Odyssey Executive Playbook Blog

Innovate or be Left Behind

Suzanne Allard — Thu, 23 May 2013 18:56:22 +0000

“Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”

– Steve Jobs

In every industry the innovation cycle is increasing in speed. Today’s businesses need innovative leaders supported by incentives and an environment of openness, imagination and creativity to build tomorrow’s innovations and competitive advantage.

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Never Give In

Suzanne Allard — Thu, 23 May 2013 18:52:42 +0000

“Let no feeling of discouragement prey upon you, and in the end you are sure to succeed.”
- Abraham Lincoln

If you never give up and keep pulling the string of your passions and dreams, both the road and destination will be enriching beyond your original imagination.

Compete With Yourself

Suzanne Allard — Thu, 23 May 2013 18:48:49 +0000

“When you compete with a person, you only have to be as good or better than the person to win. If you compete with yourself, there is no limitation to how good you can be.”
– Chu Chin-Ning

Liberate yourself from an energy draining and unsatisfying mindset. To view ourselves not in competition with others’ ambitions and values, but identifying with our own passions, strengths, drive and putting those to the test.

High Performance Teams – Creativity

Suzanne Allard — Thu, 23 May 2013 18:39:54 +0000

“The things we fear most in organizations – fluctuations, disturbances,
imbalances – are the primary sources of creativity.”
– Margaret J. Wheatley,

Most of us want things to go smoothly, it makes us more comfortable but it’s usually not the reality we live in. Learning to look for the value in the “disturbances” can reorient us to a more positive and productive outlook in business and in life overall.

Vision and Values

Suzanne Allard — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 17:15:16 +0000

“To me, consensus seems to be the process of abandoning all beliefs, principles, values and policies. So it is something in which no one believes and to which no one objects.”

-Margaret Thatcher

Innovation and the courage to lead are not driven by group think or timid souls. Mrs.Thatcher was a rare combination of leadership skills, a clear vision and unbending values. Her legacy speaks for itself. She will be missed!

Leading Others

Suzanne Allard — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 17:11:20 +0000

“Leadership is hard to define and good leadership even harder. But if you can get people to follow you to the ends of the earth, you are a great leader.“

-Indra Nooyi

Positional power only goes so far, the leadership ability to inspire passion in others toward a common objective is the pinnacle of leadership.

Making Work Interesting

Suzanne Allard — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 17:07:45 +0000

“If your work is becoming uninteresting, so are you. Work is an inanimate thing and can be made lively and interesting only by injecting yourself into it. Your job is only as big as you are.”

George C. Hubbs

Jobs may be identical, but people are not. The energy, attitude, creativity and commitment one brings to a role is the difference between average performance and greatness!

Winners

Suzanne Allard — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 17:04:50 +0000

“How you think when you lose determines how long it will be until you win.”

– Gilbert K. Chesterton

Winners hate losing but when they do they learn from the experience and make sure to not repeat the same mistake twice!

Leadership Learning

Suzanne Allard — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 16:50:49 +0000

“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other. “

- John F. Kennedy

Beware of the hubristic leader who listens poorly and lacks the humility and intellectual agility to continuously evolve themselves or their positions. Leadership is about many things but two of the most important competencies are the ability to take on new information and to use sound judgement to adapt and respond appropriately.

High Performance Teams – Commitment

Suzanne Allard — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 18:36:46 +0000

“I will deliver beyond any reasonable doubt, beyond any obstacle,
beyond any negativity, and strive to exceed my own capability;
I will laugh in the face of my demons, and stifle my competition.
I will silence the haters, and walk through the storm of self-doubt.
I have decided I will succeed.”

- David Banks

Commitment is either all or it is nothing!