Comments on: Examples in Effective Top Leadership-The Ambassador

By: Art Petty

Art Petty — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:41:23 +0000

Kristen, during the time that I worked around this business, I noticed that the executives and managers shared a consistent demeanor and approach to dealing with people. While there was always some background grousing about this or that, I saw little of the dysfunction that affects so many businesses. The strong and mostly positive culture won out in this case. -Art

By: Kristen Simsek

Kristen Simsek — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:44:29 +0000

Art,
I wonder how The Ambassador was able to keep his employees focused on the customer over the span of the years he was in business. Often it seems that it is employees “dress for success” through various stages of their career lifecycle at a company. Also, it seems as if employees have a great demeanor until they are “put in their place” by someone from upper management or a co-worker who sees their faults. I’m also guessing that these “top flight individuals” are all in the same sort of position? Is that true? I realize that I am unfortunately expressing my negative experiences of a small business environment and the way in which it seems that managers allow individuals to be too much of individuals, making it difficult to deal with differences in attitudes, opinions on dress and behavior as well as hard to get everyone to work together to express a positive attitude when dealing with clients.

Are these normal challenges of a small business environment? Is the Ambassador truly an acceptation?

By: Art Petty

Art Petty — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:13:54 +0000

Bret, good point on the weaknesses. We all have them and there’s no doubt that the people that I am profiling had/have them as well. In my first feature (last Saturday) I indicated that I would emphasize the positives and not the negatives. Perhaps this is a flaw in the feature, but I’ve spent so much time writing about the weaknesses that it’s both cathartic and instructional to highlight what people do/did right.

In direct response to your question, I heard many complaints from The Ambassador’s people, much like the background grousing about “the boss” that goes on in every environment that I’ve worked in over 22 years. The negatives did not seem to detract from the genuine respect and high regard that his people held for him.

Thanks as always for reading and commenting! -Art

By: Bret Simmons

Bret Simmons — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:04:54 +0000

Art, this is an incredible feature! I hope you will keep it up.

Now we all know no one it perfect, can’t be. Did this person admit any weaknesses or talk about things they were still working on to improve? If not, what is your sense about areas they might be able to still improve upon? I know that might be tough since you only spent a short time with the person. Thanks! Bret

By: Art Petty

Art Petty — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 16:03:38 +0000

Thanks, Mary Jo for sharing your own great experience here. Isn’t it interesting that our initial reaction to these remarkably positive environments is one of momentary disbelief? Same here with my example. It took me a few years of working with a large number of individuals across the firm to realize that this was genuine and that it started at the top.

I’ll keep this feature rolling as long as I can draw upon great examples. Comments like yours…with your example add to the richness of this experiment. Thanks! -Art

By: Mary Jo Asmus

Mary Jo Asmus — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 15:58:24 +0000

Art,

I appreciate greatly your focusing on the good ones. They are out there. Unfortunately, we tend to hear about the unethical, the abusers.

I can vouch for similar experiences to yours. In many cases, I could be accused of personal or professional bias. I like the fact that you admitted that up front, allowing your readers to make their conclusions based on full disclosure.

So with full disclosure that the individual and organization are a client of mine, I have had a similar experience in a public organization (i.e. subject to taxpayer acountability); the entire organization reflects the ethics and demeanor of the individual at the top. It is quite an experience to walk into this organization and feel as if you are welcomed, supported, and appreciated; it took me awhile, honestly, to believe this was genuine. It’s in the people the leader at the top hires, and in the expectations he sets.

Thanks again for this series and reminder of the good leaders we don’t always hear about. The one you described left a legacy, and I hope that wherever he is, he can be proud to have done so.