Approach
My approach is summed up in three words: Listen, Lead, Deliver.
Listen
The single most important quality in a leader/follower is the ability to listen. When acting in a executive management capacity, I believe that my first job is to listen. Unfortunately, many offices are plagued with arrogant people, filled with hubris -- people who don’t listen. Those folks are blind to both risk and possibilities.
I listen to the CEO, other senior leadership, internal and external customers, the marketplace, and my followers/direct-reports. Over the years, I've realized that listening can mean the difference between achieving satisfaction and feeling endless frustration. So I listen for business goals, personal needs, standards and expectations, conditions of satisfaction, and all kinds of concerns. I seek out the people with the oral history of the organization, who remember the pitfalls that led to previous failures. I also listen for and seek out the “go-to folks” – people with ambition, practicality, and a willingness to try new things.
Lead
All it takes to be a leader is to have followers, right? Well, that’s true, but overly simplistic. Thoughtful people are want to follow behind someone who is oriented toward a good future and able to communicate that vision. Followers want a leader who is ambitious, thoughtful, ethical, and knowledgeable.
With all that in the background, leaders then need to be able to competently constitute a strategy. A good strategy has to be actionable, including the tactics and interim situations that will get us to our goals.
Additionally, good leadership shows up in the world as commitment management. I am thoughtful about my commitments and fulfill them. I expect the same of everyone around me. When there’s a problem, there’s usually a commitment management problem that needs to be reconciled.
I believe that leadership is a both a skill and a sacred trust. I take it very seriously, and believe in “leading from the front” rather than being insulated in a command center. Not only am I a leader, I’m also an excellent follower. My ideal situation is to be the right-hand-man of a business luminary who is colonizing the future in a powerful, positive manner. So let’s design a great organization going in a positive direction!
Deliver
I'm sure that you've heard of the 80/20 rule: 80% of the project work is completed in the last 20% of the time spent on the project. Well, I try to exceed this so-called rule in order to deliver quickly, consistently, meeting the conditions of satisfaction and exceeding-expectations.
But don't worry: even in a quick delivery environment, I am sure to include a quality assurance phase. I review the product prior to delivery, and I work closely with you to ensure that I've addressed, met and/or exceeded your specific conditions of satisfaction.
Listen, Lead, Deliver: A Virtuous Cycle
Listening, Leading, and Delivering becomes a virtuous cycle. It is a personal motto that pays dividends and my reputation reflects that. One LinkedIn recommendation from a Senior Director at Walmart said:
“Lura is an uncommon business professional in the marketplace today. Her high ethics and commitment to taking care of others' concerns makes it a privilege to be associated with her. She observes business trends and presents solutions before they're needed. Quite simply, life is easier all around when Lura is involved.”
Did you know that I won an "Easy to Do Business With" award? Not only did I win that award once, I won it six times. That should give you an idea of the type of asset that I am within an organization. Contact me and let’s chat about how I can help your organization.