Performance Management – Breeding Thoroughbred Leaders

By. SAEED A
Chairman at RISE.

There is a reason why champion horses win. It’s because they are given undivided attention. Not whipped. Champions shine because they are nurtured. People are no different.

If you were training a filly to become a champion, what approach would you take? Surely you wouldn’t expect to produce a Derby winner without considerable training and nurturing. It is only then that you might reasonably expect your investments in time and money to produce outstanding results.

Without suggesting that an employee has the same characteristics as a horse, is it not fair to think the same logic applies to spotting and grooming talent within a business? One method companies have developed to address this over the years is what is referred to as performance management.

But in essence what does this mean? For many firms it involves a cozy annual appraisal between boss and employee, setting targets in areas where he/she can build on strengths and improve on poor performance.

Over the years I have come to learn that Performance Management is not something that happens at the end of the year, but it’s a day-to-day, continuous process. Here are some key points I picked up along the way:

1.It’s part of your culture - Only when a trainer loves, cares for and continuously nurtures his fillies does he produce a winning champion. Performance management is a culture of transparency and openness that starts at the top. By providing real-time feedback in the case of poor performance you create a culture of openness and transparency. Equally, where an employee simply doesn’t fit within a company’s culture, mindset or performance expectations, it’s fair that he/she should have the chance to identify the issues, rather than be let go out of the blue – with no idea why, and not having had the chance to investigate other employment opportunities in the meantime.

2.Positive Reinforcement – Like highly performing race horses, it is essential for a person’s performance to receive positive re-enforcement. Response to a caring guidance is markedly different from a response to a whip. Continuous negative feedback festers in people and diminishes output.

So why do we not do this with our people? Why is it that so many managers can’t pick up their phones at the end of the working day, during a lunch break or between meetings, to say, “Hey, great job in securing that contract,” or, “There were obviously some problems there today – let’s discuss it.”

3.Real-time Feedback - When I talk about real-time feedback, I do not recommend non-verbal channels such as email or SMS. Imagine a normally proactive employee who one day seems disengaged and aloof during an important client meeting. As his boss, I might construe this as disinterest, and shoot through an indelibly final, knee-jerk written email response – only to later find out that he was preoccupied by a personal situation that happened the same morning.

Alternatively, I could pick up the phone, or talk to him directly and soon dispel any misunderstandings. Verbal still remains the best form of communication, as much as our increasingly-digital universe steers us against it. Its unique advantage is that if you’ve got it wrong, you can take it back much more easily.

4.There is no such thing as negative feedback - I much prefer the term ‘improvement feedback’ – and that rather than being weaknesses, our misgivings are strengths misused. Of course, you need to have a transparent company culture that welcomes critical feedback before real-time verbal performance management can work.

So why do so many managers shy away from doing this? Perhaps to avoid confrontation. They may not consider it important – or feel that the employee will at some point figure things out on their own. Yet in reality, employees are more often than not eager to get things out in the open and hear honest feedback, rather than for their boss to develop his/her pre-conceived ideas without expressing them.

5.Have a party - Celebrate and reward success. As a racehorse trainer or owner, what kind of filly will I end up with if I continuously abuse, whip and yell at her, keep her UN groomed and in miserable living conditions?

Exactly! Now consider that people are more sensitive than horses.

There are countless companies that hold certificate-giving ceremonies, or a small party for an employee’s birthday – but do you need a birthday to prompt you to bring in a cake? How about bringing a cupcake for a different employee each day to say, “Thanks for the good job you did yesterday,” or better still get on the phone to a deserving employee at the end of the working day to show your appreciation for a job well done.

Creating a Derby winning race horse is not easy. It requires day-to-day attention and continuous nurturing and care to even compete among the best, but the rewards when it is done right are substantial. So invest time in your fillies, encourage them, give them continuous feedback, build them and celebrate with them.

Make sure every day is a Derby day.

Who Will Be the World’s First Trillionaire?

One trillion dollars.

That's a "1" followed by 12 zeroes. It sounds like a goal that Austin Powers’ arch nemesis Dr. Evil would shoot for but, according to Swiss financial services firm Credit Suisse, it could eventually become a reality for a select few worldwide. Not anyone you or I know, of course, but we’re on track to see our first trillionaire sometime in the next century.

“Two generations ahead, future extrapolation of current wealth growth rates yields almost a billion millionaires, equivalent to 20% of the total adult population,” the bank wrote in its annual Global Wealth Report, published Wednesday. “If this scenario unfolds, then billionaires will be commonplace, and there is likely to be a few trillionaires too – eleven according to our best estimate.”

Sure, two generations is a pretty long time – about 60 years, according to most sociologists – but it’s not outside the realm of possibility that the world’s first trillionaire has already been born and is already hard at work accumulating their fortune.

