The Gm

The most important attributes of a highly effective General Manager encompass change, culture, credibility, recognition, and alignment.

The ability to embrace change in a global world is crucial to an organization’s success. Change should not be a “dirty word”. Effective general managers are proactive and respond to change before crisis ensues. Embracing change at the forefront requires the general manager to be versatile and thereby welcome the ideas, creativity, vision and support of others by having the self-awareness to recognize and compensate for his or her own hindering blind-spots.

A general manager must possess the credibility to effective influence and motivate others. A manager cannot lead if no one lends truth to his or her vision, strategies and objectives. A credible reputation requires experience built upon, honesty, integrity and a track record of accountability to oneself and others.

A successful general manager must be generous with a passion to recognize achievement and reward success. The ultimate outcome that arises is an empowered, dedicated and intrinsically motivated employee base that will work harder both in good and challenging times.

A general manager should promote a strong leadership culture that encourages news ideas, new perspectives and the willingness to take calculated risk. The result is innovation and new product development that is paramount to the survival and dominance of an organization in an ever changing world.

Lastly, a successful general manger must implement optional strategies to align members of the organization for success. This requires the general manager to fully integrate management functions, strategic leadership vision and the organization’s unique culture in a continuous effort to effectively executive plans and deliver success.