How to read and win the organizational game for

career success:

Perspectives of a career executive - the

good, the bad and the ugly

eeVoices (HK) Limited

Greg Basham, Andrew Cheung

September 18, 2014

Organizations are rife with dysfunction, politics,

competition and the wasting of time and energy on

non-productive conflicts

that

divert people

from the true vision and mission

It is not what happens,

it is how we respond

✤ Disengagement

✤ Anger

✤ Stress/Illness

✤ Flight/Fight

✤ Get our attitude aligned so we get

inner work-life balance

Why call it a game?

✤ Heros & Role models

✤ Competition

✤ Respect for the game, the rules, the opponents, teammates, self

✤ Every win, loss or set-back has a lesson

✤ Recognition, growth and achievement

✤ The need to stay within your skill level

✤ The need to balance Passion and Emotions with control

However even PRO Athletes know that it can end …

and it won’t always be your choice

So we need to be professionals

Good at what they do

Good and know why

Always getting better

Conscious Competence

What is success?

Passion and Perseverance - Steve Jobs

What works for men does not always work for women, because success and likablility are positively correlated for men and negatively correlated for women.

and the willingness to work hard for 22 minutes to make sense of things that most people would give up on after 30 seconds.

However studies show…

the only trait leaders have in common is

a lack of

charisma

- Peter Drucker

Our Formula…

Success is a function of the quality of both your

power and your relationships

If you haven’t got the power,

you better have the relationships!

Power is facilitated by your influence, achievements, expertise and

ability to enlist, engage and inspire others (relationships).

The quality of your relationships is a function of who are

your allies, supporters, network and others you support

- internal and external

Power is the influence you have over critical issues, roles, functions,

strategy and goal accomplishment

Power and Relationships

How you lead

1.Take a stakeholder view & be a values based leaders work.

2.Show integrity, openness, trust and concern for the growth of your people.

KEY: it is not about how much you tell your staff you have it. It’s how much

you prove to them that it is true.

3.Share achievements, credit and collaborate with and showcase staff

4.Immediacy, reciprocity and equivalence in feedback.

KEY: Take a future orientation.

How you build power

Everyone has their story as does the organization.

- Get the organization and leader’s narrative story understood

Your managerial Rationality Quotient will trump overreliance on EQ.

Everyone has their truth especially in senior positions.

- Leave room for others learn when is right to speak truth to power

Understand the real game changer aren’t always the ones scoring the winning goal as late in

a tight game there's no space.

-The game changers create the plays that bring the best out of others.

Learn the lesson in every win, loss or setback and move on.

Values-based

Beware of organizations where “The best you can be is a perfect imitation of those who came before you.”

- Professor Bob Sutton

Do you believe…

1. A high Emotional Quotient is the MOST critical characteristic of a leader?

2. Steve Jobs was a great leader?

3. How many of you answered YES to both questions?

A high Rationality Quotient (RQ) trumps high EQ in career success

Caution…

Don’t try to be a brilliant JERK

Netflix : Cost to team work is too high.

All must embrace their 9 core values.

People Love Stories

Left hemisphere assimilates continuously all we perceive

interprets into a cause & effect narrative

- “The success equation”

Michael J. Mauboussin

We are pattern seeking primates

-Michael Shermer

Success Factors Risk Factors

Begin with the end result in mindTying it all up at work

- Identity

- Self Image

- Friends

- Relationships

“Ask what do you want to have

stood for, given, contributed,

taught, created and left behind?”

- Kathy Capiro

Know the culture, the stories Seeking applause

Deliver on the promise of your

brandExpecting LOYALTY

Get a mentor, be a mentor!

High Rationality Quotient (RQ)

Rational Acts

Judicious Decisions

Efficient Behaviour Regulation

Goal Prioritization

Reflective

Proper Calibration of Evidence

- Michael J. Mauboussin

Find your inspiration

Find what moves you on dark days and in

dark times?

Poetry, Music , Mentors, Friends

Life is like a DANCE and if

you are already on the Dance

Floor, It’s easier to adjust to the

changes in the speed of the

music.