Beyond the Pandemic: A Leader’s Blueprint for Change in Uncertain Times
Florin LunguChange… The pandemic was one of the most impactful world events in recent history. People had to stay inside and couldn’t work; businesses closed and couldn’t make money; the world had to learn a new way of working. Since then, it feels like all we talk about is change and how to cope with it for fear of another blindsiding, world-changing event beyond our power to affect. But then, why are we still so unprepared to deal with change? One recent report by WalkMe, a digital adoption platform, indicated that only 34% change initiatives succeed. That’s barely one out of every three. And unfortunately, because of the pandemic – and because this is just the world we live in – our organizations must continue to launch change efforts all year round. Are you prepared to fail ⅔ of those efforts? Waste ⅔ of those resources? Frustrate and disappoint your team members ⅔ of the time? If you are taking the time to read this email, I can’t imagine that you are! So then, consider this...
Success Through Failure: Cultivating a Failure-Friendly Corporate Culture
Florin LunguHot and cold… Light and dark… Black and white… These opposites stand in contrast to each other, but they also help define each other. Think about it: try to describe darkness without using the word “light.” Try to think about feeling cold without wishing for warmth. It’s very difficult, if you can at all. Even as two opposing ideas, they exist on the same spectrum. In understanding one you understand the other. And given this relationship, it is interesting why there is not more talk of failure in the leadership development space. Or, at least, why there is not more positive discussion of failure. Famed inventor Thomas Edison knew that failure had made invaluable contributions to his success. In an interview for American magazine, Edison stated, I never allow myself to become discouraged under any circumstances. I recall that after we had conducted thousands of experiments on a certain project without solving the problem, one of my associates, after we had conducted the...
Becoming the Best Leader You Can Be: A Guide to the Power of Mentorship
Florin Lungu“Before working with Florin I had little to no hope of turning around the situation I was facing at work. During the 12 months of Florin's mentorship, my hope returned, as well as the strength to face the work obstacles I had ahead of me.” “Without Florin's mentorship, I would not have had the same leadership tools and self-insight in my backpack that I have today. Florin has moved me, pushed me and piqued my curiosity to seek new paths and new methods to become an even better version of myself, and as a strategic and operational leader.” This is just some of the kind feedback I have received from some of my mentoring clients. Now, I don’t share these testimonials to brag (although, of course, I am proud of my clients and what they have accomplished in our time working together). But rather, I want to communicate something crucial to you today… Every leader needs a mentor. If I were reading the words of my clients I might find it hard to believe that something like...
Driving Change: How Alan Mulally’s ‘One Ford’ Vision Rescued an Automotive Giant
Florin LunguIf you have ever belonged to an organization holding on for dear life, you know what the atmosphere was like in Alan Mulally’s first meeting as president and CEO of the Ford Motor Company. Mulally had taken over in September 2006. The organization had one of the most legendary names in American industry, but its stock price had fallen nearly $10 in the few years prior. Ford was headed toward its largest-ever annual loss – $12.7 billion – and was not expected to profit again for the next two years. Needless to say, things were dire, and the pressure on Mulally was high. In the meeting, the air must have been abuzz with anticipation. Some in the audience were likely hopeful. Others were probably more skeptical – others, like the man who brazenly asked of the organization’s new CEO, “How are you going to tackle something as complex and unfamiliar as the auto business when we are in such tough financial shape?” Without skipping a beat, Mulally answered, “An automobile has...
The Emotional Side of Leadership: Why Empathy Matters More Than Ever
Florin LunguJohn Maxwell says, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” Now, if you’ve been reading my emails long, you certainly know the name John Maxwell – and even if you haven’t, you might very well still know the name. He is one of the world’s foremost leadership experts. But still, it is difficult for many leaders to take a relational approach to getting more from their teams. Why? Well, some leaders have a more task-oriented or results-oriented leadership style. These leaders might not consider a relational approach practical. Others might think that they might not be able to have much empathy for their team because leaders must sometimes make unpopular decisions. Some see empathy as avoiding confrontation or criticism, and still others feel they just aren’t able to emotionally invest in their teams. But at the end of the day… …empathy is one of the greatest ways that leaders can get more from their teams. Think about it like this: What’s the...
