Strategic Leaders: How's Your DOT-ML-PF-P?

In response to concerns a chief executive officer expressed about the inability of his senior level leadership to think strategically, I wrote an article speaking to the matter—"Strategic Leaders: Inadequately Prepared." In the article, I gave an over view of three areas senior level leadership are rarely made familiar with, Strategic Thought, Organizational Power, and Strategic Logistics. There is one additional area I would be remiss if I did not address—DOTMLPF-P (sounds like—DOT-MiL-P-F-P).

I can only imagine the thoughts one would have to read that acronym—What in the world is that!

DOTMLPF-P is an acronym for a model that supports senior leaders ability to see their organizations from a strategic standpoint—Doctrine, Organization, Training, Materiel, Leadership, Personnel, Facilities, and Policy. This model supports effectively operationalizing the strategy. It is a senior leaders tool for taking a strategic look at their organization.   (Read more)

Women Leading Men: A Bold Woman in Charge

Ellen Pao is bold. She is the interim-CEO of Reddit, a tech company that focuses on entertainment, social networking, and news, is demonstrating the leadership behavior not many men in her position would dare to demonstrate. She is not talking about equality and diversity; she is taking action to make Reddit a more diverse and an equal opportunity company.

What is Ellen Pao doing that many of her peers are not? She has eliminated salary negotiations from the hiring process. Why? Because too often women end up with less pay for the same work, the negotiation process in terms of pay simply has not worked well for talented women.

She has hired a diversity consultant to advise Reddit. Just the thought of the word "diversity" makes many a CEO's stomach to turn in anguish; clearly not her's. Additionally, she is passing over candidates for advancement who are not committed to gender and racial diversity. I would offer that if you are managing diversity, you have a problem. I suggest that Ms. Pao is not managing diversity. She is insisting on it.

Ellen Pao is bold and a modern example of exceptional leadership. I wish her fair winds and following seas.

Courage

I am often asked for advice on improving leadership ability, and so this section is dedicated to giving short pieces of advice on becoming what I like to call and Exceptional Leader. Being good on any given day is easy. Being exceptional requires daily effort. Enjoy the read.

Being courageous is often mistaken for having the chutzpah to face physical danger.

Courage, true courage, is having the mental quality that recognizes fear of danger or criticism, but enables a person to proceed in the face of it with calmness and confidence.

A great example of a modern leader exhibiting courage is Ellen Pao. If you have not read the above article take the time and do so. You don't have to be the person facing down bullets to be considered courageous. Ellen Pao is courageous.