By Jim Estill
Format:Hardcover
Burnison is an impressive guy. CEO of Korn Ferry. It seems logical he would know a thing or two about leadership not just because he runs his own company but as a recruiter, he would have seen hundreds of leaders. And he already a published best seller ("No Fear of Failure")
I liked the simple one word chapter titles. 12 Absolutes - 12 chapters one for each.
The 12 absolutes are:
1 - Lead - This seemed like too simple of a place to start but the chapter is quite good. I got hooked by the subhead "Anchor yourself in Humility". I see a lack of humility in leadership and I think this does not serve us. Leader need to move above the me to the we.
2 - Purpose - This is the true enabler of any company.
3 - Strategy - In the end, it is all about execution.
4 - People - Clearly key to everything. I always had the theory that a leaders' job was to hire average people and help them grow to be above average (by empowering, training, coaching, mentoring and giving them the tools to do the job well)
5 - Measure - I find this easy on the "hard stuff" like sales, profits, delivery standards etc but always struggle trying to measure the "soft" like culture. I also find too often, measures are short term where the organization really needs long term.
6 - Empower - I am a big believer in this. No business can scale without empowering people - not just delegating but trusting them to make the right choices to help a company thrive.
7 - Reward - obvious. If the company does well, the people should do well.
8 - Anticipate - "It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan" Elanor Roosevelt.
9 - Navigate - the unexpected will happen.
10 - Communicate - key to all leadership.
11 - Listen - I would have put this before communicate.
12 - Learn - I love learning and always wanted any company I am involved in to be a constant learning company.
Some quotes:
"Leaders are mirrors of the organization"
"Leadership is Grace, Dignity and Restraint."
"Shared Purpose Creates Shared Urgency"
I liked the simple one word chapter titles. 12 Absolutes - 12 chapters one for each.
The 12 absolutes are:
1 - Lead - This seemed like too simple of a place to start but the chapter is quite good. I got hooked by the subhead "Anchor yourself in Humility". I see a lack of humility in leadership and I think this does not serve us. Leader need to move above the me to the we.
2 - Purpose - This is the true enabler of any company.
3 - Strategy - In the end, it is all about execution.
4 - People - Clearly key to everything. I always had the theory that a leaders' job was to hire average people and help them grow to be above average (by empowering, training, coaching, mentoring and giving them the tools to do the job well)
5 - Measure - I find this easy on the "hard stuff" like sales, profits, delivery standards etc but always struggle trying to measure the "soft" like culture. I also find too often, measures are short term where the organization really needs long term.
6 - Empower - I am a big believer in this. No business can scale without empowering people - not just delegating but trusting them to make the right choices to help a company thrive.
7 - Reward - obvious. If the company does well, the people should do well.
8 - Anticipate - "It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan" Elanor Roosevelt.
9 - Navigate - the unexpected will happen.
10 - Communicate - key to all leadership.
11 - Listen - I would have put this before communicate.
12 - Learn - I love learning and always wanted any company I am involved in to be a constant learning company.
Some quotes:
"Leaders are mirrors of the organization"
"Leadership is Grace, Dignity and Restraint."
"Shared Purpose Creates Shared Urgency"
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Biography
Gary D. Burnison is Chief Executive Officer of Korn/Ferry International, the worldwide leader in executive recruitment and a premier provider of talent management solutions, assisting global organizations to achieve extraordinary outcomes through talent. Korn/Ferry employs more than 2,500 people in 40 countries. He is also a member of the Firm's Board of Directors.
Under his strategy, Mr. Burnison spearheads the Firm's transformation as a diversified human capital organization. He brings hands-on experience to his current position, having served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer for Korn/Ferry from 2003-2007. Mr. Burnison joined Korn/Ferry as Chief Financial Officer in 2002.
Prior to Korn/Ferry, he was principal and chief financial officer of Guidance Solutions, a privately held consulting firm developing and supporting technology solutions, from 1999 to 2001.
Before Guidance Solutions, Mr. Burnison served as a senior executive officer and director of Jefferies & Company, Inc., the principal operating subsidiary of Jeffries Group, Inc., where he worked from 1995 to 1999. Earlier, he served as partner at KPMG Peat Marwick from 1984 to 1995.
In 2011, Mr. Burnison published No Fear of Failure: Real Stories of How Leaders Deal with Risk and Change - a book offering insightful conversations with some of the world's top leaders in business, politics, education, and philanthropy. He is also a regular contributor to CNBC, CNN, Fox Business and other international news outlets.
He earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Southern California.
Under his strategy, Mr. Burnison spearheads the Firm's transformation as a diversified human capital organization. He brings hands-on experience to his current position, having served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer for Korn/Ferry from 2003-2007. Mr. Burnison joined Korn/Ferry as Chief Financial Officer in 2002.
Prior to Korn/Ferry, he was principal and chief financial officer of Guidance Solutions, a privately held consulting firm developing and supporting technology solutions, from 1999 to 2001.
Before Guidance Solutions, Mr. Burnison served as a senior executive officer and director of Jefferies & Company, Inc., the principal operating subsidiary of Jeffries Group, Inc., where he worked from 1995 to 1999. Earlier, he served as partner at KPMG Peat Marwick from 1984 to 1995.
In 2011, Mr. Burnison published No Fear of Failure: Real Stories of How Leaders Deal with Risk and Change - a book offering insightful conversations with some of the world's top leaders in business, politics, education, and philanthropy. He is also a regular contributor to CNBC, CNN, Fox Business and other international news outlets.
He earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Southern California.
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