The Guardian: You’re In Charge-Take Charge
Becoming an Absolute Advantage
September 18, 2007
Edith C. Varley
Markets, much
like people,
sometimes need
a good
squeeze.”…..
In order to
get in SHAPE!
“Every thing in this world can be copied
imitated and commoditized except you.”
ECV
You Are Unique
• How do I leverage this fact?
• How do I become an absolute advantage?
Continuous Learning
Think Globally Act Locally
Ask yourself…..
Where am I on the curve
of value relevance?
What can I contribute that
will significantly affect
business outcomes?
First Step
Make A Greater
Individual Commitment
Count
Make A Greater Individual Commitment Count
Pledge to use your
• Gifts/Talents
• Strengths
• Core Competencies
In order to add-value and
Live up to the fullness of your Promise.
Second Step
• Assess
• Create
• Execute
Assess: What SHAPE are you in?
• S Strength, Skills, Strategy, Service
• H Heart, Head, Hands, Health
• A Attitude, Ability, Accountability, Accessibility
• P Personality, Passion, Purpose, Performance
• E Experience, Expertise, Energy, Enthusiasm
Create a plan
• Ask the boss the two most important business
outcomes he or she wants to improve and why they are
so important to improve
• Focus on how you and your staff can contribute to
those improvements
• Consistently work toward those outcomes
• Discuss your progress with the boss (monthly)
• Remember you Add-value by growing and sharing
 Your knowledge (books, articles)
 Your relational networks (people)
 Showing your compassion on the Job
Execute the plan
• Play to your strengths
• Deliver on your promises
• Serve those you lead
• Live with intent and on purpose
Third Step
Ask for constructive feedback
Hold yourself accountable
Answer this question daily
“Where am I on the curve of
value relevance ?”
“What can I contribute that
will significantly affect the
performance and the results
of the people I serve and the
business we try to build?”
Awareness
Integrator Leadership Model
Relationships
Knowledge/Skills
Where Are You
Compassion
Smart Starts Summary
Credibility
Keep and value your word
Put your name on your work
Hold yourself accountable
(It builds trust)
Smart Starts Summary
Communication
Listen to all voices
Turn “bad guys” into allies
Modeling speaks volumes
(It instills trust)
Smart Starts Summary
Smile
Improves face value
First Impression
First Expression
(Invitation to trust)
The Most Valuable Renewable
Resource in the World is the…
HUMAN SPIRIT
Vital Essence
Resource Reading
Now, Discover Your Strenghts, Buckingham, Clifton
The Essential Drucker, P.F. Drucker
Soar With Your Strengths, Clifton, Nelson
The Art of Possibility, Zander and Zander
Good to Great, Jim Collins
Built to Last, Collins/Porras
First Break All the Rules, Buckingham/Coffman
Getting Past No, William Ury
Execution, Bossidy/Charan
Where Have All The Leaders Gone? Iaccoca
Love Is The Killer APP, T. Sanders
Emotional Intelligence, D. Goleman
The Art of War, Sun Tzu
Nuts, Herb Kelleher
Leadership and Self-Deception, The Arbinger Institue
Primal Leadership, Boyatzis, McKee, Goleman,
Winning, Jack Welch and Suzie Welch
Trusted Advisor, D.H. Maister
Psycho-Cybernetics and Self-Fulfillment, M. Maltz M.D.
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, P.Lencioni
The Leadership Challenge, Kouzes, Posner
The Wisdom of Listening, Brady
The Emotionally Intelligent Manager, Salovey, Caruso
The Varley Group, Inc. outcome-based mission is to
transform human potential into constructive contribution.
The focus is teaching Emotional Intelligence leadership
skills, advising executives in order to enhance their personal
effectiveness and speaking to inspire individuals to live up
to the fullness of their promise.
We grow our business by word of mouth referral, letters of
value and delivering on our promise.
Edith C. Varley
636.225.9211