The RBL Review

Introducing The Leadership Code

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 16:00:01 -0700

No one disputes that leadership matters. We recognize good leadership firsthand when a leader we admire inspires, excites, engages, or even leaves us. Beyond our personal awareness, research has shown that the quality of leadership helps meet the expectations of investors, customers, and employees. While we can stipulate that leadership matters and that we know it when we encounter it, it is much more difficult to find the elusive answer to the simple question, "What makes an effective leader?"

In their forthcoming book Leadership Code, Dave Ulrich, Norm Smallwood, and Kate Sweetman, attempt to answer that question. In a brief and clear way, the authors synthesize existing scholarly and applied research on leadership to identify the essential rules that govern what all great leaders do.

In this video, Dave Ulrich introduces The Leadership Code and describes the Leadership Code model.

Additional Resources

	Pre-order Leadership Code before Nov 30, 2008 and get a free Leadership Code self-assessment, plus access to the author videos and online tools. Visit www.LeadershipCodeBook.com/offer to find out how.
	Learn more about The Leadership Code. Visit www.LeadershipCodeBook.com and download an excerpt from Chapter One.

Doing Business in Emerging Economies

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 14:05:40 -0700

As global trade continues to increase sharply, general managers and HR professionals must understand what is required to do business in emerging economies. In this video, Wayne Brockbank talks about two key questions that global organizations must consider: First, what are the basic requirements of doing business in emerging markets? Second, how do we leverage these countries as sources of competitive advantage? (8 min)

Additional Publications

What knowledge and abilities distinguish successful HR professionals? Learn about the six competencies identified in the largest study of global HR competenices in HR Competencies by Dave Ulrich, Wayne Brockbank, Jon Younger, Kurt Sandholtz, and Dani Johnson.

Investing in Leadership Brand

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:27:49 -0700

Each year, organizations spend millions of dollars on leadership development. In some companies that money is well spent. In others, the investment is wasted. What is it that makes the difference? Why are some organizations in a continual fight to find the money and time for leadership development while others receive funding readily?

In this video, Mark Nyman discusses the value of starting with a leadership development architecture when investing in leadership.

Additional Resources

	The ideas in this video are explored in-depth in the recent book Leadership Brand by Dave Ulrich and Norm Smallwood published by Harvard Business School Press.
	View other videos on "Leadership Brand"

HR Transformation (Part 3): Tips for Transformation

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 08:00:00 -0700

We've uncovered a few Do's and Don'ts while watching HR departments go through the process of transformation. In Part 3 of our series on HR Transformation, Mark Nyman shares a few of his favorite tips that will help you make your HR Transformation a real success:

Link HR Transformation efforts to the company's strategy and business model and to the needs of external customers
Benchmark against organizations that share a similar business model
Separate transactional HR work from transformational HR work
Think about outputs not departments
Remember that "Strategic Work" is not the same as "Level in the Organization"

Click the play button below to watch Mark Nyman explain each of these tips in detail.

Additional Resources

	Watch "HR Transformation (Part 2): Four Steps to HR Transformation" by Dave Ulrich.
	Watch "HR Transformation (Part 1): Making the case for HR Transformation" by Jon Younger.

HR Transformation (Part 2): Four Steps to HR Transformation

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:24:19 -0700

We've worked with many HR departments as they go through the process of transformation. What we've discovered is a four-step model for really doing transformation well. Successful projects address these steps by answering four basic questions: Why - What - How - Who. In part two of our series on HR Transformation, Dave Ulrich discusses why each step is critical to the success of your HR Transformation project. (5 min)

Additional Resources

Watch "HR Transformation (Part 1):Making the case for HR Transformation" by Jon Younger.

Assessing Leaders Against Your Leadership Brand

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:11:50 -0700

Your firm has developed a leadership brand statement - a clear, simple statement of what you want your leaders to be known for, but how can you tell whether you and your fellow leaders at all levels are living up to it?

In this video segment, Norm Smallwood answers the questions: What is the secret to good assessment? What can we learn from those who do this well? And how do these general principles apply to assessment of leadership brand?.

Additional Resources

	The ideas in this video are explored in-depth in the recent book Leadership Brand by Dave Ulrich and Norm Smallwood published by Harvard Business School Press.
	View Norm's video "Introduction to Leadership Brand"
	Learn how to create a statement of leadership brand

HR's Most Influential

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 03:29:10 -0700

On behalf of everyone here at The RBL Group, I would like to sincerely congratulate our colleague Dave Ulrich, along with the outstanding consulting associates and members of the RBL Institute who were recently named HR Magazine's "Most Influential People in HR".

I must say that I was not surprised to read about the various recognitions -- Dave Ulrich of RBL and David Fairhurst of McDonalds Europe were recognized as "The Most Influential People in HR." Additionally, RBL Institute members Neil Roden (Royal Bank of Scotland), Duncan Brown (PricewaterhouseCoopers), Stephen Kelly (BBC), and Madalyn Brooks (Procter & Gamble) were each named to the "Top 25 Practitioners" list. Finally, our dear associates Nick Holley (Henley Business School / RBL Consulting Partner) and Tony McCarthy (BA & CIPD) were recognized in the "Ones to Watch" category.

Click on the icon above to see the complete list from HR Magazine. Congratulations to all!

