Competitive Edge Principles and Rules of Leadership Summary Summarize every each chapter with one page summarize . Total of three pages for three different

Competitive Edge Principles and Rules of Leadership Summary Summarize every each chapter with one page summarize . Total of three pages for three different chapters . It’s going to be chapter 7 and Thanks 7 Competitive Edge Principles
Fitting In and Standing Out
Introduction, 17 March 2012
A
long-time friend of the author, Colonel L. W. Clement, Jr., once recommended that
this book have a chapter that focused on the “Competitive Edge,” or critical skills
that went into the making of successful leaders and commanders. Colonel Clement
commanded a sister battalion at Fort Carlson, Colorado, in 1976, and he was always seen as
an exceptional role model for sustained niceness. He was a friendly and happy Southerner,
well-liked by his officers and soldiers. Of the 23 battalions at Fort Carlson during Colonel
Clement’s service, about half of the lieutenant colonels in command would become
successful leaders/commanders. The rest were seen as inadequate, particularly in their
tendency to over-manage and over-control. While all were qualified, experienced, and
deserving, many were lacking as leadership skill enablers. This chapter lays out 26
competitive edge principles developed by the author based on Colonel Clement’s suggestion
and with the intent of providing readers with a range of techniques on how to become
competitive.
Throughout our lives, we work at fitting into groups. In learning to fit in, we begin to realize
that life is competitive, and in order to stand out, we need to be different or unique. In a
survey of professionals and students, who were asked to select 10 competitive edge
principles (CEPs) out of a developed list of 52 skills, the most important principle that
surfaced was “respecting people.” Eighty percent of industry professionals and 60 percent of
construction management students selected this very important skill.
Principles for Achieving Positive and Sustainable Results
Literature Review
For a business to maintain its viability and success, a “competitive edge” is a must. Deciding
what markets to penetrate and what marketing schemes to employ, plus how to effectively
spend capital to achieve positive results are areas that businesses strategically analyze.
Numerous books, studies, and journals have been written on the subject; however, with
technology rapidly leveling the playing field for businesses, it is becoming increasingly
imperative for an organization to focus on the development of its employees’ talents to gain
an edge (Colvin, 2007). Top companies share the following traits in their leadership
development: a) invest time and money, b) identify promising leaders early, c) choose
Colonel L. W. Clement, Jr., U.S. Army Ordnance Corps retired, now living in Sun Lakes, Arizona.
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assignments strategically, d) develop leaders within their current jobs, e) are passionate about
feedback and support, f) develop teams, not just individuals, and g) exert leadership through
life and professional career, while standing out” becomes effective after the “fitting in”
relationship is established. “Standing out” is needed to grow professionally.
List of Competitive Edge Principles
inspiration.
In Coy Barefoot’s book, Thomas Jefferson on Leadership, the chapter, “Jefferson the
Diplomat,” discusses Jefferson’s acceptance of the call to adventure, where he views the
journey as an opportunity to grow as a person and to reinvent or redefine his leadership. In
order to be competitive
, negotiation and diplomacy are defined by using seven key themes
1. Employ a balanced steady pressure.
2. Don’t press those who are not ready.
3. Take advantage of well-placed allies.
4. Negotiate from strength.
5. Build a coalition.
6. Develop personal relationships.
7. Be a better listener than a talker.
To get started, the author made a topical list of people skills that worked for him over the
years. The initial survey had 159 respondents, who were divided into two groups – industry
leaders/business owners and students/new professionals. Following are the original
competitive edge principles (CEPs), together with a short overview. The principles are listed
in order of their frequency of selection in the initial series of surveys.
1. Respect all people (60 percent selection). From the janitor that keeps the work
place clean to the owner of the company, it is important to treat everyone as you
would wish to be treated. Always use the “magic” words: please, thank you, good
job, good question, etc. Most people do not practice this seemingly obvious way
of thinking; respecting everyone can make someone not only a better leader but
also a better person.
