Senior Officer — GENERAL MANAGER / DIVISION HEAD

General Managers and Division Heads are virtual CEOs for their business units. They have to deal with many of the same issues and like CEOs, their greatest contribution to organizational success is their selection and coaching of talent. Ninety per cent of the GM’s success is getting the right people on the team, the wrong people off the team, and everyone on the team playing the right position.

ISSUES

General Managers and Division Heads have P&L responsibilities. They are naturally concerned with every aspect of their business unit. These executives must ‘hit their numbers’ consistently and toward that end seek to attract, select and keep a talented team.

The right team is selected by aligning individual talent with organizational tasks. Employees are coached to enhance and utilize their strengths and to delegate tasks, which engage their weaknesses. Career path planning for all employees, stresses strength based principles. Engaged employees are customer focused and customer loyalty rises as a result. Increased customer retention increases real recurring profits, improving the division P&L and contributing to increasing shareholder value for the organization.

"Changing the direction of a large company is like trying to turn an aircraft carrier. It takes a mile before anything happens. And if it was a wrong turn, getting back on course takes even longer"
Al Ries

Implementing the DIAR Method™ is a simple way to embed systemic improvement into an organizational culture. Once begun, the process is strengthened by use and fueled by success. This success cycle is the best formula for winning in all economic cycles.