Читать книгу Growing Pains - Flamholtz Eric G. - Страница 8

Our experience over the past 40 years in working with and coaching leaders of many companies throughout the world has shown that there is one key thing (not typically mentioned when discussing the requirement of leadership success) in addition to all of the standard things that leaders are supposed to be able to do. Specifically, this is to be able to think conceptually about their business. The ability of a leader or leadership group to step back from day-to-day operations and the concrete things that business involves is a critical ability that contributes to sustainable success of organizations.

This same cognitive ability is often the difference between great successes in virtually any activity, including sports that are very physical in nature such as American football. For example, National Football League (NFL) teams use the so-called “combine” to test for various abilities such as running speed, jumping ability, and cognitive ability. Specifically, they use the “Wonderlic Cognitive Ability Test.” Because NFL football is one of the most physically demanding sports, the emphasis on cognitive ability might seem surprising. However, as coaches in the NFL undoubtedly know, there is also a conceptual aspect to the game. For example, in discussing the ability of his prized recruit at UCLA, quarterback Josh Rosen, Coach Jim Mora stated: “Josh is very intelligent. He is one of those kids that the game comes to more easily than some. He understands concepts.”1

As the reader will see, some conceptual thinking is required by this book. However, the ability to do this type of thinking will pay great dividends.