In general, the concept of a “competitive edge” has historically been associated with game
theory. However, this chapter’s goal is to determine what principles or techniques people
can consciously employ to be more effective in their careers.
A special note, the mature and experienced industry leaders selected “Respect all People”
over 80 percent of the time. The emerging student professionals and students had a smaller
percentage. The average was 60 percent. This competitive edge principle dominated the
research data.
In 1937, Carnegie wrote a book titled, How to Win Friends and Influence People, which
quickly became an international best seller. Of all the wisdoms and useful information
contained in this book, one of the most valuable is that if individuals desire to master the
skills needed to deal with people, they must center their approach and philosophy on the fact
that “… the deepest urge in human nature is the desire to feel important.” If people utilize
this principle in their interactions (at the workplace or at home with children
or children
themselves seeking attention from a parent), they will win more friends and influence more
people than they could imagine. Carnegie emphasized this point through the following
excerpts:
2. Have fun (60 percent selection). The key to success is enjoying what you do. It
is important to be driven and motivated; however, if you don’t have passion in
what you are doing, what is the point? Without passion or enthusiasm,
complacency and unhappiness can quickly envelope one’s life.
1. “Every act you have ever performed since the day you were born was performed
2. “… The only way on earth to influence other people is to talk about what they want
because you wanted something
and show them how to get it.”
3. Use humor (49 percent selection). Humor can be a great equalizer when times
are stressful. Using humor not only relieves tension but also sets others at ease.
Using humor makes you more approachable – someone that other people can be
relaxed and open around.
4. Set realistic goals (44 percent selection). Setting realistic goals gives you
direction and helps you manage your time. The goals need to be specific,
measurable, realistic, and achievable. Reaching a goal can build confidence and
show your determination. Optimum goals are those that cause people to “stretch”
but not “break” as they strive for professional satisfaction.
McGarvie (2005) states that in order to succeed in “fitting in” and “standing out.” one must
comprehend these two principles and their interdependence. Within each leadership
situation, the variables of time, location, company, and audience can affect a leader’s
position. Nevertheless, the leader should utilize strategies to “fit in” in order to establish
qualities of credibility, predictability, trust, and security. “Fitting in” is about integrating into
the group, displaying an understanding of others and, consequently, receiving acceptance
from individuals. On the other hand, strategies for “standing out” should be employed in
order to characterize a person as communicative, outgoing, motivated, and capable.
“Standing out” takes courage and a willingness to be different, plus the ability of the
individual to take action on that difference. “Fitting in” is often essential early in a
5. Be humble (43 percent selection). Those of you who have worked in the field
on a project understand that knowledge in any field is limitless, and you don’t
necessarily know it all. You need to embrace this fact and be willing to ask
questions, accept help, and be comfortable not knowing the answer. Respect is
easier to obtain when people let the experts help.
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a person’s
issues are not fully resolved. Having alternate approaches for completing the
same task will allow you to be better prepared than your peers.
6. Delegate (40 percent selection. The ability to effectively delegate work
maximizes the time leaders can spend on the important tasks that require
attention. Leaders need to make an effort to continually review their to-do list
and delegate less important tasks to others. As their comfort level grows – by
letting others take responsibility for completing tasks leaders will have the
ability to take on more.
7. Prior preparation is the key to success (38 percent selection). Whether it is
doing some additional research prior to a meeting, starting work on a project
early, or simply planning each day out in advance, preparation will always serve
12. Do an outstanding job plus one more thing (25 percent selection). Most
individuals rely on explicit directions and a structure when it comes to performing
their jobbe it an assigned task, receiving and completing directions, etc.. To
truly stand out, however, in addition to completing the assignment, it is important
to go the extra mile. It lets your boss know that not only can you take direction,
but you also have the ability to think on your own and are willing to go above and
beyond what is expected. Additionally, take the initiative to expand your
knowledge base by taking classes or getting certified in areas that would increase
your value to the company.
you well. Having a plan of attack, or a bit of information that nobody else has
can keep you one step ahead of the others.
