Ford Business Consulting

Linda Ford, PhD

Blogs on...
Leadership and Culture

May 09, 2008

Leadership - a renewable resource

Hooray – in just a week, I’m leaving for vacation! I’m exited to have some time off, explore new places, meet new people, and just generally unwind. It’s been about two years since I took more than just a long weekend so I’m feeling somewhat overdue for a break.

The break is important to me personally but it’s also a key part of keeping my creativity and my energy high for my work. It recharges my brain and gets me refreshed for the next project. Basically, it’s good for my productivity and therefore my bottom line.

How about you? When is the last time you took at least two weeks off work? So long you can't remember? If so, you might consider taking a real vacation soon.

I can imagine that many of you are thinking, "Yeah, yeah - when I have the time I'll think about it." Perhaps it seems like your own renewal is a luxury, an indulgence you'll consider when all your work is done. I want to encourage you to view it more as an investment in your organization's success.

Answer these three questions:

1. Does your performance level significantly affect the results your organization achieves?

2. Is your performance level affected by your mental state, whether you are tired or alert, energized or burned out, satisfied or frustrated?

3. Are you currently feeling a bit fried from working too hard and too long?

If you answered "yes" to even two of these questions, you know where I'm going with this. YOU are a key asset to your organization. That asset should be managed in a way that increases its value. That means that your personal renewal is vital to your organization's success. So go ahead, take a break. You deserve it and so does your organization.

I'll talk to you again in June, when I'm refreshed and renewed.

Labels: leadership

--MORE--

Yet, one simple "rule of business" remains constant. Your organization's ability to execute is the ultimate determinant of your success. And, when it comes to effective execution your potential roadblocks are many.

At Ford Business Consulting, our specialty is helping organizations overcome obstacles to superior execution by tuning the human system to support the business strategy.

The human system includes leadership, organizational structure, and corporate culture. Your corporate culture is like an 800 Pound Gorilla. It has a pervasive influence on your business. The 800 Pound Gorilla can be an asset or a liability in the execution of your strategy. You've heard the stories of failed mergers and fizzled strategies, and many of them are the Gorilla's fault.

It's time for you to tame your Gorilla before your strategy is yesterday's bad news. Click here to learn how.

Ford Business Consulting

E-Zine

May 09, 2008

Leadership - a renewable resource