Comments on: The steward http://managingleadership.com/blog/2008/02/22/the-steward/ The strategic role of the senior executive Sat, 10 Jan 2009 00:48:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Jim Stroup http://managingleadership.com/blog/2008/02/22/the-steward/comment-page-1/#comment-3116 Jim Stroup Sat, 23 Feb 2008 14:55:30 +0000 http://managingleadership.com/blog/2008/02/22/the-steward/#comment-3116 Hello Rodney, You are taking this to a deeper level, one that bears careful examination. Your first point is one, I agree, that is problematic for numerous organizations and senior executives. It has to do with poor discipline and skills in basic time and task management responsibilities - Drucker and Mintzberg both identify this as a large weakness that more or less systemically afflicts CEOs - one they are largely unaware of. This leads to the ADD-like behavior you mention, as they are forced to rush about putting out previously unattended fires. I understand your second point, and I agree that any method than can help a senior executive leverage his or her range and time must be considered and incorporated where possible. Because, it's not enough merely to have time to do your stewardship tasks in different areas before they erupt into crises - you need to have time to reflect and prioritize. So, you need both time and tools - both technical and intellectual - to help you use that time effectively. Thanks for your visit and for taking the topic to so important an area! Hello Rodney,

You are taking this to a deeper level, one that bears careful examination. Your first point is one, I agree, that is problematic for numerous organizations and senior executives. It has to do with poor discipline and skills in basic time and task management responsibilities - Drucker and Mintzberg both identify this as a large weakness that more or less systemically afflicts CEOs - one they are largely unaware of. This leads to the ADD-like behavior you mention, as they are forced to rush about putting out previously unattended fires.

I understand your second point, and I agree that any method than can help a senior executive leverage his or her range and time must be considered and incorporated where possible. Because, it’s not enough merely to have time to do your stewardship tasks in different areas before they erupt into crises - you need to have time to reflect and prioritize. So, you need both time and tools - both technical and intellectual - to help you use that time effectively.

Thanks for your visit and for taking the topic to so important an area!

]]> By: Rodney Brim http://managingleadership.com/blog/2008/02/22/the-steward/comment-page-1/#comment-3112 Rodney Brim Fri, 22 Feb 2008 22:15:05 +0000 http://managingleadership.com/blog/2008/02/22/the-steward/#comment-3112 Jim, Liked the description of the bridging function that leaders need to master. As you described wide ranging scanning demands, I had two thoughts: 1. I wonder if that explains why so many leaders we work with are ADD or have very short attention spans. It helps them with the scanning, it hurts them with the follow-up and execution phase. 2. How critical it is, with all the scanning, to have technology to manage all the information gathered so you can bridge to the more stewardship responsibilities. I recently posted a blog on going fast and managing information, you can find it at -http://www.managepro.com/blog/index.php/2008/02/07/the-relationship-between-being-fast-and-managing-information/ let me know what you think. Rodney Brim, CEO, Performance Solutions Technology, www.managepro.com/blog Jim,
Liked the description of the bridging function that leaders need to master. As you described wide ranging scanning demands, I had two thoughts:
1. I wonder if that explains why so many leaders we work with are ADD or have very short attention spans. It helps them with the scanning, it hurts them with the follow-up and execution phase.
2. How critical it is, with all the scanning, to have technology to manage all the information gathered so you can bridge to the more stewardship responsibilities. I recently posted a blog on going fast and managing information, you can find it at -http://www.managepro.com/blog/index.php/2008/02/07/the-relationship-between-being-fast-and-managing-information/

let me know what you think.

Rodney Brim, CEO, Performance Solutions Technology,
http://www.managepro.com/blog

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