8. Plan your day (35 percent selection). Creating a to-do list, delegating, and
prioritizing are all essential elements of planning a day. Take time prior to the
start of work to organize your thoughts and tasks. Be efficient and effective in
carrying out your to-do list, and work to have a successful day every day. Be sure
to leave time for interruptions.
During a seminar of senior PMs, when the author stressed the wisdom of doing an
outstanding job plus one more thing, one of the attendees from a large
international construction company shared with the class what his “one more
thing” was. He volunteered to take the state contractor’s licensing exam for his
company and passed it. He continued to volunteer and now holds 13 state
licenses for his company. He surely has distinguished himself and adds
tremendous value to his company.
9. Be accountable for your own actions/inactions (35 percent selection). It can
be difficult for people to step up and admit they did something wrong in the
workplace. Often it is easier to say nothing and simply let someone else deal with
the aftermath. However, if you take responsibility for your actions, ultimately
you will build trust with your peers and bosses. Generally as trust rises, so do
responsibilities. As you advance in your career, be willing to take the
responsibility for your mistakes or the failures of your subordinates. Not only is
this a sign of a good leader, but it builds trust with team members. At the same
time, in a competitive environment, it is imperative to steer away from those that
have a habit of avoiding accountability.
13. Defeat the procrastination virus (24 percent selection). Work hard and work
efficiently to complete your job. It is easy to let the mundane paperwork stack up.
However, the work has to be done some time so why not be proactive and
complete it as it comes? Procrastinators tend to rush through their work to meet
deadlines; this results in mistakes, and the task lacks quality.
14. Stay physically fit (22 percent selection). Working to stay in shape keeps
people both mentally and physically sound. It is an easy way to reduce stress and
increase energy. Exercise allows people to stay more focused and active
throughout the day. All of this leads to a longer and more productive life.
10. Be the captain of your own ship (32 percent selection). In your life, you are
responsible for picking your crew, charting your course, and everything in
counterproductive. Set your goals
, plan your day, and work your relationships for
the level of success you wish to achieve. If you do this, you can be proud of your
accomplishments and redirect yourself at any time.
15. Appreciate that there are no shortcuts to success (21 percent selection).
Success comes from hard work, determination, and the ability to handle failure.
Those who choose to cheat the system” may be rewarded, but this reward is
usually short-lived. Being on the right path provides people valuable experience,
plus knowledge, and lessons learned to maintain and nurture successes. Be
willing to do things the “right” way and gain respect from those that follow you to
success.
11. Always have a plan B (30 percent selection). Always have a plan B, C, and D
when possible. Taking time to think through various scenarios and outcomes that
impact a given project, and having a viable response, is imperative. Many people
fly. Not only does this take additional time, but the “quick” decisions that are
are comfortable with simply being reactionary and developing solutions on the
made to counteract problems may be ineffective and cost even more. Having a
backup plan(s) allows shifting seamlessly and moving on to the next thing.
Problems in construction are inherent, whether it’s material not being readily
available, subcontractors underperforming, or starting construction when design
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does, you have an edge. A thorough knowledge of computerized simulation tools
or contract law, for example, will not only legitimize you as a professional in the
field but will increase your confidence.
16. Never let the fear of failure stop you (19.5 percent selection). In life, you are
often faced with difficult decisions, tasks, or uncertainties. Generally, you can
the flight or fight option. However, by embracing challenges, you will gain
either rise to the challenge or find ways to get out – in other words, choose either
valuable experience and wisdom, even in failure. If you do fail at something,
learn from it so you know how to handle a similar situation the next time around.
23. Understand that we live and work in a fishbowl (11 percent selection). Those
who take shortcuts and keep secrets at work only impede the process and will not
be successful. Live and work every day morally and ethical, so that you never
need to have your integrity questioned.
You will be a better decision maker for it.
“I can accept failure, but I can’t accept not trying.”