Let’s consider some of the likely candidates.

1.- Bill Gates: The Microsoft MSFT) founder recently reclaimed his spot as the world’s richest person with a net worth of about $72 billion. He’s a long shot to get to a trillion, though, due to his age – he’s currently 57 – and the fact that a large portion of his wealth is tied up in Microsoft’s stock, which hasn’t been performing too well in recent years. He’s also extremely charitable, and has stated that his goal is to give away the bulk of his fortune by the time he dies. That won’t help Gates if he wants to become the world’s first trillionaire.

2.- Carlos Slim: Mexican telecom mogul Carlos Slim lost the title of “world’s richest” in September 2013 when the value of his stock portfolio fell by a fraction of a percent, leaving him with a mere $69 billion in net worth. Still, he does make a fair case to be the world’s first trillionaire – his assets are spread across a number of industries, including construction and manufacturing, and he remains one of the primary players in the Mexican economy. But he is 73 years old and would need to boost his fortune more than 14 times over in his remaining years to reach the trillion-dollar mark.

3.- Warren Buffett: Legendary investor Warren Buffett’s $58.5 billion fortune may make him the second-richest person in the U.S., but he has a long way to go to becoming a trillionaire. Like Slim, his holdings are very diverse so he’s generally protected from wild swings in market value at any one company, but at 83, Buffett will likely not live to see anyone reach the $1 trillion threshold. And his portfolio would have to go up by some 1,700% for Buffett to get there personally.

4.- Larry Ellison: The billionaire founder of Oracle (ORCL) likes to throw his $43 billion fortune around, recently hosting the America’s Cup sailing competition in his home city of San Francisco, but the bulk of his wealth is tied up in Oracle stock. He owns about one-quarter of the company, which means his own fortunes will rise and fall alongside the notoriously fickle technology sector.

5.- Jeff Bezos: OK, let’s get real here. At just 49 years old, Amazon.com (AMZN) founder Jeff Bezos has time on his side if he hopes to reach $1 trillion, and he’s well-positioned in a growth industry. But with a current net worth of around $25 billion, will the value of Amazon’s stock really increase 40-fold over the next few decades to get him there? It's a long shot.

6.- His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge: He certainly has the age advantage, having been born just this past July, but the son of the UK’s Prince William and Princess Kate (also known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge) likely won’t be appearing on any trillionaire lists in his lifetime. That’s because the bulk of the royal family’s wealth is tied up in land holdings and the crown jewels, which technically belong to Britain, not the family. Even Queen Elizabeth II, the richest of the bunch, can only claim $515 million or so in personal holdings.

7.- The House of Saud: Saudi Arabia’s royal family is a different story and, in fact, the 2,000 or so members of the core group already control a fortune estimated at over $1.4 trillion, based on their land holdings (the entire country technically belongs to them) and multi-generational oil wealth. Still, it takes one person, not 2,000, to make a trillionaire, and the price of oil needs to keep rising if any members of the family want to stay in the hunt.

8.- Elon Musk: The PayPal/SpaceX/Tesla founder is our front-runner here at Yahoo Finance due to his amazingly diverse holdings and the fact that, at just 42 years of age, he has plenty of time to create even more wealth. Sure, Musk is only worth about $6 billion as of 2013, but if even one of his world-changing ideas takes off in a major way – electric cars, commercial space travel, ultra-high speed rail – that number will likely increase exponentially.

What do you think? Who did we leave off this list of potential trillionaires? Make your case in the comments below.

culled from Forbes.com

Toyota Unveils Cars Of The Future, With Auto Pilot

Toyota Unveils Cars Of The Future, With Auto Pilot

Toyota on Friday unveiled the next generation of cars featuring an auto pilot system that will swerve to avoid collisions and also keep to the middle of the road, all without drivers touching the wheel.

The Japanese giant autos using the self-driving technology could be available on the market in just a few years' time.

"These advanced driving support technologies prevent human errors, reduce driving stress and help drivers avert accidents, which has a big potential to reduce the number of traffic deaths," Toyota managing director Moritaka Yoshida said at a presentation in Tokyo.

Leading automakers and technology firms, including Toyota, rival Nissan and Internet giant Google, have been working on self-driving and assisted-driving technology for years.

Toyota, the world's biggest automaker, said that while drivers would still need to be alert and take part in the driving process, it essentially lets them put the vehicle on auto-pilot, leaving most of the work to the computer system.

The Automated Highway Driving Assist (AHDA) system lets vehicles communicate wirelessly to avoid running into each other while keeping the car in the middle of the road lane — no matter how many twists and turns lie ahead.

"Cars with these technologies recognise the accelerating or slowing speed of those ahead, which also helps avoid traffic jams," said project manager Mitsuhisa Shida. "They can wirelessly exchange data once every 0.1 seconds."

