"Leadership - the most important process of all"

The leadership process has never been as critical as it is now. The fate of companies rests on the effect of their leadership process. Recent events have shown that the impact of good or bad leadership on results can be counted in the millions, or even billions.

Consider the largest international companies. Is their situation created by the market, the financial crisis, or other external factors? No their successes and failures can only be attributed to the leadership exercised, or not exercised, under the given conditions.

There is no doubt that the financial crisis took many by surprise. On the other hand, it is also a unique opportunity to exercise optimal leadership. Anyone can lead during a boom time. It is during times like the present that we have to show what we are made of as leaders.

Crisis leadership or leadership crisis?

People speak of 'crisis leadership' during times of crisis. Perhaps we should speak of a 'leadership crisis' instead. Great leaders do not let the situation set the leadership agenda. They lead the situation and create the ideal conditions and context for their company, whatever is happening around them.

I believe that

"Reality" +/- Leadership = Company results

Most companies are constantly striving to improve key business processes. They practice Business Process Re-engineering. They outsource. They in-source. They benchmark. The contribution processes are required to make to results is continually increased. All this, of course, is quite reasonable.

But when will companies seriously begin to pursue the huge potential in the leadership process? Let's create complete transparency between leadership and results! Let's set specific, ambitious and accelerated goals for the leadership contribution to result creation! Research shows that the effect of good or bad leadership on profits can vary by more than a factor of 10.

The potential within the leadership process is huge. Let's start the journey now and never be fully satisfied.

There is infinite potential in leadership.