Michael Jordan
17. Control your ego (19.5 percent selection). Everyone has an ego that needs to be
built up; it also needs to be kept in check. It is important to be able to take
responsibility for your errors and be willing to share credit with your successes
These actions speak volumes and ultimately make others want to work with you
24. Always have someone in charge (6 percent selection). When leaders are out of
their offices, they should make sure they leave someone in charge of their work
responsibilities, if there is an urgent issue, customers will know who to contact.
Let the person taking over know what is expected; don’t assume the person
knows.
or for you.
25. Read good books (4 percent selection). Reading quality literature is an easy
way for you to continue your education. It allows you to gain different
perspectives in various walks of life; it makes you well-rounded. It is surprising
how few professionals read good books, maybe they are just too busy.
18. Know who’s on your molecule (19.5 percent selection). With all the
professional, personal and casual relationships around, it is important for people
to understand how those relationships affect them. People need to nurture
relationships that help them grow, support them during hard times, and keep them
in balance. Get rid of, or limit time spent on relationships from which you, your
work, and your company do not benefit.
26. Know your boss (0 percent selection). By understanding your boss
expectations and personality, you will be able to easily identify what you need to
do your job well. If you make a mistake, be sure you are the one to inform your
boss of the issue, not someone else. Bosses don’t like surprises.
19. Always start assignments early (19 percent selection). When time permits,
start assignments as early as possible. Getting into the habit of starting and
completing assignments early will accomplish several goals. First, it shows that
you have the ability to get things done in a timely manner. Second, by better
managing your time, you can take on more work and responsibility. Finally,
when
problems do come up, you have discovered them early on and should have
adequate time to properly solve or circumvent them.
Please note: “Know your boss” is an extremely important competitive edge; this trait,
however, was inadvertently not included in the original survey list. During the author’s two
careers, knowing, studying, and educating the boss were all ranked at the top of his
competitive edge list. In the “Who’s on Your Molecule” exercise, the boss is clearly
identified as the most important stakeholder.
In 2006, after developing his list of competitive edge principles, the author conducted a
competitive edge survey. Feedback from students and practitioners provided additional
CEPs.
20. Always arrive early (18 percent selection). Being early to meetings or
conferences allows you
not only to have additional preparation
time, but also
shows that you care about the event you are attending. Being early also
affords
Additional CEPs Add-Ons
you the opportunity to meet with other early-comers and expand your network.
Finally, planning an early arrival helps you to still be on time even if something
should interfere with your plans along the way.
21. Embrace moderation in all things (12 percent selection). This applies to all
areas of one’s life. It is often a difficult challenge to balance home life, work, and
alone time; however, those who are successful in doing so create a good work
1. Continue your education (35 percent selection). Take a class, attend business
seminars, read a book, or sit down and learn from mentors. Continuing to expand
your knowledge base will not only increase your value, but will also keep your
mind fresh and working. The world today is evolving more rapidly than at any
other time in history; therefore, it is imperative to continue your education in
order to stay in step with the competition. Students coming out of school today
are learning new ideas and theories that would not have been taught just a few
years ago. Finally, be sure to share your knowledge with others. Show your
leadership capabilities by helping others better themselves.
environment.
22. Become a subject matter expert (11 percent selection). By understanding a
subject that truly interests you, and lends itself to the business your company
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Competitive Edge Surveys Development ?
2. Surround yourself with talented people (30 percent selection). Similar to
knowing who’s on your molecule, it is important to have talented people around
you with similar careers, goals, and ideologies. These people can offer valuable
Surveys Data Collection
advice for career and life situations.
3. Prioritize (24 percent selection). Actively organize and reprioritize your to-do
lists. Tackle the important tasks first, not the easy ones. Whenever possible,
delegate tasks that do not necessarily require your input. Being able to delegate
Each CEP in the data was accompanied by a brief description as to how to apply the principle
in everyday life. As new people were surveyed, they were asked to add one new CEP that
they had encountered. The list grew to over 100, but was pared down to the 50 most
important. The following criterion was used in this process: a) a manageable idea,
technique, or…
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