of success than intellectual quotient (EQ).

So how can you increase your likeability? Below are a few tips.

1. Know who you are and be that person. Don’t pitch yourself as something you’re not. Be authentic, genuine and consistent.
2. Fully invest in others. Make deposits in them, not just withdrawals.
   1. Know what people are great at and celebrate them often.
   2. Know what makes them come alive and enable more of those opportunities.
   3. Respect their unique style even though it might be different than yours.
3. Check your motives. Don’t pursue purely selfish motives. But rather, pursue mutual benefit, always.
4. Inspire others by taking more time to be inspired yourself. Invest in opportunities that stretch you emotionally and spiritually.
5. Do the right thing.

Tags: approachable, bold, CEO, charisma, emotional, EQ, geniune, inspiring, intelligence, interesting, leader, likeable, service, serving, trusted, vulnerable

A Birthday Blog and a Healthy Exercise

I’m celebrating 39 years today and feel compelled to deliver many thanks and recognitions.

Age 1: My mom’s OBGYN – Dr. Patrick! Yes, on Saint Patrick’s Day
Age 2: My dog Jet. Coolest and biggest German Shepherd
Age 3: My Big Wheel
Age 4: Dad’s motorcycle
Age 5: My best friend, Billy
Age 6: Toughskin Jeans
Age 7: Monica Anderson – Wow!
Age 8: Soccer in Europe
Age 9: My faith in Christ – By the way, St. Patrick used the shamrock to represent the Holy Trinity
Age 10: Nothing – I lived in Montgomery, Alabama
Age 11: Moving from Montgomery, Alabama to Washington D.C.
Age 12: First football season – Springfield Steelers
Age 13: My totally rad skateboard and half-pipe
Age 14: My first paying job – Delivering the Washington Post
Age 15: O’Fallon Township High School football – Undefeated
Age 16: My candy apple red Firebird – rusted through
Age 17: Homecoming King for North Pulaski High
Age 18: University of Arkansas’ Acceptance Letter – Phew!
Age 19: Lifelong friends – Kappa Sigma
Age 20: Survived Air Force boot camp and survival school
Age 21: College graduation
Age 22: First real career-oriented job – J.B. Hunt
Age 23: My first date with Melinda Caudle (WOW!)
Age 24: My Marriage to Melinda Caudle (Mel)
Age 25: My first business – ThompsonEarnhart
Age 26: Season tickets to Razorback Football – Thanks Dale
Age 27: The Fayetteville Square in the Spring
Age 28: My son, Blake (May 98 – June 98)
Age 29: My daughter, Alex
Age 30: My second business – ThompsonMurray
Age 31: Annual Seaside vacations with best friends
Age 32: My aerobatic airplane – the Extra 300
Age 33: Radical Sabbatical – almost a year off
Age 34: My third business – SVI
Age 35: My son, Jax
Age 36: SVI’s early leadership team – Autumn, Jason, Tim
Age 37: Learning to sail
Age 38: First publisher – McGraw-Hill
Age 39: Great start – 72 degrees, drinks on the patio with friends

Life is rich. Onward!

Tags: champions, leader, Leadership, organizational, thankful, thanks

OC Attributes Survey Findings

Thank you all for participating in the recent online survey regarding the attributes of an organizational champion. So far, we’ve captured the data from 57 responders. While we will continue to capture additional responses, this post is an update on findings from these initial responses.

Participants were asked to rank the importance of each of the attributes shown in the chart below regarding leadership today. The specific question was:

Based on organizational needs and demands in the 21st century, please rate the necessity of the following attributes of an organizational leader in order to have the most impact on organizational success on a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being “Completely Unnecessary” and 10 being “Completely Necessary”.

The attributes and their ratings of importance are below (Click on image to enlarge.):

Not surprising, trustworthiness captures the number one spot for the most important attribute followed closely by vision. The next three attributes emphasize the importance of communicating to and enabling a complex and decentralized group of work teams toward change across many organizations and enterprises of which one has no or limited authority over.

Ok. Agree. The next question is how? Communication skills will fail if motives aren’t trusted. Therefore, motives must be pure and good. But motives will fail if you have an inability to communicate. Communication is a behavior (non-verbal) and skill (verbal). In order to be trustworthy, behaviors, skills, and motives must be trusted and understood in order to effectively move people, an organization, and a group of organizations.

Effectively maneuvering people and organizations through change seems to be at the top of the priority list as it relates to effectively leading in the 21st century.

Trusted behaviors and skills seem to fit many leadership principles. The next level of valued attributes for a leader in the 21st century according to survey responses are drive, inspiration, and authenticity. Today, inspiration can’t be manufactured as followers are smarter and leadership is constantly being tested and evaluated. It must be authentic from within. And because trustworthiness is so important, one’s authenticity must be good. There are few things more destructive than a driven and inspiring leader with a completely self-serving or evil agenda.

Therefore, the current data seems to align with the definition for an organizational champion. Organizational champions are enlightened change-makers who are sensationally tuned to altruistic values and relentlessly driven by possibilities.

(Click on image to enlarge.)

Tags: 21st, attributes, business, century, champions, change, characteristics, competencies, drive, enlightened, leader, Leadership, maker, organizational, trust, vision

A Call for Your Input

Hello everyone,

We’re getting serious now. We’d like to hear your input on the attributes of an organizational champion. The link below takes you to a quick and anonymous survey for you to provide valuable insights into the premise of Organizational Champions and whether or not organizational champions are relevant in the 21st century.

Today’s business climate is marked by the need for organizations to be more than just successful entities, but also good citizens. Today there are many more stakeholders involved, cultures are clashing, and for the first time in recorded history, we have five generations working together. Add the extensive accountability brought on by corporate scandals and a flat world, and we need more than leadership today. We need champions to help organization maneuver through this complex environment.

As a reminder, organizational champions are enlightened change makers who are sensationally tuned to altruistic values and relentlessly driven by possibilities.

The aggregate findings from your responses will be used in forming the premise of the Organizational Champions book. I’ll publish these findings once we’ve completed the research.

Click here to participate in our short survey and log in with the following credentials:

• Username: Organizational
• Password: Champions

Thank you for your help and insights.

Tags: 21st, attributes, business, century, champion, characteristics, culture, leader, Leadership, organizational, research, society, values