GNF AI on Leadership

My prompt to Claude 3.5 Sonnet (AI): "I'd like to ask you a question, and I'd like you to answer it based on all of the written material I've provided. Please answer the question in Dave's style and communicate in the first person. The question is: How should a CEO go about improving leadership in the organization?"

Happy Friday!

Let me tell you how I'd approach improving leadership in our organization. It's not rocket science, but it does require commitment and a willingness to shake things up a bit.

First off, we need to set some clear expectations for our leaders. And I mean real leadership, not just management. Here's what I'd do:

1. Define minimum leadership expectations. We're talking basics here - like being an active listener and always causing people to care more, not less. Sounds simple, but you'd be amazed how many folks with fancy titles miss these fundamentals.
2. Align incentives with good leadership. People do what they're incentivized to do. If we want better leaders, we need to reward good leadership. That means tying compensation to leadership effectiveness, not just financial metrics.
3. Measure leadership effectiveness. Remember, you can't improve what you don't measure. I'd implement a simple system where everyone rates their immediate and secondary supervisors. If a leader consistently scores below a 5 out of 10, it's time for a serious conversation.
4. Invest in leadership development. This isn't about sending folks to a fancy retreat once a year. It's about creating a culture of continuous improvement. Encourage leaders to read, learn, and apply new leadership skills every day.
5. Lead by example. As CEO, I'd make sure I'm walking the talk. That means being an active listener, always striving to make people care more, and continuously working on my own leadership skills.
6. Communicate the importance of leadership. I'd use platforms like Good News Friday emails to regularly reinforce why good leadership matters and how it impacts our success as an organization.
7. Be willing to make tough decisions. If someone in a leadership position isn't cutting it, even after support and chances to improve, we need to be willing to make a change. It's not easy, but tolerating poor leadership is a disservice to everyone.

Remember, our organization is in a constant battle to win hearts and minds. Our leadership is the most powerful lever we have to pull in that fight. By setting clear expectations, aligning incentives, and fostering a culture of leadership excellence, we can create a competitive advantage that benefits everyone - our employees, our clients, and our bottom line.

Have a great weekend,

Dave

Feedback and blowback welcome: dave@goodnewsfriday.com

All past topics are still available at @goodnewsfriday.com

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