Resilience: The Ultimate Competitive Advantage – How Lego Transformed from Near Bankruptcy to Global Powerhouse
Florin LunguWhat is the most important thing an organization can be? Some will say “profitable” because they are bottom-line-oriented. Some will say “prominent” because they are image-oriented. Still others might say “powerful” because they are impact-oriented. There are as many answers to this question as there are people to answer it. But if you ask Jørgen Vig Knudstorp, he will say the most important thing an organization can be is resilient, because he is transformation-oriented. Knudstorp’s story begins with the Lego Group – yes, the same Lego Group that produces the famous block toys. Legos are absolutely everywhere nowadays – nearly 20,000 playsets, 220 million sold each year. In 2022 alone, the Lego Group earned more than $9 billion in revenue. But the company was not always this successful. In fact, in the early 2000s when Knudstorp became the CEO of the Lego Group, it was failing fast. The organization finished 2003 writing off a loss of $220 million. Something had to...
Leading with Integrity: Unpacking Ethical Leadership in the Wake of Crisis
Florin LunguYou have a headache. Looking for some relief, you walk to the cupboard and pop open a new bottle of aspirin. You carefully tear open the tamper-proof seal and reach inside for the pills. If you were born within the last forty years, this is the way it’s always been for you: analgesics, vitamins, and all kinds of other consumables come with a layer of protection that assures us it’s safe to consume. But if you were born before that, you may remember a time when this wasn’t the case. Back in 1982, Chicago, Illinois was shaken by a terrifying tragedy. Of the hundreds of thousands of Tylenol bottles for sale in the city, eight were found laced with cyanide. The discovery came after five bottles led to seven deaths. Two poisoned bottles were later discovered unopened, and one remained on the store shelf, still waiting to be sold. Few commercial product incidents have come with such a gruesome wake. But in response, CEO James Burke stepped up to do what must be done. Johnson...
Start with Why: 5 Strategies for Developing Your Authentic Leadership Brand
Almost fifteen years ago, author, speaker, and business leader Simon Sinek published one of his best-known works, Start With Why. In it, Sinek points out a powerful reversal of modern marketing: sharing your product with someone isn’t about what you sell as much as it is about why. “Every single person, every single organization on the planet knows what they do, 100%. Some know how they do it. But very, very few people or organizations know why they do what they do. And by why, I don’t mean to make a profit. That’s a result. By why, I mean what’s your purpose? What’s your cause? What’s your belief? Why does your organization exist? Why do you get out of bed in the morning? And why should anyone care?” And in fact, this is not just a marketing maneuver – it is a leadership principle! You may be familiar with John Maxwell’s definition of leadership: “Leadership is influence – nothing more, nothing less.” And true influence cannot be bought, transferred, or manufactured… it can only be...
Harnessing the Power of Learning: The Silent Weapon in Today’s High-Paced World
Florin LunguHow much do you value learning? A desire to simplify life has been powering progress for thousands of years. For much of the world, life is more convenient than it ever has been: electric washers and dryers, microwavable dinners, and computers in our pockets. And yet, even with all these things maximizing our time, we are busier than ever before. Convenience comes at a cost. When electric washers and dryers made laundry easier, we started doing it every week, not every month. When texting made communication simple, we started communicating more. The easier something becomes, the less of an excuse we have not to do it. It’s like Uncle Ben said in Spider-Man: “With great power comes great responsibility.” In an environment as busy as this – especially with a leader’s responsibility – taking time to grow, develop, and learn can easily get lost in the mix. This was exactly the situation that Satya Nadella inherited when he became CEO of Microsoft in 2014. In his book, Hit...
Leading Smartly: A Leader’s Guide to Strategic Delegation
Florin LunguAs leaders we are always looking for ways to maximize the results of our time. You’ve heard of the Pareto principle, also known as the 80/20 rule: 20% of our effort yields 80% of our results, and the other 20% comes from 80% of our effort. It reminds us we have high-value and low-value items on our to do list. And the Pareto principle is often paired with the urgency/importance matrix, sorting tasks into categories and assigning action steps. Now, these are fantastic tools for improving productivity – they certainly shape how we see our daily agenda. But if we use them for their intended purpose, that means we’ve got to minimize, reduce, cut back… That’s right – we’ve got to delegate! Many leaders have a love-hate relationship with delegation. On one hand, lightening the leader’s load frees them up to work in their area of strength or passion. And when the leader works more efficiently, they serve the team better. Plus, empowering team members to do additional tasks...
