Trying Times Reveal Great Leaders

by Robert Curran, Northeast Pennsylvania Business Journal

Leadership accounts for a huge measure of success in all facets of the way we live, from, for example, George Washington in the Revolutionary War struggle for freedom, Franklin D. Roosevelt's invigorating economic policies in the Great Depression, Dr. Martin Luther King's inspirational mission and Lee lacocca, who brought Chrysler back from the near dead to the living, and paid himself $1.

When the clock is moved up to today, we see "bonuses" in the millions and billions of dollars for executives and their clubby circle. In the other corner are millions of lawful taxpayers who are broke, out-of work, dispirited and angry about the corporate greed that has put the United States near the tip of the next step, a potential deeper depression. In these times, most would agree that leadership and ethics must go hand-in-hand to work for the common good. The tools are out there, but aren't to a great extent being used.

To keep corporations healthy, companies are working to develop leaders at many levels. Corporate officials say that personality assessments, such as the Caliper Profile, lay the groundwork for this skill building by identifying strengths and possible weaknesses of leaders designated to move up the corporate ladder.

Helped with assessments and coaching, leaders gain the tools to succeed and reach the ultimate goal of driving the company to a competitive advantaged in the market place.

Patrick Sweeney is president of Caliper, an international management consulting firm headquartered in Princeton, NJ. According to a company official, for more than four decades Caliper has advanced over 25,000 organizations—from Fortune 500 companies and professiona1 sports teams to some of the fastest growing smaller firms.

Caliper guides these organizations in everything from employee selection to conflict resolution and CEO succession. The company spokesperson said the personality assessment, the Caliper Profile, is at the heart of the consulting services.

Sweeney and Caliper founder, CEO and Chairman Herb Greenberg, Ph.D. have co-authored two books, the New York Times bestseller "Succeed on Your Own Terms," and "How to Hire & Develop Your Next Top Performer."

Discussing some leaders, Sweeney had this to say: "Great leaders often arise from great challenges and it's rare that a great leader comes from a time when everything is fine. Lincoln faced one of the most challenging times and was a leader for that time, and he changed history.

"Churchill, when his country was being bombed every night. His message was what was needed to get Britain through that. He was a leader for that time. Afterwards, he wasn't the leader to take Britain and help rebuild it. Sometimes leaders arise to the occasions and are ripe for that location."

In the business sector, Sweeney said moving from company to company, a leader can lead a company through a difficult time, while other leaders are able to change a company even a few degrees but are not he persons to lead the company afterwards.

Sweeney recently returned from a trip to China and said what's taking place today is that leaders recognize how much smaller the world is. Many countries, he said, are becoming more tribal and more flag waving, with more division. On the other hand, Sweeney said when he thinks of a contemporary leader, he admires the Dalai Lama, who looks at the world in another way. "When someone becomes a leader, it might be a good idea to send him up in a space shuttle to get another perspective."

For nearly half a century, Caliper has been helping companies achieve peak performance by advising them on hiring the right people, managing individuals most effectively and developing productive teams. The accuracy, objectivity and depth of our consulting approach enable us to provide solutions that work for over 25,000 companies.

To find out more about how Caliper can help you identify and develop people who can lead your organization to peak performance, please visit us at www.caliperonline.com, write us at information@calipercorp.com, or call us at 609-524-1200.