The company plans to install AHDA in its commercial models over the next few years.

Toyota has already introduced the pre-collision braking assist system in its Lexus luxury sedan and plans to install it in other models by 2015, with the other technologies to follow.

Many cars already have systems that give drivers a panoramic view to keep watch for nearby objects while parking it.

The latest collision-avoidance system has doubled the detection time of oncoming objects to four seconds from a previous two seconds, Toyota added.

The automaker said such advances would be especially helpful for older people. Japan's society is rapidly ageing with over-65s already making up around a quarter of the 128 million-strong population.

Richard Branson's 3 Steps to Brand Loyalty

By Jack Preston

Over the years Virgin has amassed a sizeable customer base, with record labels, airlines, internet service providers and health services all leaning on the strength of the brand. For Richard Branson gaining the trust and respect of those customers has been a long process, with three key principles guiding him through the journey

In a recent entrepreneur.com blog the Virgin Founder shed some light onto how Virgin has managed to build and retain brand loyalty amongst is customers...

If you win people over, the profits will follow.

The first step in building a customer-focused business is to ask yourself: What can we can offer customers that others aren't, or won't, because they are so narrowly focused on profit? If you base your new business on this premise, it will be much easier to find an edge over your competitors.

Unfortunately, this means that you will probably face a lot of opposition and second-guessing from others in the industry when you launch your start-up. Back in the 1980s, when people were wondering whether Virgin Atlantic, would survive, some critics said that few people would fly across the Atlantic on an airline called Virgin. We responded that since we only had one 747 plane, we'd be just fine with only a small number of passengers!

As it turned out, those customers loved our airline and were very loyal, and we were soon competing with the major airlines.

Build on your employees' ideas.

The second step involves encouraging your staff to think like and empathize with customers, and then tell you about any ideas that they may have for innovations to your product or service. Find a way to empower your people to follow up on their ideas.

At the Virgin Group, we put a lot of effort into this: One example that comes to mind is that everyone at Virgin America - the CEO, the pilots, the accountants, everyone - attends an annual training program called Refresh to celebrate their achievements, build team spirit and encourage creativity. We run sessions where teammates brainstorm new ideas.

Many of the best ideas are free - it doesn't cost much to make someone happy.

Increase profits by being nice.

In some American classrooms I recently visited, there were signs posted that read: "Work hard, be nice." That sign should probably be hung in boardrooms too. There is no better way to improve the bottom line than to go the extra mile for your customers

The other day I heard about an entrepreneur who arrived at our terminal in Portland, Ore. He was frantic: He'd been preparing for his new company's launch the night before, and then he woke up 20 minutes before the departure of his flight from Portland to San Francisco. His flight had departed, and there weren't any other flights to San Francisco. He was alone and out of options -have you ever been in a situation like that?

Our team rallied and got him on a flight to Los Angeles with a connection to San Francisco. It would be tight because the connection departed the same time as the flight to Los Angeles arrived, but they were rooting for him. They assigned him a seat at the front of the plane and told him about the quickest route to his connection. A crew member told the pilots about the rush, and they managed to get the plane to Los Angeles seven minutes early.

When the entrepreneur reached his connecting gate on time, the pilot and crew on that flight congratulated him.

He wrote on his blog: "They had gone above and beyond that day. Each and every one of them had a hand in making my experience not only successful, but enjoyable - and the best part, I didn't once feel as if I was inconveniencing any one of them." Such effort and kindness can earn you a customer for life.

Have you got any top tips for creating brand loyalty? Let us know…

That Nigeria is Blessed....

