There’s not a lot to say about the result that hasn’t been said. That’s sport. That’s life.

But I was interested in how Ian Foster characterized Hansen’s approach. He praised his combination of high expectations, empathy and compassion, which I thought was just a fabulous definition of what good leadership looks like.

Self-Taught Genius

Certainly, one of the things I enjoy about playing guitar is improvising on the spot, just picking it up and playing whatever comes into my head and fingers, creating something that will disappear the minute I stop.

But being self-taught cuts both ways. If you’re a genius like Paul McCartney, you don’t know the rules so you create all sorts of extraordinary music that changes the world, not just the music industry.

But I’m not a genius.

Dr Mike's Blog, generalDr Mike AshbyOctober 23, 2019auckland business, business advice, business advisors, genius, great managers, guitar, High performance culture, management, management development, management team, management training, music, new zealand business advisors, Paul McCartney, self-taughtComment

Upside of anger

We want to empower people, let them get on with it, avoid micro-managing, let them make mistakes, allow them to fail, give them responsibility.

However, there are times when it’s your job to chuck all that and read the riot act. Only once, and only when it really matters. But in such a fashion that people never forget the experience of your displeasure. Anger, rarely expressed, can be the best evidence of your commitment to quality.

Dr Mike's Blog, generalDr Mike AshbyOctober 9, 2019all blacks, anger, angry, auckland business, business advice, business advisors, business collaboration, devolved leadership, fustration, High performance culture, management training, new zealand business advisors, shared leadership, upside of angerComment

Creating on-field leaders

I’ve been thinking and talking a lot about performance culture. One of my reference points is the All Blacks who exemplify a self-regulating performance culture

There’s one dimension which I think underpins everything else – the strategy of devolved leadership. This was developed very early in Graham Henry’s tenure.

Dr Mike's Blog, generalDr Mike AshbySeptember 25, 2019all blacks, auckland business, business advice, business advisors, business collaboration, collaboration, culture, devolved leadership, High performance culture, management training, new zealand business advisors, on-field leadership, shared leadershipComment

Moon shot culture

The words came back to mind when I was thinking about high performance culture. I’ve believed for a long time that the only source of sustainable competitive advantage is a self-regulating performance culture. That is a culture that is able to adapt to its environment without being directed from above or being forced to change by external forces.

Dr Mike's Blog, generalDr Mike AshbySeptember 11, 2019auckland business, business advice, business advisors, business collaboration, business leader podcasts, business podcasts, collaboration, culture, gene kranz, High performance culture, management training, moon culture, new zealand business advisorsComment

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