Could This Be Your Firm?
“…but culture was always a vital part of ______________________’s success. It revolved around teamwork, integrity, a spirit of humility, and always doing right by our clients. The culture was the secret sauce that made this place great and allowed us to earn our client’s trust….”
The quote above is an excerpt from a NY Times Op-Ed by Greg Smith of Goldman Sachs who is resigning today after almost 12 years at the firm. I left the firm name blank above because I believe it could be written about many firms and organizations that’ve lost their way on the road to “success.”
But Smith goes on: “How did we get here? The firm changed the way it thought about leadership. Leadership used to be about ideas, setting an example and doing the right thing. Today, if you make enough money for the firm (and are not currently an ax murderer) you will be promoted into a position of influence.”
Ouch.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for profitability and success, but Smith identifies Goldman Sachs’ problem as veering way far off from a client-centered focus. Smith says: “It astounds me how little senior management gets a basic truth: If clients don’t trust you they will eventually stop doing business with you. It doesn’t matter how smart you are.”
Smith’s words are a wake-up call to professional service firms and organizations of all sizes. And to their senior leadership.
What is your firm’s leadership culture? Do you even know? What is the culture you want? What’s the gap between your current culture and desired culture? The Leadership Culture Survey ™ is an assessment instrument that I utilize to help senior leaders and their teams identify their gaps and create strategies and solutions for bridging the gap.
Assessment of your firm’s leadership culture can be your first step in keeping that “secret sauce” that makes your firm great and keep your client’s trust.
What do you think?
To your success,
Mary
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