God bless Nigeria!!!
That Nigeria is a blessed nation is not in doubt.
That Nigeria is blessed with abundant mineral and natural resources is not in doubt.
That Nigeria is blessed with smart and outstanding citizen is not in doubt.
That Nigeria is a consumer nation as against being a producer is not in doubt.
That Nigeria is practicing democracy is not in doubt.
That we have leaders of questionable character is not in doubt.
That we have unresolved issues with the polity and the way it is being handled is not in doubt.
That PDP, New PDP, APGA, APC, PDM, ID, LP, NLC, TUC, NTA, PHCN, NEPA and CAN are all political parties fighting for their own bellies is not in doubt.
That we have particularly been used to experiencing criminally insane leaders making living unbearable and unacceptable in Nigeria is not in doubt.
That Nigerians prefer schools overseas to that which is obtained at home is not in doubt.
That our institutions have failed to live up to expectation is not in doubt.
That the highest fraud till date was carried out by an individual or group of individuals is credited to Nigeria is not in doubt That the super Eagles have not been in top form since Atlanta 96 is not in doubt.
That Diezani Allison Maduekwe may be the richest woman in Africa is not in doubt.
That Dame patience Jonathan may have contributed to the issues in PDP and Nigeria is not in doubt.
That Nigerians Senator earns an absurd amount of money doing nothing and will even talk about earning “hardship” allowances is not in doubt. That we still are unsure if the nation will go to war is not in doubt.
That youths are unemployed and there seems to be no hope in sight for better economic situation is not in doubt.
That Nigeria is working as a Nation is in doubt.
That Nigeria is a democratic Nation is in doubt.
That we have had the fair share of good leadership is in doubt.
That Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is the 14th President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is in doubt.
That we understand and can comprehend the role of the first lady in making the nation a better place for women and children is in doubt. That we as a people will continue to support the present government is in doubt.
That there is an end in sight to the rubbish we have been subjected to of late by our leaders is in doubt.
That we will have steady power supply as promised by Mr. President before the year ends or even at the end of 2014 is in doubt.
That Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will win the Presidency come 2015 is in doubt.
That there will be peace in 2015 if GEJ is eventually announced winner is in doubt.
That we may never have to experience unrest is in doubt.
That Nigeria is heading towards a permanent change for good is in doubt.
That David Mark will run for the Presidency in 2015 is in doubt.
That Nigerians will stop watching Big Brother Africa is in doubt.
That Dbanj and Don Jazzy will come back to make MoHits record work again is in doubt.
That NollyWood will stop acting nude movies and porn is in doubt.
That twitter will be banned in Nigeria is in doubt.
That the feud between Amaechi and the Jonathan family will end soon is in doubt.
That Amaechi will not contest in 2015 is in doubt.
That Nyesom Wike will turn the educational sector around for good is in doubt.
That Tompolo will stop receiving mouth watery contracts from the Jonathan led government is in doubt.
That Tompolo, Asari and the other sets of militants won't return to the creeks after Jonathan crashes out is in doubt.
That oil theft will cease in Nigeria is in doubt.
That anything is impossible in Nigeria is in doubt.
That 2Face will stop giving us good music is in doubt.
That you may not read this piece because it may not hold true to your expected story about Nigeria is in doubt.
That God will Bless Nigeria is not in doubt.

Dark Tunnel- Inspired quote

“Sometimes, life is like a dark tunnel. You can’t always see the light at the end of the tunnel, but if you just keep moving…. you will come to a better place”.

-General Iroh from the series Avatar

Suffice it to mean that no matter how dark that tunnel may seem there is always a better place in the midst of our darkest hours. Many people die seeking the light at the end of their tunnel because they fail to see the better place that presents itself.

There is a story of a young man who on leaving school in the midst of hardship and stress was approached by a friend who sold the idea of garbage disposal business to him so that they can both run it instead of continuing in the light of the hardship they have become used to, but he declined and swore to get a job with one of the many oil companies in town and even went on to make an estimation of what he will earn per annum.

The friend who approached him went on to start the garbage disposal business with a wheel barrow and after four years he already owned six trucks a corporate office and staff strength of thirty three.

Now the “oil companies” man was still out there looking for the white collar job and was called in for interview at the garbage disposal company and during the last stage of the interview where he was to just have a final chart with the boss, he walked into the office to see his friend seating behind the desk looking well fed and beaming from ear to ear.

Moral of the story is that, our dear friend failed to see the better place that was replacing the light which was supposed to be at the end of the tunnel, while his friend did and knew that he may never see the light.

So in life and whatever you do always seek the better place when the light seems so far away because your ability to see the right thing that is intended to make your situation bearable may be disguised as garbage or a menial job.

Whenever that “thing” comes back at you with uncertainty, do not ask the questions you already are familiar with; instead, seek the better place because not everyone is created to experience the “see the light at the end of the tunnel” feel.

The Cat, The Mouse & The Bell

The Cat, The Mouse and That Raggedy Bell definitely should ring a bell in our minds and jolt us out of reality into that cartoon state of mind where there is a Cat and a Mouse that are never compatible and whenever they eventually find a workable path, it somehow always manages to go terribly bad and the process of reconciliation starts all over again. 
Tom and Jerry you say? Yes, Tom and Jerry; and for those of us who haven't seen the clip, please do try and see one today.
The cartoon I think is as old as time and just manages not to get old and it was while having my usual late dinner with my 2 year old son who happened to be having fun watching and giggling away that I went into a state of thinking.
This thinking got me trying to piece together the soundless characters who never communicate through words but gesture and how they always manage to get on each others nerves and this particular show was how Jerry the mouse was trying hard to bell Tom the cat with the help of a fellow cousin mouse from outta town.

The problem starts with Tom the cat on the prowl to take out Jerry the mouse and as big as the house or stage may be, there is never anyone around to come to the poor mouse's rescue but against all odds, the Mouse always manages to win and I can only wish there is a bell on the cat so the mouse gets justice.

