Lean mean and on your screen
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Search HOME ABOUT US ARTICLES WHITE PAPERS ADVISORY PANEL FEATURED HR CONTRIBUTORS REGISTER Lean, Mean and On Your Screen Posted on May 14, 2012 by trump Lean Mean and on Your Screen – Today’s Fitter Leaders There is a fascinating comparison between the speed at which leaders must operate today and the growth of triathlons, yes triathlons. Leaders must be more nimble, more responsive to changes and permanently on their toes ready to pounce at the next opportunity. Only 20 years ago, in business, when we were planning for the future we were able to look 10 years ahead. Now very few industries are able to plan for more than the next three years. The accelerated changes mean that today a corporate strategy can be obsolete even before it’s fully executed. Just like when software is developed it can be obsolete by the time it reaches the consumer. The Global Financial Crises (GFC) forced many companies to revisit their strategy and is an example of how leaders are under constant pressure to be alert, aware of the shifting strategic landscape and conscious of how fast their business models are changing. Fortune Magazine predicts the forecast for most companies as… “Continued chaos with a Chance of Disaster.” The challenge for leaders is getting comfortable with it and responding to it. The good old days of setting the direction and then sitting back and watching the performance are long gone. On top of the additional pressures is that leaders must now focus on the implementation to accelerate it and ensure its success. They must be constantly on their toes and fitter than ever. This additional pressure has pushed many leaders to seek an alternative outlet for stress relief and instead of an extra beer at the end of the day (or gin and tonic) they have turned to exercise. Gym memberships are up in many cities but that alone is not an indicator of leaders becoming fitter as there is a difference between joining a gym and using it. A better barometer of leaders becoming fitter is the global growth of triathlons/ironman races over the last 20 years. The first ever ironman was in Hawaii, consisting of a 2.4-mile (3.86 km) swim, a 112-mile (180.25 km) bike and a marathon (26.2 miles 42.195 km) run in 1978. An insane concept that only 15 participants were crazy enough to attempt and only 12 finished. (The winning time was 11 hours, 46 minutes and 58 seconds.) The ironman concept was born out of an argument about who were fitter swimmers, runners or others. Today tens-of-thousands compete to try to be privileged enough to be allowed to compete in one of the treasured 1,800 places every year. The training time involved to be fit enough to compete in a full ironman is too heavy for most leaders, at roughly 4-6 hours a day. The shorter races are more realistic challenges and are becoming more and more popular. For example Singapore’s annual half ironman participation grew by 50% this year, its marathon and triathlon, last year, were both full and had to turn away willing participants. Triathlons have been appearing in cities all over the world. Training for all three endurance events is excellent cardiovascular exercise and personal challenge. Also training for three different disciplines, provides a more balanced, whole-body muscular development than just training for a single discipline. The acknowledgment in triathlons’ popularity was sealed in 2000 when it was added as an Olympic sport in Sydney. Leaders every day are turning to sports not only to de-stress but also to be fitter to deal with pressures in the office. Flying 24 hours for a two-day meeting has become modus operandi, as is an 18-hour work day and midnight conference calls. The rapid speed at which leaders must keep revisiting and implementing the strategy is pushing many leaders on to the road, bike, or into the water or all three. The biggest payoff is that healthier and fitter you become the more energy, creativity and higher resistance to illness you have. Over the last 14 years in Singapore and the region leaders have been tested at all levels. Consider the P.E.S.T. (Political, Economic, Social, and Technological) factors that have impacted business in SE Asia over that period. About This Author Robin Speculand Chief Executive, Bridges Business Consultancy Int Robin Speculand, the author of Beyond Strategy – The Leader’s Role In Successful Implementation, John Wiley & Sons and the international bestseller Bricks to Bridges – Make Your Strategy Come Alive. 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HO ME A BO UT U S A RT I C LE S WH I T E PA PER S ADV I S O RY P ANEL FE ATU RE D H R CO NTR I B UT OR S R EG I S TE R
Lean, Mean and On Your Screen
Posted on May 14, 2012 by trump
Lean Mean and on Your Screen – Today’s Fitter Leaders
There is a fascinating comparison between the speed at which leaders must operate today and the growth
of triathlons, yes triathlons. Leaders must be more nimble, more responsive to changes and permanently
on their toes ready to pounce at the next opportunity.
Only 20 years ago, in business, when we were planning for the future we were able to look 10 years
ahead. Now very few industries are able to plan for more than the next three years. The accelerated
changes mean that today a corporate strategy can be obsolete even before it’s fully executed. Just like
when software is developed it can be obsolete by the time it reaches the consumer. The Global Financial
Crises (GFC) forced many companies to revisit their strategy and is an example of how leaders are under
constant pressure to be alert, aware of the shifting strategic landscape and conscious of how fast their
business models are changing. Fortune Magazine predicts the forecast for most companies as… “Continued
chaos with a Chance of Disaster.” The challenge for leaders is getting comfortable with it and responding
to it.
The good old days of setting the direction and then sitting back and watching the performance are long
gone. On top of the additional pressures is that leaders must now focus on the implementation to
accelerate it and ensure its success. They must be constantly on their toes and fitter than ever.
