An organisation’s attitude towards failure has a significant bearing, amongst others, on its drive for innovation, improvement through continuous learning, penchant for risk-taking and the willingness of its employees to delegate. Throughout our childhood and adult life, whether it be in our academics or in our sports or in our personal and social lives, we […]
Tolerance of failure: Essential in innovating and risk-taking Read More »
The bottom line is that boards in Sri Lanka are too ‘old school’ and this is hampering Sri Lanka’s march to a new world economy, an economy which is personified by a shift from a manufacturing and commodity base to one which leverages technology in creating products and services at rates which could never be
Sri Lanka needs younger directors – those who are wonderfully weird than dreadfully dull Read More »
“State chief accountants will be held liable for excessive expenses” was a headline which caught my eye when I opened the Sunday Times of 7 January 2024. ‘Excessive Expenditure’ was defined as any expenditure that is not in the 2024 Budget or Annual Plan. Whilst I agree that the organs of the Sri Lankan Government
Fear-based leadership; an extreme last resort, not a sustainable panacea Read More »
In my short career as a Leadership Coach since retiring from John Keells Holdings PLC (JKH) in December 2017, I have coached, and mentored, 89 “C” suite executives and based on my observations, I would state, unhesitatingly, that the acute reluctance of leaders to delegate is the foremost factor impeding their leadership development. This reluctance
Reluctance to delegate – a block to leadership development Read More »
The moment has arrived for Sri Lankan corporates to focus less on intellectuality, analysis, and strategy formulation and more on executing and making strategy work “Although he is a key person in formulating our strategy and is totally supportive of it, he fails in executing it and we end up not meeting our strategic goals
Execution: The Achilles heel of corporate Sri Lanka Read More »
Sri Lanka is currently in the throes of economic and political turmoil. I believe that what we need immediately is a shared vision. Even if we improve our foreign reserve and debt situations through an infusion of IMF funding, IMF driven reforms and debt restructuring, sustainable development can only be achieved through all the stakeholders
Integrated Performance Management: A must in an organisation’s arsenal Read More »
SOE reforms will not succeed unless the leaders are role models in walking the talk. The tone from the top is critical The reform, and restructure, of Sri Lanka’s State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), whether it is Government driven or IMF forced, are absolute musts if we are to rise like a phoenix from the ashes of
Reform of state-owned enterprises will go nowhere sans authentic leadership Read More »
“The authoritarian style of Lee will not be effective in the present Sri Lanka. We have, in the last 44 years, experimented with our version of Singapore’s equivalent of benevolent leadership. It has not worked – not because, it is impossible, but because we have not identified focused leaders who portray selflessness and nobility of
Democratic leadership, not benevolent dictatorship – key to Sri Lanka’s future Read More »
Sri Lankans are being gradually, but surely, and unconsciously, dragged to a feeling of hopelessness and mental paralysis in the face of the incessant cacophony of “gloom” and “doom” news spewing forth from the mouths of our leaders. “It has just been one thing after another. We have been sitting with challenges that most of us
Leaders: Dealers in hope than feeders of gloom Read More »
Great leaders not only take responsibility for their decisions and actions but also assume responsibility for the decisions and actions of those who directly, and indirectly report to them. Even if specifically unsaid, they acknowledge, through both word and deed, that such is the expectation which goes with the post. It is a principle which
A good leader knows where the buck stops Read More »