Now, lets relate this to the Nigerian context where the Cat = the Government aka bully of the people laden with criminally insane persons, the Mouse = the Masses aka law abiding citizen with an "e go better attitude" and always managing to survive, the Bell = the Justice system aka the elusive bunch never taking a stand against injustice.
The Government is one bunch of horrible individual who will do whatever it takes to ride and chase the masses into extinction if they can and the masses always in the suffering and smiling mood running in circle escaping from the Government and plotting their downfall which is never good enough to hold them down and the Justice system which is as corrupt as it sounds taking sides with the government against people and that is why there is never a bell present when you watch the cartoon thereby leaving that old as time question, "who will bell the cat?"
It is cat and mouse story we get everyday with the acts of the government getting more and more criminally inclined as they make sure to take for theselves everything they can lay their hands on and sell everything institution we have to the highest bidder not putting into consideration the organizational capacity and the final purpose of these firms. We are on daily basis faced with numerous ills that makes one wonder whatever did we do wrong to warrant being treated like dirt by rogues on the platform of leadership.

The Nigerian government has of late proven that the masses are ordinary and that their needs are not important. The educational sector is one of such areas and as funny as it may sound, these rogues in government are beneficiaries of free education in their time and those where weren't part of the scheme actually had the opportunity to attend school and graduate in record time.

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan who is the man "right thinking" Nigerians want to see dangling from a pike attested to the importance of education and of how it was majorly responsible for making him the man he is today. He also went on to promise transformation in the educational sector so that the future of the country can be secured in a bid to making opportunities for canoe makers, petty traders or palm wine tappers children to attain the highest offices in the land and unlike him make seeable landmarks and history such as can be described as a Mandela of our time.
Goodluck Jonathan is a lucky man as is and I want to strongly argue that he has come to understand that he got to where he is today by luck and not education because his actions of late has proved to us that education is not the bedrock of Nigeria.

World over, leaders are putting measures in place to sustain the educational sector in their nation and making sure that such goals are achieved within the shortest possible time but back home here in Nigeria our government is putting measures in place to unsure that the educational sector becomes extinct, and like Tom the cat, Jerry the mouse is always going to be chased until he is killed and just when you think he may get justice, the chase comes to an end with just a little light at the end of the tunnel only to return with another round of chase.

The Nigerian educational sector is right now going through a period of decay and deprivation riddled with educated thugs and touts at the helm of affairs and what you get after these happenings is what we are going through at the moment.
What right thinking person appoints a thug and renowned tout to head an institution that is supposed to produce leaders, masters of industries, CEOs, MDs, governors, ministers, presidents, successful entrepreneurs, genuine PhD holders etc?

What right thinking person who swore to better the educational sector now turns around to not care what happens in the sector he gave so much credit for getting him into the office where he is wrecking things and practically making the nation unwelcoming to the people who have vested so much in their motherland?
Students of our various universities have been forcibly made to stay home doing nothing and becoming agitated because its been months out of school and all efforts to get the government of the day to do something is met with series of excuses.

The government is not concerned about what happens to the people and how they feel. The government is better at getting muddled up in controversy all in the name of politics and in issues considered unimportant like worrying about what 2015 will look like and if they can still get into that office to continually loot and run the economy aground.

Nowhere on his profile is there a closeness to education and I find it hard to understand why a PhD holder would even consider making him a Minister of education be it partially or permanently, and for whatever reason why would our president keep appointing incompetents to positions of authority in a Nation that is already fragile following boiling agitation about the failure of the government to address issues of importance. We have over a short period experienced various uprisings, protest, covered scams, ASUU strike, criminal increase in earnings of political office holders, pardoned killers etc and all the government and her people are interested in is fighting for 2015 a year that is not here yet but has been able to take over our minds because blood of innocent Nigerians have been used to write 2015.

 The sacked minister of education is a Teacher or Lecturer if you may and when she was booted out, she made a resolve to return to class and continue with that noble profession where she will be a selfless contributor to the bedrock of our society.

Now it has become really hostile to be a student or a graduate in Nigeria  with the former getting delayed their rightful graduation year, and sometimes killed while in school or on national assignment and the later roaming the streets jobless and frustrated begging to settle for N20,000 monthly jobs.

On the case of security, I beg to not talk because that is one very sorry aspect of the decadence we face on daily basis. Just last night tens of students where murdered in cold blood while they slept in their dormitory and my dear president says he and the service chiefs are on top of it. If the Nigerian government takes education as a serious affair, the wellness of our children will be priority secured because they are the future of our Nation for without them, there will be no future to look to.
The Cat, the Mouse, and that Raggedy Bell tells the story of a government drawn in battle with the people while justice fails to ring and is mostly looking the other way.

