Footprints - Dr B. L. Maheshwari

 This book is a compilations of articles on Organisational Development that Dr Maheshwari had written and each article has has some great wisdom that is relevant to every organisation. 

In this article on 'leadership for change' he writes that 'organisation change and learning are two facets of the same notion. A learning organisation has enhanced capacity to change and transform.Change requires new knowledge skills, attitude and converting this learning into new behaviors. It's important to ensure that the rate of learning is higher than the rate of change. Learn form both success and failure.'

Good leadership is the key to successful change and learning. Leadership initiates, implements and sustains change.  Among the factors of change are business cycles, people and culture.

Companies fail because of ineffective top teams, top down or laissez faire senior management style, unclear strategy and priorities, poor vertical communication, poor coordination across functions and businesses, inadequate down the line leadership skills, poor quality of  implementation.

Low performing organisations display learning disabilities such as 

- they are reactive and not proactive
- have short term orientation
- see no evil - the enemy is out there
- have the boiled frog syndrome
- not invented here
-Group think - no dissent

Key factors in growth
Goals
Leadership
Focus
Process
Reward system
Use of consultants

To implement change
- Focus on vital few
- achieve short term results to demonstrate success
- expect resistance
- change mindset from 'why' to 'how'
- ensure that early success does not produce complacence and initial failure does not demoralise

Leadership training
- Feedback
Personal growth
-Skill building
-Conceptual awareness   

Five levels of leadership (Jim Collins)

Level 1 - Highly capable individual - makes productive contributions using talent and work ethics 
Level 2 - Contributing Team member - - contributes to team results
Level 3 - Competent Manager - organises people and resources for success to predetermined objectives
Level 4 - Effective leader - vigorous pursuit of a clear and compelling vision for achieving superior performance
Level 5 - Executive - Builds enduring greatness through a paradoxical combination of personal humility and professional will

Effective leadership potential is based on the following attributes
1. Track record
2. Ambition to achieve significant results in future and belief that everything is possible
3. Ability to articulate a vision of future and values to guide actions and to engage others to create a shared meaning
4. Adaptive ability and humility to learn new skills and behaviors
5. Ability to communicate and inspire followers

Six Rules of Jack Welch
1. Control your destiny or someone else will
2. Face reality as it is, not as you wish it were
3. Be candid with everyone
4. Don't manage, lead
5. Change, before you have to
6. If you don't have a competitive advantage, don't compete

Leadership prepare an agenda for change and develop an implementation plan. Top leadership must set the direction, articulate vision and values, inspire people to move on path to the future. They ask questions and set priorities.

For successful transformation into a learning organisation leaders must establish a strong sense of urgency and create dissatisfaction with the existing reality. Leaders known that learning and change are a journey and set milestones in this process. A good culture, reward system helps.

Credibility is the cornerstone of effective leadership.  Leaders of learning organisations are humble, learn from all including followers, customers, collaborators, competitors.