Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Plaid with a Modern, Human Touch


The magazine from the Wall Street Journal recently ran a profile of Burberry's CEO, Angela Ahrendts. Several interesting notes from the profile:

Angela is very different, very modern, very human. She gets people to work harder than they ever have just by letting them know how important they are, how much the team relies on them.

In meetings, which Ahrendts often attends back-to-back for 12 hours a day when she is in London, she listens intently and, as a fan of classic management books like "The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader," by John Maxwell, has trained herself not to interrupt or seem rushed. Her eye contact never wavers, and while she insists she couldn't function without her briefing folder, she never seems to need to look at them.

To expand on her readings and interest, Maxwell's 21 are as follows:
  1. Character - - Be a piece of the rock.

  2. Charisma - - The first impression can seal the deal.

  3. Commitment - - It separates doers from dreamers.

  4. Communication - - Without it you travel alone.

  5. Competence - - If you build it, they will come.

  6. Courage - - One person with courage is a majority.

  7. Discernment -- Put an end to unsolved mysteries.

  8. Focus - - The sharper it is; the sharper you are.

  9. Generosity - - Your candle loses nothing when it lights another.

  10. Initiative - - You won't leave home without it.

  11. Listening - - To connect with their hearts, use your ears.

  12. Passion - - Take this life and love it.

  13. Positive Attitude - - If you believe you can, you can.

  14. Problem Solving - - You can't let your problems be a problem.

  15. Relationships - - If you get along, they'll get along.

  16. Responsibility - - If you won't carry the ball, you can't lead the team.

  17. Security -- Competence never compensates for insecurity.

  18. Self-Discipline - - The first person you lead is you.

  19. Servanthood - - To get ahead, put others first.

  20. Teachability - - To keep leading, keep learning.

  21. Vision - - You can seize only what you can see.

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