No Limits
Michael De Bonis HBA, CHRE, CTI certified.
CEO and Founder, Breakpoint Human Capital Management, a trusted Executive Coaching and Strategic Advisory organization helping leaders fuel their ambitions. Award Winning Chief People + Integrations Officer. Board Member
On the occasion of one decade closing and another emerging our conversations are increasingly focused on leadership. Dominic Barton, the former managing director of McKinsey &Co., once wrote successful leaders need to “challenge a facility for viewing the world through two lenses: a telescope, to consider opportunities far into the future, and a microscope, to scrutinize challenges of the moment at intense magnification."
Breakpoint Human Capital Management was founded on the knowledge that it’s time to define a new generation of thinking. A new generation of human capital management. Having a formal strategy and game plan for sustainable performance is not enough. The single most important factor in building a high-performing organization is leadership.
In the same week that national newspapers broke the story of old school coaching tactics in the National Hockey League, the Globe and Mail announced the 2019 CEO of the Year. The stories could not be more different. They are stories of leadership.
Mike Babcock, former head coach Toronto Maple Leafs, “…his coaching style, based on intimidation and arrogance, was outdated. … The greatest coach in the world who only won one Stanley Cup wasn’t fired by the Toronto management last month, he was fired by his players who had enough of his heavy-handed tactics and quit on him.” (Pat Hickey, Postmedia)
George Cope, CEO Bell, “…when Cope introduces a big initiative, even entry level employees know what Bell is doing – and why. …(George) has a knack for getting people onside with a plan … he is pretty transparent. …he took us through his thinking. And it was rock solid."
Susan Senecal, CEO A&W Food Services, “Strategy for us is a blank sheet of paper,” she says. “we don’t make strategy by looking at what we do and how we could improve it. We look at real challenges and opportunities in the world and ask ourselves what we have to take advantage of them."
Dani Reiss, CEO Canada Goose, “We want to keep rewriting the book on what it means to be a company that’s good not only for shareholders, and employees but for the world. We want to be a company that is here for generations, and we think that is very much our future.”
Bharat Masrani, group President and CEO, TD Bank Group, “It’s all about talent. We are innovating at scale and creating new, high-paying jobs that are powering Canadian businesses on the world stage. However, to maintain our momentum and capture future growth we must invest in building a future-focused competitive workforce, with the skills and expertise needed for tomorrow.”
Over the last three decades I have had the privilege of working with CEOs in many different capacities and from different perspectives. I have advised and invested in CEOs. I have been mentored by CEOs. I have governed over CEOs as a Board member. At the core of real leadership is statements backed by action. Those businesses who thrive in the long run – the ones who win - contribute more to their bottom line, to their people, and to society by doing things that enable them to out-maneuver, out-innovate, and out-last their competitors.
Looking out to the decade ahead there are no limits with the right leadership.
It’s not just about making a great business with people, it’s about making a business great for people. It’s time.
For the people.™