So What Do Leaders Do in Business That Sets Them Apart?

The question I am sure every employee asks is "what makes him a great leader and not me?". Well I know that I asked myself that question when assessing people I have worked for over my career. Well, I think Jack Welch has said it best in his book "Winning". I have always been a fan of Welch and have read all his books and even was a stockholder of GE for many years. In his latest book, "Winning", I think he really articulates what leaders do and after re-reading this book for a 2nd time it finally hit home. So, what leadership knowledge has Jack imparted upon us, here are his eight key points:

1. leaders relentlessly upgrade their team, constantly assessing their progress and evaluating them along the way
2. leaders make sure people breath the vision set, not just see it
3. leaders get into people's skin, through positive energy and optimism
4. leaders establish trust and credit. There is transparency and candor with their style
5. leaders have the courage to make unpopular decisions
6. leaders probe and question how things are done to see additional opportunity or new methodology
7. leaders inspire risk taking
8. leaders celebrate

As I look back on the people who lead the companies I have worked for I can name a few who follow these important guidelines and style of management.  You know who you are, see my blog post on August 6, 2008. 
Also ask yourself does your CEO possess these qualities and if not how does your business rank against the competition. 

What Does Your CEO Think of You?

I am sure if you read all my postings you get the sense that strategy, talent management/development, and being in the forefront of your business is the most important aspect of human resources. That said, what does your CEO think of you?

I am a big Jack Welch fan, and a student of his management processes. He has said on many occasions that "the head of human resources should be at least as important as the CFO". So do you think your CEO feels this way about you? I have been lucky over my many years in human resources to hear my CEOs (yes, that's plural) say that about me. I was very lucky in my early years to have a CEO mentor and boss, Willard Sweetser, who was a true believer in HR and utilized me to the max as well as be open to my innovation on talent management, hiring, and cross functional teams in the late 70's. The list goes on in Oak Ridge with Henry A. Morgan, a ex US Navy Trident submarine commander to Mike Wisner, the wiz bang innovator from Chicago who never let me out of his sight to my latest CEO Ian Melville. All were instrumental in growing the business with HR at their side to manage the talent, succession planning, and help to run the business.
So again, what does your CEO think of you?