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Wise Moves – The Need for Leadership

Wise MovesLast week I had an opprotunity to present a webinar on wise moves in tough times with Kathy Kurz from Scannell & Kurz. Because it is likely that this topic will be with us for a while I wanted to pose a comment and then a question. As I look at our turbulent marketplace, I can’t help think that the most valuable resource of all is not $, but leadership. I think, in many respects, that our economic crisis has exacerbated a growing crisis in leadership. We seem to have too few presidents and senior teams who can clearly define the issues and options and prepare measured responses, We have lot’s of managers out there — senior people who are comfortable working within established and predictable paradigms. But it seems to me that we need leaders who are able, even comfortable, transitioning between paradigms (from what used to be to what will be). Furthermore, these people must be able to muster the political will to deal with the recalcitrants and nay-sayers. I am curious if others agree that leadership that all in all it is a leadership deal. Thoughts?

Photo by: gingerblokey

  • http://blog.stamats.com Scott Leamon

    Here are some comments from a previous discussion:

    Comment by Roscoe on December 8, 2008 at 5:37pm
    Thanks for informative webinar last week. Your insights and recommendations were helpful. I wholeheartedly agree with your premise on the importance of leadership. Do you have examples of exemplary university leaders that are providing bold and effective leadership for their campuses?

    Comment by Bob Sevier on December 9, 2008 at 8:29am
    I would look at USC, Steve Samples is one of the best college presidents around. Smart. Visionary. Assembled an extraordinarly talented senior team. Data driven. Methodical. I would look, too, at NYU. I don’t know that president but based on their amazing successes over the past decade I suspect the same sort of president works there. Hope this helps.

    Comment by Steve Bruce on December 9, 2008 at 11:29am
    My thanks too Bob for a great webinar last week. A possible example of what you describe is Paul Trible of Christopher Newport University in Newport News, VA. If you knew the school as recently as the ’90′s you wouldn’t recognize the place. Happy to report that not more than 20 min after your presentation ended we rec’d a directive to adjust our projections down for next fall and budget accordingly – strategic vs. reactionary. Now to get to work on some of the other NTO’s.

    Comment by Bob Sevier on December 9, 2008 at 4:33pm
    Glad you enjoyed it. I am impressed with your decisiveness. Bob

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