I recently read a summary of a study on the “unstoppable power of leaderless organizations.” It was authored by two academics that wrote it in a style that suggested they believe they should be put on a pedestal for this astounding work. The report sings the praises of “starfish-like” organizational structures that are totally decentralized and completely dependent on peer-to-peer relationships. They claimed this inherent flexibility would lead to a big positive impact on the management of projects and the discovery of knowledge.
Types of Events:
Business & Non-Profit Gatherings of All Types, Industry Association Meetings, Leadership Training Sessions, Strategic Planning Exercises
Topic Areas of Focus:
Courageous Leadership, Operational Effectiveness, Generating Innovation, Causes and Cures of Bureaucracy, Breaking Down Fiefdoms and Silos
Some Past Clients:
Roche Pharmaceuticals, Delta Airlines, PepsiCo, Deutsche Bank, Automobile Manufacturers Association, Chubb Insurance
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Perspectives on Bob's Books
What's Holding You Back?
"A must read for both emerging and established executives! Bob Herbold provides ten clear guidelines that will enable managers to become strong, proactive leaders."
- J.Lechleiter, retired Chairman, President and CEO of Eli Lilly & Company
Seduced By Success
"Bob Herbold gets to the heart of why successful organizations and individuals often go into a tail-spin, and how this can be avoided. His thorough reviews of specific companies we all know make this a very useful book, and I highly recommend it."
- Indra K. Nooyi, Chairperson & CEO, PepsiCo, Inc.
The Fiefdom Syndrome
"Turf wars and bureaucracy can undermine even the strongest corporate strategies. Drawing on lessons learned throughout his distinguished career, Bob describes innovative and practical ways to tackle this pervasive problem."
- Bill Gates, Co-Founder, Microsoft Corporation and Co-Founder, Bill & Melinda Gates FoundationClick here to learn more about these books
Bob's Gutsy Leadership Blog
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Bob regularly writes blog posts and articles with his areas of focus being leadership, organizational effectiveness. Below you will find the titles and hot-links of his most recent efforts:
Recently, Nike learned the hard way that you need to know what employees are experiencing. Specifically, the press reported that this saga began with several female employees complaining to the Nike HR organization about sexual harassment issues. The press noted it was apparently common practice for an HR representative to meet one-on-one with anyone who had a complaint, tell them they are the only person with such a complaint, and suggest that it’s their own fault.
One of the key attributes of a strong, courageous leader is the ability to get people to pursue an aggressive plan for improvement. In doing so, lots of dialogue takes place as the plan is developed, with particular emphasis on trying to make the dissenters understand the thinking, even though they may not agree. In dealing with those that may not agree, one thing you want to avoid is telling them they are wrong.
