Strengthening leadership capabilities

There is this interesting HBR article [How to make yourself Indispensible –John H. Zenger & Scott K. Edinger HBR October 2011] which talks about leadership competencies.


Key conclusions

• 16 key leadership competencies correlate strongly with positive business outcomes.

• Each have a dozen ‘competency companions’ whose development will strengthen the core skill

Actions required to improve leadership capabilities

• Self analysis on the 16 competencies  described above

• Attempt an informal 360 degree feedback

o What leadership skills do you think are strengths for me?

o Is there anything that I do that might be considered a fatal flaw –that could derail my career or lead me to fail in my current job if not addressed?

o What leadership ability, if outstanding, would have the most significant impact on the productivity or effectiveness of the organization?

o What leadership abilities of mine have the most significant impact on you?

• Based on analysis of above

• Identify a strength to focus on by asking the following questions regarding the 16 leadership competencies

o Do I look for ways to enhance this skill?

o Do I look for new ways to use it

o Am I energized, not exhausted when I use it?

o Do I pursue projects in which I can apply the strength?

o Can I imagine devoting time to improving it?

o Would I enjoy getting better at this skill?

• From table below pick the complementary competencies that will help you strengthen the key strengths.

• Find ways to improve on them

Business Model Generation

First of all, a big sorry for the slumber..Trying to get back into some of the GOOD habits of the past !!

I recently came across the book , Business Model Generation, ( Wiley, Alexander Osterwalder and Yves Pigneur). The book provides a different perspective of  'what' an organization can potentially change.

The 100 Billion USD valuation on a 3.7 Billion USD revenue  of Facebook is a clear demonstration of what business model innovation can achieve.

After defining a business model as the rationale of how an organization creates,delivers and captures value the book describes the components of a business model





The Business model canvas (http://www.businessmodelgeneration.com/canvas) provides a handy tool for describing an organization's business model

• Customer relationships
• Customer segments
• Value propositions
• Channels
• Revenue streams
• Cost structure
• Key resources
• Key partners
• Key activities

Using these components the book identifies various patterns of business model innovation. The models that the authors have identified include

• Unbundling business models
• The long tail
• Multisided platforms
• Free as a business model and
• Open business models

Some variants and examples of each of these are also described. The book also provides a set of tools that can be used to design a business model.These include customer insights,ideation,visual thinking, prototyping,Story telling and Scenarios.

Change agents looking for 'what to change' will find the concept of business model and how it generates value and how the interplay of factors affect an  enterprise valuable.. as they identify what to chaneg