Leadership changes are frequently needed dependent on changes in technology, business climate, the environment of world events.  We are all experiencing all of these issues on a continual basis and to a great degree at extremes if we are personally involved.  The latest series of world catastrophes accentuates our emotional reactions, sometimes masking the realistic view of events, natural world events, occurring naturally.  There are events with huge impacts which we have no control over.  Hard to believe, but we cannot control everything.  Nature’s forces can be unrelenting and nature’s forces have no emotion, no feeling, no compassion, no judgment, just impact.

So, why bring this up in an article about leadership?  Quite frankly, leaders focus on issues and events which they can do something about.  They channel their energies and resources to resolve complex issues, prevent those which they are able in the future, learn quickly from the experiences and put a strategy in place to avoid the problem in the future and grow from what they have learned.  IBM will be celebrating its 100^th anniversary this year.  Sam Palmisano will also turn 60, which is the age where IBM’s CEO’s have stepped down and passed on the gavel.  I have had the opportunity to work in IBM during the tenure of Frank Cary, John Opel, John Akers, Louis Gerstner, and Sam Palmisano.  Each of these CEO’s had unique styles which were needed during their era.  IBM has been successful because of this and “took a revitalized IBM and made it the envy of the tech world and the darling of investors.” (FORTUNE, March 21, 2011 pg 115).  Sam has taken “long term” to a new level.  IBM is his life and he connects with clients throughout the world to grow the business, increase his span of relationships, and ensure the next CEO inherits a much improved company.  Who will be next?  Will it be Virginia Rometty or Michael Daniels.  Or, perhaps Rod Adkins.  All of these potential candidates are extremely bright, thoughtful leaders with an eye on the future and with IBM blue blood coursing through their veins.  They are experienced individuals who will have an application of their needed style and leadership as they take the reins of IBM and lead it into the future.

As Tom Watson Sr. said, “All the problems of the world could be settled if people were only willing to think. The trouble is that people very often resort to all sorts of devices in order not to think, because thinking is such hard work.”

Has your organization taken the time to think about its future?  Has it created a talent pool of future leaders?  Do you have a program to nurture future leaders after identifying the required competencies and behaviors to meld all global cultures to thrive and excel?  If you haven’t, you better escalate your efforts and get the people who can help you.

Interested in IBM history and their future?  Click on this link:  100 years of IBM in 13 minutes

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About the author

Peter Samardak

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