9 Leading with Knowledge
WHERE WE PLAY > Leadership
LEADING
with
KNOWLEDGE
In big organizations people are often confronted with this reaction of the "CFO". It is a typical sign for an organization that is "Playing not to Lose". No one wants to take the risk that they invest in people who eventually leave the company.
CFO asks CEO:
"What happens if we invest in developing our people and then they LEAVE us"
CEO:
"What happens if we don't, and they STAY?"
If you are afraid that your well-trained employees leave your company, you should review the leadership culture in your organization. People don't leave bad companies, they leave bad bosses.
A Quote by Sir Richard Branson (CEO of Virgin Airlines):
"Train people well enough so they can leave, treat them well enough so they don't want to"
LEADING with KNOWLEDGE
- The CAPTAIN must be a good Leader, but also a good Expert. “Sully’s” Hudson river landing wouldn’t be successful without the Knowledge and Experience of him.
- Leadership in Smelters require sufficient expertise in the different processes of the Anode Plant, Potrooms and Casthouse
- Special Focus need to be on Reduction/Potroom as any crisis here is extreme time constraint. Hence, Reduction Leaders need to be also great Experts
- Knowledge is the foundation of real Communication and “Walk the Talk” and “Genchi Genbutsu”
- It requires investing in people and sometimes different approaches to careers
ROLE MODEL: Jack Welch (former CEO of GE)
Change before it’s too late --> Straight from the Guts
He did a PhD in Chemical Engineering before starting at GE. He could understand the Physics and Background of his decisions