by Andrew Levison, Above + Beyond Management Consulting.
We’ve spent over two decades helping executives across global departments boost their leadership skills and organizational capabilities for peak performance. From our experience working with companies of all sizes, one takeaway above all stands out: culture really does matter. And who shapes that culture? Your leaders do.
At the end of the day, it really doesn't matter how well thought-out your strategy is, or how strong your team is. You've all heard it before, "culture eats strategy for breakfast". If people’s behaviours are not aligned with your strategy and what you value (i.e. customer service), then you're not going to maximize the potential of your business.
Our Sustainable Growth Model inspired by the late great Larry Wilson from Wilson Learning proves that point. Wilson always said, “How can you expect customer loyalty or sustain profit and/or growth in your business without a critical mass of great leaders who are positively engaging your employees?”
Here’s the rub, one of the biggest challenges organizations face today is the accurate identification of “great” leaders who will engage your employees and promote your desired culture. Our Leaders’ DNA solution combines the power of predictive analytics with what you already know brings you success. We've helped our clients understand in a very accurate way what their culture of top performing leaders look like, and how to replicate it. This saves them time, money, and takes all the guesswork out.
Above + Beyond’s Leadership DNA™ Model – The Four Dimensions of Leadership
Our methodology for helping our clients understand their success DNA involves combining a mix of culture analysis through interviews, with 30 years of benchmarked normative talent data. It also involves working with your HR team to identify the skills and behaviours, experience and attitude needed to be successful. By understanding your DNA, you can better understand what makes you and your people successful and happy, therefore reducing uncertainty and subjectivity when growing your business.
We’ve all seen organizations where the culture is their winning formula. These are the places where relationships and business thrive because people share the same values and behave in similar way. Clients often ask us: how do these best-in-class organizations retain high quality people who want to grow with the organization? Our answer is simple: understand the culture, reward, and recognize people based on your collective values.
Clients also ask us how to re-boot a toxic unproductive culture. This is also an easy answer: select a critical mass of great leaders with the right DNA, and reward and recognize them for doing the right thing.
Andrew Levison is the Founder and President at Above + Beyond Management Consulting. To learn more about their work on Culture and Leadership DNA, visit their website or contact them at info@abovebeyond.ca
Would you like to learn more about the Leadership DNA™ and the Sustainable Growth Model? Canadian Management Centre and Above + Beyond will be hosting a series of speaking engagement on this topic across Canada this Fall. Email us or call us at 1-877-262-2500 (option 4) for details.
