Monday 4 January 2016

The Leadership Grand Gesture





VIEWPOINT: Just occasionally leaders need to make a grand gesture to get their message across, Rudi Plettinx, Managing Director of Management Centre Europe, offers valuable insight on when and how to do it, in this eighth in his series of articles for IEDP:Newly appointed leaders often have a shrinking window of opportunity to get the team they’ve been given to manage on their side. My view is that you need to get their attention from day one, the first hour if at all possible. I think it is vitally important to send a message that will make the organization know you are serious about getting things done.

This is particularly true if you are being parachuted into a situation where there is low morale, high turnover or some similar corporate malaise.

But getting people to sit up and pay attention sometimes calls for a grand gesture. Something truly memorable. The stuff of leadership legend that will be talked about whenever the business ‘war stories’ are recalled and retold.

Just in case you need to make a grand leadership gesture one of these days, here are three real-life examples that might just get you thinking the next time you feel you need to make some instant impact:


  • A newly appointed general manager was sent into an organization where communications had broken down and employees were all suffering from low morale. Day one the manager arrived with a tool box in his hand. As headquarters staff watched open-mouthed, he took out a wrench and a screwdriver and removed the door to his office and had it taken away. The message was crystal clear. “My door is always open, don’t hesitate to come and talk to me.” This dramatic gesture achieved its goal. Within seconds (thanks to the power of email) the whole company knew what had happened at headquarters. This no nonsense, hands-on approach was the beginning of a spectacular turn-around in the organization’s fortunes.

  • Not quite so dramatic, but equally successful, was the manager sent as the new leader of an ailing division of a software provider just before the Christmas period. The day she arrived top management sent a memo to the whole company saying that – due to budget restrictions – there would be no Christmas parties that year. The newly appointed manager tacked up a memo on the notice board inviting everyone in her new division to her Christmas party which she paid for! Again, it sent an instant message to everyone and was the starting point of a turnaround: which, of course, resulted in a nice, fat bonus for the ‘generous’ manager.

  • Or how’s this for total leadership chutzpah? Sent in to shake things up by his U.S. electronics firm, the new head of Europe sent a very definite message just hours after his plane landed in Brussels. Taken to a Michelin starred restaurant in the city as a ‘welcome to Europe’ gesture by his top 50 managers he came up with a bigger, bolder gesture of his own! He only stayed for the soup, saying, “well guys you may have time for lunch, but I haven’t.” There was more to come. A keen skier, the new boss started each day running up the 20 plus floors to his office as part of his keep-fit regime. His personal team was ‘encouraged’ to do the same. The message, “we are here to do a job and we can’t do that wasting time eating lunch or even waiting for elevators.”

For leaders, grand gestures have their place. Only you can’t do them too often. So my advice is save them for when you really need to strike a chord, sending a message that won’t, ever, be forgotten. You’ll also have fun doing it too. Whoever said that leadership shouldn’t be fun? Not me. 


Do you have a story about a CEO, or senior manager who made the grand gesture to get a point across ? If so we’d like to hear it.




This column on leadership and organizational development is written exclusively for the IEDP by Rudi Plettinx, Managing Director of Management Centre Europe, the Brussels-based development organization. Have a comment or a question? Connect with him via Linkedin. 

16 comments:

  1. Leadership is both an exploration region and a down to earth expertise incorporating the capacity of an individual or association .Online logo design uae is always take care of it employees . They also guide to learn new skills for better future .

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In the blog post, the author discusses the importance of leaders making grand gestures to inspire and motivate their teams as like best web development services in UK and USA. The author argues that these gestures can take many forms, from acknowledging an employee's hard work in front of the whole team to implementing a bold new initiative.

      Delete
  2. The fear that many people have with academic writing services is that there’s the worry what you’re receiving isn’t 100% original content. The great thing about papernow.org service is that they only provide one off, custom essays to every customer. In an academic environment where the fear of being accused of plagiarism is very real, having that guarantee helps a lot. Their writers will write an essay that’s designed the answer the question your professors have set you, so you know you’ll get top marks too.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  4. A great leader can develop a team, and every person loves to work with a professional leader who teaches them. I have to work in the assignment writing service agency and as so far I got an experienced leader.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I have read this stuff and also get a lot useful information and now I am looking for the wooden matt high gloss for my office

    ReplyDelete
  6. Looking for Cheap Assignment Help-Assignmentwritinhelpuae, please suggest me the writing agencies who can provide me the best assignment writing services.

    ReplyDelete
  7. The concept of leadership is important to promote and i.e. why institutes, organizations, companies label the most experienced member so that he/she can train and influence the new members and allow them to follow. Same as the group of logo designing services has created the hierarchy format.

    ReplyDelete
  8. A best leader can develop a team, and every person loves to work with a professional leader who teaches them. I have to work in the video cartoon animation services USA and as so far I got an experienced leader.

    ReplyDelete

  9. Hello, friends. If you're interested in reading the 2016 Global Leadership Development Study, the greatest website for this. such as the great website is formal report example service, for assignment purposes which I use whenever I need assistance.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Love to read your blogs. It keeps me engaged in something new and updated .
    Please take a moment and visit university assignment help in dubai to get your assignments done by professionals.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I was regularly looking for the black leather jacket unless one of my friends mentioned the Family Leather. They are the most reputable leather jacket providers with prompt customer support responses. Experiencing professional designers at Family Leather was one of the thrilling experiences. Thank you for the original leather jacket. I would highly advise everyone who sees the importance of high-quality material of leather bags with the best price offers. It was a wonderful experience to buy online bags through a credible platform Family Leather. They have the best range of genuine leather products. It is a reasonable, reliable, and authentic platform for all types of leather products regardless of their nature.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Are you looking for affordable Taxation Assignment Help in UAE? Assignmenttask.com offer Assignment Help UAE and writing services from academic experts. Our experts make pure and unique content with samples provided also. Students can talk to us via live chat at our website.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Engaging read on 'The Leadership Grand Gesture.' Your blog emphasizes the power of impactful leadership. A reminder that small gestures can make a profound difference.
    New Jersey Careless Driving Ticket
    How Much is a Careless Driving Ticket in New Jersey

    ReplyDelete
  14. The Leadership Grand Gesture is a powerful act that inspires and resonates, defining great leaders. It's not just about authority; it's about empathy, vision, and courage to make transformative moves, leaving a lasting impact on teams and organizations. Cómo aplicar un Divorcio en Nueva York

    ReplyDelete
  15. "Insightful and thorough coverage of abatement contractors in Edmonton, emphasizing their crucial role in environmental safety and compliance. This article abatement contractors in Edmontonskillfully navigates through various aspects, making it an informative resource for understanding the significance of abatement in the community. Highly recommended for anyone seeking valuable insights into this essential industry."







    ReplyDelete