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GUTTMAN DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES, INC.
In this
issue, Walmart's Craig Williams discusses what keeps the giant
retailer on top. Howard Guttman discovers-and then unravels-a
"paradox of risk" in the current downturn. GDS's David
Friedman proposes "thought exchange" as a unique approach to
executive coaching. All this in a five-minute read.
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LEADER'S CORNER: EVERYDAY HIGH PERFORMANCE AT
WALMART |
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Thomas Craig Williams, Ph.D., joined Walmart in 2008
as vice president, global organizational effectiveness for
Walmart's Global People Division. He recently shared with GDSI
some thoughts about the retail giant's past successes and
future challenges.
Q. Walmart is the number-one
retailer in the world. Why on earth does it need to improve
its effectiveness?
A. When I joined Walmart last year,
there were a number of different corporate HR teams throughout
the company focused on various aspects of organizational
effectiveness. By integrating these into a single function,
Walmart aimed to achieve greater coherence and synergy. It is
our intention to learn and continuously improve our
business. |
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Read on . . . |
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UNRAVELING THE PARADOX OF
RISK |
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A number of news commentators have recently used the phrase
"paradox of thrift" to describe consumer behavior during the
current downturn. Rather than heading to the malls, consumers
are running to banks to make deposits. The paradox: by
conserving their assets until rainy days pass, they are
prolonging the downpour. |
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Read on . . . |
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FROM A CONSULTANT'S NOTEBOOK: COACHING BY THOUGHT
EXCHANGE |
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GDS Senior Consultant David Friedman describes his
unique thought exchange approach to behavior change in his
case notes from a coaching assignment.
Presenting Situation: High-powered,
talented VP of merchandising in a major apparel company was
showing up to colleagues as overly emotional, resistant, not
doing her job . . . not being "executive." Company fiat:
Change behavior-or company. |
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Read on . . . |
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QUOTE TO
REMEMBER
In a recent book review, former New
York Knicks player and U.S. Senator from New Jersey Bill
Bradley recounted this memorable quote on the subject of
peer-to-peer accountability:
"I once asked the
estimable Oscar Robertson what he thought of Michael Jordan,
then in his third year in the N.B.A. Oscar said, 'He's not
great yet.'
'Why not?' I asked.
'Because he
hasn't learned how to make the worst player on his team good,'
Oscar replied."
"Life Coach"
New York
Times
June 7, 2009 |
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For the latest on our book, Great Business Teams:
Cracking the Code for Standout Performance,
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click here |
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GDS Insights