This additional pressure has pushed many leaders to seek an alternative outlet for stress relief and instead
of an extra beer at the end of the day (or gin and tonic) they have turned to exercise. Gym memberships
are up in many cities but that alone is not an indicator of leaders becoming fitter as there is a difference
between joining a gym and using it. A better barometer of leaders becoming fitter is the global growth of
triathlons/ironman races over the last 20 years.
The first ever ironman was in Hawaii, consisting of a 2.4-mile (3.86 km) swim, a 112-mile (180.25 km) bike
and a marathon (26.2 miles 42.195 km) run in 1978. An insane concept that only 15 participants were
crazy enough to attempt and only 12 finished. (The winning time was 11 hours, 46 minutes and 58
seconds.) The ironman concept was born out of an argument about who were fitter swimmers, runners or
others. Today tens-of-thousands compete to try to be privileged enough to be allowed to compete in one
of the treasured 1,800 places every year.
The training time involved to be fit enough to compete in a full ironman is too heavy for most leaders, at
roughly 4-6 hours a day. The shorter races are more realistic challenges and are becoming more and more
popular. For example Singapore’s annual half ironman participation grew by 50% this year, its marathon
and triathlon, last year, were both full and had to turn away willing participants. Triathlons have been
appearing in cities all over the world. Training for all three endurance events is excellent cardiovascular
exercise and personal challenge. Also training for three different disciplines, provides a more balanced,
whole-body muscular development than just training for a single discipline. The acknowledgment in
triathlons’ popularity was sealed in 2000 when it was added as an Olympic sport in Sydney.
Leaders every day are turning to sports not only to de-stress but also to be fitter to deal with pressures in
the office. Flying 24 hours for a two-day meeting has become modus operandi, as is an 18-hour work day
and midnight conference calls. The rapid speed at which leaders must keep revisiting and implementing
the strategy is pushing many leaders on to the road, bike, or into the water or all three.
The biggest payoff is that healthier and fitter you become the more energy, creativity and higher
resistance to illness you have. Over the last 14 years in Singapore and the region leaders have been tested
at all levels. Consider the P.E.S.T. (Political, Economic, Social, and Technological) factors that have
impacted business in SE Asia over that period.
About This Author
Robin SpeculandChief Executive, Bridges Business Consultancy Int
Robin Speculand, the author of Beyond Strategy
– The Leader’s Role In Successful
Implementation, John Wiley & Sons and the
international bestseller Bricks to Bridges – Make
Your Strategy Come Alive.
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In July 1997 the Thai baht collapsed instigating the Asian financial crises. Two years later the technology
bubble starts to burst. Then there is the inhuman and horrific attack on the twin towers. A year later
terrorism hits the popular holiday resort of Bali. Then just as we are starting to get back to business as
usual in 2003 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome or SARS hits the region. Hotels are empty, flights are
again avoided and many restaurants go under as business vanished as people avoided contact with other
people. This was followed a year later by Avianinfluenza or bird flu.
On December 26, 2004 the IndianOcean earthquake and resulting tsunami causing devastation wherever it
hit and 100,000s of people lost their lives. Then just as we are starting to recover in 2007 there is the
financial market meltdown and two years after that we are hit by Influenza A (H1N1) flu – also known as
swine flu. This year alone we have has the floods in Queensland, the earthquakes Christchurch and Japan
unrest across the Middle East.
It pays for leaders to stay on top of their game and it pays for them to stay lean and fit more than ever
before.
This entry was posted in Articles, rspeculand, Talent Management. Bookmark the permalink.
6 Responses to Lean, Mean and On Your Screen
Vanessa Lee Taub says:
May 16, 2012 at 3:54 amSounds like a valid comparisons!It may be useful to hear your ‘fitness’ ‘agility’ strategies in the workplace….
Reply
andrew grant says:
May 16, 2012 at 6:52 amthiis is such a true article from a person that knows both marathons and the business world
Reply
Laura Gordon says:
May 16, 2012 at 7:15 amGreat article and absolutely spot on. As businesses and leaders need to stay ahead of the competition, competing in sporting events is exactly the right discipline. It keeps one focused on goals and objectives and highlights the importance of preparation creating the right mindset for optimum performance in and out of the workplace. Not only is the rigour and discipline of training is so much healthier than going out for drinks or heavy meals after work, but training and competing together is also a great way to build and cement business relationships, find like minded people and as Robin says is a great conduit to creative thinking.
Reply
Claire Rubman says:
May 16, 2012 at 12:30 pmThis is an excellent article. As a leader in the educational field, I can attest to the value of exercise and fitness to keep the mind in shape. Exercise also lowers our stress levels and helps us to stay physically healthy. We should put our endorphins to work for us – great article…
Reply
Gary Berman says:
May 16, 2012 at 11:45 pmAll too true.This bloke really knows what he’s on about.As they sayings go: - “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”.- “Work Hard/Play Hard”.
Reply
Derek Stewart says:
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May 17, 2012 at 4:58 pmGood article and it is so true. As a business leader I face the same challenges as many executives or managers.I started competing at the age of 46 in triathlons despite not being a swimmer or a cyclist. 2 years later I became an Ironman and on Saturday will be competing in Lanzarote Ironman.This journey has made me fitter than ever before but also better equipped to handle the challenges in business.I have spoken at conferences explaining the link between Ironman and business and how my 5 step approach, used in preparing for Ironman, improves personal and business performance. With a 5 step plan you can accomplish things you never thought possible.
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