Tim Kapp, Editor
tkapp@rbl.net

HR Transformation (Part 1): Making the Case for Transformation

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 02:56:06 -0700

How do we move HR from a platform of administration and operational support to a platform of organizational change and credible activism? That is the question answered in our new four-part series on HR Transformation. In part one, Jon Younger makes the case for HR Transformation. (4 min)

Creating a Leadership Brand Statement

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 01:01:08 -0700

We refer to the connection between a firm's market brand and behavior of internal employees and organization processes as a firm's "Leadership Brand". Wal-Mart, for example, is known for "low cost" and should build a leadership brand emphasize behaviors that reduce costs (e.g. doing process re-engineering, contracting aggressively with suppliers, and managing to a budget). Marriott, on the other hand, is known for service and subsequently seeks consistent behavior among its leaders (knowing customers, listening to customer, responding to customers, and so forth.)

Building on last month's topic,"Making the Case for Leadership", Norm Smallwood discusses the value and process of developing a formal leadership brand statement.

Additional Resources

	The ideas in this video are explored in-depth in the recent book "Leadership Brand" by Norm Smallwood and Dave Ulrich published by Harvard Business Press.
	View norm's video "Introduction to Leadership Brand"

Making the Case for Leadership

Wed, 14 May 2008 15:31:43 -0700

Some executives just don't get it. They may say they believe in leadership, but they don't act like it. When times are good, they invest in leadership and proclaim themselves good corporate citizens, but in rough times, leadership investments are one of the first budgets they cut. What they really need is to understand how an investment in leadership will help them reach their own goals and their company's strategies--and how lack of leadership inhibits growth and confidence and diminishes value.

Building on last month's topic, "Six Steps to Building Branded Leadership", Norm Smallwood explains why leadership matters, and how you can demonstrate the value that leadership brand creates.

Additional Resources

	The ideas in this video are explored in-depth in the recent book "Leadership Brand" by Norm Smallwood and Dave Ulrich published by Harvard Business Press.
	View norm's video "Introduction to Leadership Brand"

Take the Leadership Business Case Audit

Wed, 14 May 2008 14:07:32 -0700

If you are a leader or an individual responsible for developing leadership in a company and your senior leaders "get it" - they not only say leadership matters, they invest personal and corporate resources to make it happen - our online assessment will confirm the work you have done. But if you're dealing with a commitment to leadership that is only a thin veneer, you can use the arguments in this assessment to help build the case for investing in Leadership.

CLICK HERE, or on the graphic above, to take the online assessment now.

Additional Resources

	The Leadership Business Case Audit was first published in the recent book "Leadership Brand" by Norm Smallwood and Dave Ulrich published by Harvard Business Press.
	View norm's video "Making the Case for Leadership"

Six Steps of Building Branded Leadership

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 16:32:57 -0700

What are your leaders known for? Wal-Mart's brand - "everyday low prices" - is a household phrase. It's no coincidence, then, that Wal-Mart's leaders are known for relentlessly managing the company's costs. Or take Apple, Inc. - known for innovation and sleek design. Similarly, Apple's leaders are recognized for creative thinking that produces leading-edge products and services.

In this short video, Norm Smallwood discusses the six crucial steps for building branded leadership in your organization.

Additional Resources

	The ideas in this video are explored in-depth in the recent book "Leadership Brand" by Norm Smallwood and Dave Ulrich published by Harvard Business Press.
	View norm's video "Introduction to Leadership Brand"

The Five Roles of HR

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:46:39 -0700

"The the 21st Century HR Organization" - Part 2
By Dave Ulrich, Jon Younger, Wayne Brockbank

In Part 1 of this article "Are Your HR and Business Structures Aligned?", authors Dave Ulrich, Jon Younger, and Wayne Brockbank described how to structurally align the HR organization with the organization structure of the business.

This month the authors take an in-depth look at the dominant Diversified/Allied business model, laying out the five roles and responsibilities of HR that respond to this organization model: service centers, corporate, centers of expertise, embedded HR, and operational HR. This summary lays out the duties of each role, the relationship among these roles, and suggestions for implementing this new HR structure.

	Download Part 2 in our series "Building the 21st Century HR Organization" in .PDF format.
	Download Part 1 in our series "Building the 21st Century HR Organization" in .PDF format.

Additional Resources

Many of the ideas in this article are discussed in How Leaders Build Value.

Are Your HR and Business Structures Aligned?

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 09:30:00 -0700

"Building the 21st Century HR Organization" - Part 1
by Dave Ulrich, Jon Younger, Wayne Brockbank

For HR to be a success it must start with a clear strategy that delivers value and a structure that reflects the organization of the company. To align HR with its business organizations, HR leaders must first understand the model of business they serve and implications for HR design.

In a recently published article we looked at companies along a grid of centralization - decentralization, which leads to three basic ways in which a company operates: holding company, functional organization, or allied/diversified organization (Lawler and Galbraith, 1995). We then look at the role of HR and appropriate HR structures for each of those organizational models.

Download Part 1 in our series "Building the 21st Century HR Organization" in .PDF format.

Additional Resources

Many of the ideas in this article are discussed in How Leaders Build Value.

Introduction to Leadership Brand

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 09:15:00 -0700

Companies spend millions on leadership development - only to get lukewarm results. Why? They rely on leadership competency models that identify generic traits (vision, direction, energy) without a supportive and systemic leadership architecture. Then they try to find and build next-generation leaders who fit the model. Result? Vanilla managers and executives who aren't equipped to manage their firm's unique challenges.

There's a better way. Build a leadership brand: a shared identify among your organization's leaders that differentiates what they can do from what your rivals' leaders can do.

In this short video, Norm Smallwood introduced the concept of Leadership Brand and how it can elevate market value and sharpen your competitive edge.

Additional Resources

The ideas in this video are explored in-depth in the recent book "Leadership Brand" by Norm Smallwood and Dave Ulrich published by Harvard Business Press.