Leading with Emotional Intelligence: Indra Nooyi’s Transformation of PepsiCo’s Product Line
Florin LunguWhat comes to mind when you hear the name PepsiCo.? Most likely, you are thinking of their namesake, Pepsi – the sweet cola beverage sold in stores all over the world. But if you are a fan of the brand, you may be familiar with some of their other products as well: chips like Doritos and Ruffles, cereals like Cap’n Crunch, and Grandma’s brand cookies. It goes without saying that healthy nutrition is not a big selling point of their products! The organization has been selling one kind or another of carbonated drink since 1902 and has owned many restaurant chains since then. That said, Pepsi does actually have a line of healthier products. These include veggie crisps, sparkling waters, and dried fruits. And what does all this have to do with leadership? Well, you see, there was a time when Pepsi didn’t have many healthy options available for consumers. But Indra Nooyi, former CEO of PepsiCo, saw a shift happening in the marketplace. More and more, customers were setting...
Turning Tides: The Strategic Vision that Rescued Microsoft from Obsolescence
Florin LunguThe year was 2014, and one organization was struggling to stay relevant. Customers were not returning; its competition was stifling; its new tech was confusing consumers, and it had long given up its hold on the market. It was quickly aging out of relevance. The organization in question? Microsoft. Yes, that’s right – the Microsoft. Nine years ago, Microsoft was fighting to keep its title as a titan of the tech industry. Users of their software were satisfied enough with older versions of its products to keep from buying new releases. Its cloud products were facing competition from Amazon and Google, and of course, Apple was dominating the mobile phone market. Something had to change. Enter Satya Nadella. Nadella had been with Microsoft since 1992. For some of that time, he served as senior VP of research and development, investing his effort in understanding the future. He had a track record of getting results and upping revenue – and as of February 4, 2014, he was now...
In Tune with Your Team: How Scandinavian Leadership Can Harmonize Your Workplace
Florin LunguHave you ever seen an orchestra perform? The lights dim. The crowd settles. A soft note rises from the group, then another, and then a wave of music washes over the theater. Skilled musicians play their parts to perfection. The dancing strings of violins, cellos, and double basses fill the air with highs and lows. Woodwinds make their magic; horns punctuate moments of passion; and percussion keeps the rest of them in time. And at the center of it all stands the conductor. All the musicians watch her, trusting her, as she directs the group. What a powerful metaphor for the workplace. Your organization may not make music, but you do serve someone in their time of need. Whatever you make or do has a purpose. Every day, a group of diverse individuals with their own lives comes together to leverage their talents toward that common goal, and they take their cues from you – their leader. It is a thing of beauty. But you know what they say about beauty… beauty is pain! Managing...
Unleashing True Leadership: The Undervalued Power of Emotional Intelligence
Florin LunguJohn Maxwell has been one of the biggest influences on my leadership career. I’m sure if you have followed me for any length of time you have seen me refer to his famous quote, “Leadership is influence – nothing more, nothing less.” It’s one of the most powerful statements about leadership I can think of! It says so much about leading in just a few words. Leadership is not about control; it is not limited to a position or title; it is not even necessarily about the bottom line. It is simply the ability of one person to impact another. But in order for us to impact, the other person has to be engaged! John Maxwell also says, “If you think you’re leading, but no one is following, then you are only taking a walk.” I’ve spoken to many young leaders with this problem. They have spent years specializing in a skillset. They become masters of their craft. They are the most productive technician on the team. Then they earn a leadership title and suddenly they feel they are in...
Navigating the Currents of Change: Leadership Tactics for a Dynamic Business World
Florin LunguIf you have been reading my articles for a while, you probably know what to expect when I publish a new one. Some insights on leadership, maybe a story with a point – at the end of the day, that will always be what I offer. After all, it is my passion. But what if, one day, it was different? What if, instead of a monologue, it was a conversation? Would you embrace the change, or would you x-out in confusion? Host: Hello, and welcome to Leadership for the Now, your chosen resource for today’s most cutting-edge leadership tips. Today, we’re looking at a six-letter word that has brought many organizations to their knees: change. Kodak. Nokia. Xerox. Blockbuster. Change has ushered them all into the past. Evolving tech impacts consumer preferences, which transforms trends, which then changes what businesses must do to serve their people. As leaders we have to be on our toes, ready to anticipate the change that’s coming around the corner. With us today we have leadership...
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