In that episode of Tom and Jerry, the bell was presented to Cat as a gift and he did gladly put it on and I believe the Masses (Mouse ) will get the government (Cat) to wear that bell by all means and for the purposes of asking and hoping to find answers "Who will bell the Cat?"

Don't Take The Wrong Paths To Power

Joel Peterson
Chairman, JetBlue Airways. Stanford Business School

Forget the common good – it’s your own good that matters. Seek power, seize it, and hoard it. If you have to bruise egos along the way, so what? No one will care or even remember how you got to the top.
These are tips for career success from Stanford Business professor Jeffrey Pfeffer, who teaches a provocative class called "Paths to Power." Among other things, Jeffrey warns students to avoid getting unduly slowed down by ethics, modesty or ideals. Getting to the C-Suite isn’t a journey for do-gooders, he says, and worse, an overactive conscience can be "dangerous to one’s organizational survival."

Let me say that Jeffrey is a world-class social scientist with 13 books under his belt. But I’m counting on my 40 years as a business leader to tell me what works in the real world; and if it’s about leading an organization to success, I’d bet on my approach over his 99 times out of 100. His perspective on the no-holds-barred pursuit of power is both seductive and toxic. It can start students on an IV-drip that gets them hooked on getting ahead, even if it means bullying, hubris and ruthlessness.

Your very health is at stake, too, he writes in his book Power: Why Some People Have it and Others Don’t. Your “life depends on getting power”: the less power you have, the more stress you’ll be under, and that doesn’t end well.

Pfeffer cites many colorful personalities who have played the power game with legendary tenacity: Steve Jobs, Lyndon Johnson, Robert Moses. But these were individuals who could get away with power-mad behavior. They called their own shots, ran roughshod over former allies, and often stood alone. Yet few who have worked with teams, or been in leadership roles in modern enterprises would recognize, much less condone, such an extreme approach to leadership. In enlightened businesses, power isn’t grabbed, it’s created and distributed. It’s not hunted down and hoarded, it’s cultivated – by building relationships and developing trust. And it’s not about “appearing competent” as Pfeffer recommends. Rather, it’s about being the best leader and team member you can.
Evolutionary biologists have a thought experiment for the relative power of selfishness versus generosity: two groups are placed on separate islands with no way to communicate. On one island, it’s everyone for himself. On the other, everyone works together to achieve broader goals. Wait a few hundred years, and you’ll find two very different societies – one in a state of constant, near-psychopathic conflict, the other successful and harmonious.

As the biologists concluded, “Selfishness beats altruism within groups. Altruistic groups beat selfish groups. Everything else is commentary.” In the same way, any business, group or team that wants to succeed for the long pull must rely on collaboration, innovation and high productivity – the fruits of sharing power, of teamwork, and of diverse points of view. Enabling people to do their best work generally means distributing power to those who earn it. You can choose your own “path to power,” and what you do along the way. Here are a few thoughts that I would recommend for your journey:
1) First take control – of yourself. Control yourself and your own life choices, then worry about influence with others. Good self-control is the basis for a calm but confident projection of power, one that doesn’t rely on how much status you’ve “secured” in an organization.
2) The power of groups trumps that of individuals. Exploiting relationships and playing hardball politics for personal glory is a ticket to tenuous influence. True power comes from treating other people with respect with the understanding that, in return, they’ll grant (and responsibly assume) power. This is a good-faith transaction – a pact – that requires more than one person to agree to it. Watch out when Pfeffer says, “Don’t worry about how your efforts to build your path to power are affecting your employer” – you won’t last long in the real world with that attitude.
3) Get noticed — but for the right reasons. Superstars do obtain power and influence. But rather than stepping into the spotlight every time something good happens, the most trusted leaders know it isn’t all about them. Their power and influence flow from sharing credit, accepting blame, working hard, being competent, and exhibiting judgment, character and wisdom. It’s impossible not to notice people who operate with that attitude. Pfeffer’s advice that “your first responsibility is to ensure that those at higher levels... know what you’re accomplishing” is a recipe for eventual alienation.
4) Seeking power isn’t bad — ruthlessness is. The ruthless pursuit of power violates a core principle of ethics: Kant’s Categorical Imperative. As Kant put it, "Act only on that maxim whereby you can, at the same time, will that it should become a universal law." In other words, don’t do it yourself if you don’t want everyone else to follow your example. A benighted self-interest is toxic; an enlightened one is empowering.
5) You can’t get rid of every scorpion, but you can avoid them. It’s one thing to teach young leaders that power-mad scorpions exist in the business world (they do) but it’s another to teach them to become scorpions. It is good to know how to deal with them, but even better to steer clear of dangerous situations, and leave those who would sting you to deal with their own kind. Pfeffer’s right about one thing: there are a thousand pathways to power and influence. If you are a lone wolf seeking power by any means, you may gain influence for a while at a cost of long-run success, and happiness.

