It’s time to think
Posted by Steve Botham
December 21st, 2009
Thomas Watson Snr turned IBM from a small scale mechanical data processing company to an industry giant. He was driven by a passion to discover new ways of doing things. He believed that success was based on enthusiasm - his sales people needed to discover what their customers’ problems were and discover the best possible solutions. Around the organisation a one word poster was prominent - IBM managers and staff were constantly reminded to “Think”. In the 30’s to 50’s he took the organisation on a remarkable journey that laid the foundations for computer driven data processing.
IBM had its eccentricities under Watson (let’s all join together in the company song whilst wearing our conventional blue suits) but no one can argue with the fact that this was a period of dynamic growth.
We need thinking organisations and people today. We need cultures that encourage proactivity, and seek out new ways of doing things. Most of all given all the changes around us we need high quality thinking time. When in future years we look back on the traumas and challenges of 2009/2010 I wonder will we regret that in the busy and demanding circumstances we faced we did not mobilise our organisations to give quality time and quality discussion to thinking? Perhaps we need some posters?
Tags: IBM
December 21st, 2009 at 5:34 pm
I’m not sure about posters, but I certainly agree about thinking space.
I was involved in a conversation last week with eight Yorkshire local authorities about climate change and civic leadership. It seems to me that leadership happens when we give ourselves permission to act in accordance with what we really believe, but that doesn’t happen when we’re victims of the daily grind.
When people have thinking space they get animated and do stuff. That’s why I think leadership should be something we all do - particularly in the face of challenges like climate change. I’ve blogged on it here: http://livingwithrats.blogspot.com/2009/12/why-we-need-to-be-leaders-on-climate.html
December 22nd, 2009 at 11:43 am
Thanks for the comment Julian - as a New Start reader I value your “big picture” perspective on this. In your blog - living with rats you refer to Kirklees. I am hoping to fight my way through the snow today for a meeting with them. I have been running half yearly events with their senior leadership team. You refer to their progress on green issues. This in turn links back to the quality of leadership that enables and encourages sharp thinking. Kirklees are prepared to ask difficult questions and challenge the risk averse culture prevelant in other organisations. They have tapped into a shared passion for the diverse communities in Kirklees and are prepared to “dare to be different”.
Bold and passionate leadership clearly makes a difference!