Spring 2005

Leadership is like a tea bag. You only know how strong it is when you are in hot water.

The USA is currently in hot water, courtesy of Hurricane Katrina.

As leadership is about influence, how can you influence with integrity and strength when your own back yard is falling apart?

New Orleans is in that back yard.

Hurricane Katrina delivered plenty of ‘hot water’ in testing the country’s leaders. It’s leadership shortcomings have been exposed.

“Images of death, suffering, abandonment and lawlessness abound. The unanswered cries for help and deliverance from the victims of Hurricane Katrina are replayed over and over.” The Age recently reported (Saturday 3rd September).

“This time Katrina has also put in sharp focus the shortcomings of the Bush Presidency – its divisiveness, lack of domestic vision. He is a strong President but has never really focused on the importance of good execution (in responding quickly to emergency)”

And what about you? Are you ready for hot water when the market, a staff member, your personal life turns your world upside down?

Put your leadership to the test, be vulnerable, and get out of your comfort zone. Bridgeworks Innovative Solutions partners with your leaders to do just that, an opportunity to look in the leadership mirror.

Even be prepared to ask your ‘followers’ to help you be a better leader. Now that takes guts! ...and now go and enjoy your ‘hot’ cup of tea!

How do Aussie leaders measure up in hot water? Come along to the Bridgeworks’ Quarterly Breakfast - 22nd September, Hilton on the Park with Gary Hickingbotham 7.15am – 8.55am.

Book on-line through our Leadership Breakfasts page or call  9585 7990. $55 per person or $395 per table.

Client Corner - Cambridge ISV

How would your business and leaders measure up if your business were to double in the next 2 months?

Doubling size & doubling staff is a nice problem to have, but most businesses would not cope – it would probably spell ‘double trouble’.

Cambridge Integrated Services Victoria led by CEO Paul Serong could see the market opportunity to more than double his business by replicating their services in both NSW and SA – all in the next 8-10 weeks.

The critical first step was preparing his leadership team. Paul needed his leaders working together and fully committed to each other - driven by mutual respect and trust to sustain this expediential growth.

The Bridgeworks program conducted over three days, provided several ‘mirrors’ and “How Others See Me” individual and team feedback. This helped the leadership team have a hard look at how they work together, build trust and deal with change and conflict. The sessions, both indoor and outdoor, challenged comfort zones, attitudes and broke through somedeadlocks in communication. This included building alignment and a team more powerful in dealing with accelerated growth.

The leadership team’s alignment, focus and synergy assures a more certain and successful future.

Time for a Laugh - From Hot Water to Fireball

At Bridgeworks we do try to encourage people to have innovation and be different, but don’t try this one at home!

A German woman in the Western town of Zuelpich set fire to her house as she tried to kill spiders in a garage with a can of hairspray and a cigarette lighter!

Or what about… A court in Kent ordered a lifeguard to pay 5000 pounds for pouring soap and goldfish into swimming pools after quitting his job. He said he was "treated like a dogs body".