Success doesn’t come from stepping on toes and hustling behind backs, but from stepping up, and having peoples’ backs. Exploiting others on a “Paths to Power” quest may get you rolling fast, but it won’t be long before you notice that you’re heading downhill – and taking your team with you.

President Jonathan’s Speech At the 68th General Session of United Nations

President Goodluck Jonathan spoke in New York yesterday and addressed why Nigeria deserves a seat on the United Nations Security Council, and other issues.

The speech was super impressive and has been reproduced in full below:

The President of the 68th Session of the General Assembly;

Heads of State and Government;

The Secretary-General;

Distinguished Delegates;

Ladies and Gentlemen

Mr President,

1. On behalf of the Government and People of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I salute you as you preside over the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. I assure you of the full support and cooperation of the Nigerian delegation.

2. I also wish to extend our commendation to the Secretary-General Mr. Ban Ki-moon, and place on record, Nigeria’s appreciation for his focused and committed leadership of the United Nations system.

3. This Session is coming at a particularly trying period when our world faces a number of critical challenges which make it imperative for us to work within the Charter of the United Nations to meaningfully address them.

4. It is therefore apt that the theme, Post 2015 Development Agenda: Setting the Stage, signposts our desire and determination to actively cooperate for the improvement of the overall welfare and well-being of the most vulnerable citizens of the member-states of our Organisation.

5. Nigeria appreciates the consultative nature of designing the Post-2015 development agenda. Earlier in the year, we supported this global outreach through inclusive consultations and surveys of a number of Nigerians who have expressed their aspirations with respect to the world they expect beyond 2015.

6. A major highlight of this process, which has increased national ownership of the agenda, is the emphasis on the eradication of poverty as the overarching principle in the formulation of the successor framework.

7. Indeed, tomorrow, we will be hosting a side event on the implementation of the MDGs, in collaboration with the UN, a number of African countries, and our development partners.

8. As I had cause to say to this Assembly last Session, 2015 is not a destination but only a milestone to a better, safer, healthier and more compassionate world. Let us therefore renew our commitment to the processes that will develop the post-MDGs framework.

Mr. President,

9. This objective is of particular resonance to us in Africa where the challenges of poverty, illiteracy, food insecurity, and climate change continue to engage the attention of the political leadership.

10. The good news however, is that in the last decade, a sustained democratization process across the continent has made significant difference in governance processes, institutions and structures. Today, we have a renascent Africa that has moved away from the era of dictatorship to a new dawn where the ideals of good governance and an emphasis on human rights and justice are beginning to drive state-society relations. This is the present reality of Africa that must replace the old prejudices and assumptions about the continent.

11. We are firm in our conviction that democracy is fundamental to achieving the requisite stability that will enable the realization of a sustainable post-2015 development agenda in Africa.

12. This emergent Africa will require the continued support and partnership of the international community. An Africa that is no longer merely a destination for aid but one that is involved in constructive, multi-sectoral exchanges on the global stage. Our continent stands ready to continue to engage the rest of the world as a partner in formulating a global development agenda that will guarantee peace, security and stability.

13. I wish to express my appreciation for Nigeria’s selection as co-Chair of the Expert Committee on Financing Sustainable Development.

14. The importance of this Committee’s assignment cannot be overstated. For the post-2015 development agenda to be realistic, it must be backed by a robust financing framework which I hope will receive the strong backing of our Organisation’s more endowed members.

Mr. President,

15. Nigeria’s commitment to sustainable peace and security propels the country to action along with member states of our sub-regional and continental organisations, whenever stability is threatened in our continent. In recent years, Africa has had its share of conflicts notably in Mali, Guinea-Bissau, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic and Somalia.

16. It is noteworthy that African leaders, with the support of the international community, have demonstrated the capacity to work in concert and decisively in pursuit of long-term solutions in the affected States. While a lot more still needs to be done, we are convinced that progress is being made.

17. The recent Presidential elections in Mali herald a new beginning that should translate into peace and prosperity for its people and provide a stronger basis for stability within the sub-region. I congratulate President Boubacar Keita. Similarly, the political transition process in Guinea Bissau holds much promise. Among African leaders, there is a greater determination and focus on the transformation of the continent. This is the required impetus for the achievement of development objectives

that will benefit the people, and rebrand the continent even more positively.

18. Although our world has not witnessed a global war since the establishment of the United Nations, there have been several conflicts with devastating consequences and impact in virtually all regions of the world. As global citizens, we have a sacred duty to free our world of wars, rivalries, ethnic conflicts, and religious divisions. Our collective effort in our drive for a better world will continue to bind us together.

