The Gifted Boss Circle

THE GIFTED BOSS CIRCLE™

BY DALE DAUTEN

What follows is from a profile of USC football coach Pete Carroll by J.R. Moehringer:

“Maybe we love coaches because deep down we long to be coached. Whatever we do, we’d like to do it better, and we go weak at the knees for the man of passion who vows to kick our ass until we do our best. Even some of our cultural icons are actually coaches in disguise. What is Oprah but a coach to tens of millions of women?”

I want to make sure you do your best. And I want your best to be better than you thought possible. There are people who will end 2008 saying that this was their finest year ever, and I want you to be one of them.

Sure, there are plenty of reasons to be discouraged -- the credit market, the stock market, budget cutting, rising prices and all the rest. The list of “Reasons To Be Discouraged” is long. But what if we simply change the title of that list and call it “An Invitation to Innovate”? A bad economy is only bad for the majority; it’s going to end up being the best of times for some companies and some people. Which ones?

First, it takes those with courage:

“ I’m going to adapt and experiment till I find a way to prosper. I’m going to come out of the recession in better shape than I went in.”

And, it takes those with the heart of an innovator --

Now is the opportunity the nimble have been waiting for and didn’t even know it. It’s time to have some fun, to experiment. It’s time to find the other side of the recession, time to grin and say, “Here’s our chance to soar past all those who are hunkering down.”

Do you see yourself in an environment that allows extraordinary learning and innovation? I hope so. However, if you can’t attend personally, consider sending us your rising star. Inspire another from your team to lead the experimentation. Do you have someone you can call, “My Lead Innovator?” I’d like to work with you in developing one.

HERE’S HOW THE GIFTED BOSS CIRCLE OF CONTRIBUTION™ WORKS:

From my upcoming book…

The best managers think of themselves as coaches. But talk to the best coaches and you learn that they think of themselves as teachers. Then talk to the best teachers and they’ll tell you that they are merely guides.

The Gifted Boss Circle is not a program built around a fixed reading list or a lifeless curriculum of topic areas. Instead, Paula and I will visit individually with participants and figure out where they could best accelerate their learning and contribution. Then we will suggest experiments for the participant to choose from. So, instead of reading case studies, each participant will be living a set of case studies, rising to the next level of achievement.

Then, as the experiments begin, the participants will be invited to connect with other Gifted Boss Circle participants facing related problems. This will magnify and reinforce learning.

Finally, we will be creating opportunities for Circle participants to meet together and share their experiments and learning. Sessions will be held in unique environments keeping the theme of “Different isn’t always Better, but Better is always Different”. (Past Innovators’ Lab meetings have been held at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Taliesin West, the Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier in Chicago and the Frank Gehry designed Disney Hall in Los Angeles.)

In addition to regular conversations with each participant, we’ll have podcasts, conference calls and use other methods to stimulate thinking and results.

PARTICIPATION LEVELS

There are two levels of participation in the group, with pricing and benefits to match the needs. Each level opens up the chance for you and Paula and I to work together. You’ll have ready access when it’s when needed most.

THE GIFTED BOSS CIRCLE – Membership Levels

AA LEVEL -- FULL CIRCLE

Initial assessment conversation

Personally designed experiments for learning and productivity

Regular follow-through conversations with Dale and Paula about progress and implementation

Podcasts from Dale, including conversations with thought leaders (Dale has recently talked with visionary Gary Hamel; with James Kilts, the man who turned around Gillette; with infomercial marvel Tony Little; and others)

Opportunities for in-person meetings with other members of The Gifted Boss Circle

Small group conference calls for discussion with Dale, Paula and fellow members on topics of special interest to those members

Dale and Paula available for individual assistance with urgent decisions, idea generation or stalled initiatives

AAA LEVEL -- CONSULTING CIRCLE

All of the above, along with an all-day consulting visit by Dale and Paula and a presentation/workshop to prepare the organization to embrace innovation

Innovative thinking permeating your entire organization. Ideas and experiments rising up throughout the organization.

A final thought…

If you believe The Gifted Boss Circle would be of help to you and your team, but your instinct is to set this letter aside, to think about it another time, then that very impulse to put off a decision is one of the things we need to work on.

We’d like you to make a decision, right now, one way or the other. If this will be of help to you, call Paula at 480-785-2886 (or email paula@dauten.com). She’ll set up our first discussion and the journey together will be underway.

Remember, all business leaders say that innovation is important; but a year from now, very few will be able to look back and say, “Here’s what we’re doing now that is new, different and better.”

We’re looking forward to working with you.

Dale Dauten