We have had too many wrong hires

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The methods that recruiters typically master unfortunately cover only a few of the most vital qualities of a leader. For example, a skilled project manager may completely fail as Managing Director. He may previously have accomplished  great achievements and delivered gigantic projects  with anticipated performance, on schedule and within budget; but that  doesn’t help. The crucial feature “Empathy” was too weak. When this characteristic is weak, you can get away with it in a project organization, but not in a line position. Other such vital characteristics of a leader are, Integrity, capacity to Manage Anxiety, Loyalty, Personal Responsibility, ability to Reflect, etc. These characteristics emerge and evolve within the Diamond. To assess those characteristics you require special interview techniques that recruiters seldom master.

We have tried to solve problems that don’t have a solution!

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Almost half of the dilemmas we have are insolvable. They must be balanced over time. One cannot choose between Change and Stability, or Family and Work, for example. These dilemmas are called “Polarities” and require a different toolbox to be managed efficiently. Understanding and Managing Polarities and Paradoxes is the hallmark of great leadership! This is a central part of the Diamond structure and learning!

We have not seen the need for change on time. History repeats itself, From Facit™ To Nokia™

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The maturation phase of a product or an organization is most critical. The money rolls in, there are minimal development costs and the organization runs smoothly. Everyone seems happy. At that point it is usually too late to start development of a new product or to get a reality-oriented organization in place! Consider the historical mistakes as Facit™, Pan Am™ and Nokia™. The Diamond explains the psychology behind such mistakes and how to avoid a looming disaster.

No one takes personal responsibility. You blame others and discharge yourself from liability.

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Key to creating an organization with a superior ability to develop and adapt to change is Personal Responsibility.

To blame others and to discharge ourselves from liability is a “choice” that only we, human beings, can make. However, there is no place for this behavior in a highly competitive business environment! We are responsible for the whole organization, not just for our own part.

There is no escape if you understand the Leadership Diamond®! You take full responsibility for the job you have been assigned! Understanding this, you can change your management team’s behavior overnight, from being an inefficient “working group” to an efficient and responsible “team”.

We either held on to a wrong strategy or we changed it too often

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There are two oppposing  schools when it comes to the implementing of a strategy.

One school argues that you should stay on course with the chosen strategy or you will risk confusion, increased costs and wasted time.

The other school argues that you need a flexible strategy to be able to capture new opportunities and respond to emerging threats, or you will risk  being burdoned by costly change programs resulting in increased costs and time demands.

There are a plethora of books available from each school. Both schools are 100% right while at the same time they are 100% wrong!

Understanding the Diamond and its integration of Polarities gives us the opportunity to see the full perspective that internalizes the benefits of each  school, and how to carve out and implement an effective strategy.

We have focused excessively on quarterly reports and insufficiently on long term development, or vice versa

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The overall purpose of leadership is to deliver anticipated results! Business executives typically are exposed to heavy pressure from the board of directors and investors to deliver quarterly results in order to prevent the stock price from falling. This continual pressure unfortunately has turned some of our best business executives into crooks when “cooking the books”, etc.

How can we both meet short-term pressing requirements and secure the long-term development expenditures?

The Diamond Polarity Map describes both the benefits and the negative consequences of too strong a focus on short-term or long-term actions, explains how to communicate the different perspectives in critical dialogue with the owners and the board, and frames how to create strong, sustainable and profitable growth.

We did not make the tough decisions on time

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We often know what decisions need to be made, yet often hesitate to make them. The reasons may be that the decisions will have a major negative impact on individuals in the organization or maybe we feel that we don’t have all the facts on the table. It all makes us insecure and filled with anxiety. Experience tells us that we often make decisions too late and when it comes to “downsizing”, not to a sufficient level. Anxiety in decision-making sometimes can be overwhelming.

The Leadership Diamond® clearly demonstrates how our leadership skills may be developed in order to enhance our ability to make the right and tough decisions and how to turn Anxiety into Positive Energy and empowerment.

You have delegated leadership development instead of doing your job — which is to lead!

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The only thing you cannot delegate is leadership!

As a leader we must take responsibility for what we are set to do, both to lead ourselves and those for whom we have responsibility.

Too often we delegate the responsibility to e.g. HR to provide education, leadership succession and recruitement. HR can work great as a support organization, but we are responsible and must lead.

If you as a leader could make only one decision, leadership is the initiative you need to take! If the leadership works well everything else works well over time!

To lead is to teach.  And  this is best done between two mature persons in an open and trusting atmosphere. If you can create this environment you will get results. It helps if you also have a common language, an effective leadership model and tools.

The Diamond provides you with the language, structure and tools you need to lead and teach!