Mr. President,

19. Nigeria continues to support the efforts of the United Nations in addressing the global initiative to combat the menace of the illicit trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons. We have redoubled efforts to address this onerous challenge within our borders and across the West African sub-region.

20. In doing so, we also recognize the need for a broad-based global partnership in the on-going battle against trans-border crimes, including terrorism and acts of piracy. It is regrettable that these scourges are sustained by unfettered access by non-state actors to illicit small arms and light weapons with which they foster insecurity and instability across our continent. For us in Africa, these are the ‘weapons of mass destruction’!

21. It is therefore, in the light of our collective obligation and unceasing struggle to end this nightmare, that I congratulate Member-States on the adoption of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) in April this year. Our hope is that upon its entry into force, the ATT would herald an era of accountable trade in conventional arms which is critical to the security of nations.

22. In line with our continued commitment to this project, Nigeria has signed and ratified the Treaty. We will continue to engage other Member-States for its successful implementation.

Mr. President,

23. Terrorism constitutes a major threat to global peace and security, and undermines the capacity for sustained development. In Nigeria, the threat of terrorism in a few States in the North Eastern part of our country has proven to be a challenge to national stability. We will spare no effort in addressing this menace. We are therefore confronting it with every resource at our disposal with due regard for fundamental human rights and the rule of law.

24. Nigeria will like to place on record its appreciation to the international community for its support in this regard. The reign of terror anywhere in the world is an assault on our collective humanity. Three days ago, the stark reality of this menace was again brought to the fore by the dastardly terrorist attack in Nairobi, Kenya. We must stand together to win this war together.

Mr. President,

25. Piracy, like terrorism, is another menace that has attained worrisome proportions, especially in Africa’s coastal waters. At the bilateral and multilateral levels, Nigeria has promoted cooperation to mitigate its impact and consequences on the security and economies of the affected coastal states.

26. Indeed, in June this year, the leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and the Gulf of Guinea Commission met in Yaounde, Cameroon, and came up with practical steps to collectively confront the menace of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. This effort will, no doubt, require reinforcement and wider support and collaborative action on the part of our international partners.

Mr. President,

27. The situation in the Middle East remains volatile. The reported use of chemical weapons in the Syrian crisis, is unacceptable. Nigeria condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the use of chemical weapons that are prohibited by International Conventions.

28. We applaud the current diplomatic efforts to avert further escalation of the crisis. We urge all parties involved to end the violence and seek a negotiated solution, including the instrumentality of the United Nations.

29. The threat which nuclear weapons pose to the survival of the human race is to be understood not just in the context of aspirational nations but also the nations already in possession of such weapons. Nuclear weapons are as unsafe in the hands of small powers as they are in the hands of the major powers. It is our collective responsibility to urge the international community to respond to the clarion call for a peaceful universe in an age of uncertainty.

30. We can attain this objective if we adopt measures and policies that will promote nuclear disarmament, protect and renew our environment, and push towards an international system that is based on trust, mutual respect and shared goals.

Mr. President,

31. I believe that I express the concern of many about the slow pace of effort and apparent lack of progress in the reform of the United Nations, especially the Security Council. We believe strongly, that the call for democratization worldwide should not be for States only, but also, for International Organisations such as the UN. That is why we call for the democratization of the Security Council.

32. This is desirable for the enthronement of justice, equity, and fairness; and also for the promotion of a sense of inclusiveness and balance in our world.

33. Our support for the United Nations Security Council in its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security has been total and unwavering. We have, in previous membership of the Council, demonstrated both the political will and capacity to engage in key Council responsibilities. Nigeria has therefore decided to seek election for the 2014-2015 Non-Permanent Seat of the UNSC.

34. I am pleased to state that Nigeria has received the endorsement of the Economic Community of West African States and the African Union. We urge this august Assembly to endorse Nigeria’s candidature.

Mr. President,

35. Our world continues to be confronted by pressing problems and threats. No statement that will be made during this Session can exhaust the extent of these problems. The world looks to us, as leaders, to provide hope in the midst of crisis, to provide guidance through difficult socio-political divisions, and to ensure that we live in a better world.

36. We have obligations to the present generation, but we have a greater obligation to generations yet unborn who should one day inherit a world of sufficiency irrespective of the circumstances of their birth or where they reside on the globe. We must work to make that world a reality in recognition of our common heritage.

37. We must strive to eradicate poverty, hunger, disease and human misery; we must eliminate the scourge of nuclear, chemical, biological, as well as small arms and light weapons. We must dedicate ourselves to working together to address global, regional and national challenges and deliver a more peaceful, equitable and prosperous world for all. It is our duty. We must not fail.

38. I thank you.

Source- The Herald