Ex-Hewlett Packard boss Carly Fiorina has joined Republican John McCain’s campaign as chief economic adviser and has quickly become a target for Democratic sniping, according to The Sunday Times.
Fiorina, you may remember, was summarily fired from HP when she was felt to have lost her way strategically. Some of her decisions may have been vindicated, but it’s all fuel for the political fire anyway. “With advisers like this, no wonder John McCain doesn’t understand the economy,” said Democratic National Committee communications director Karen Finney. Fiorina, meanwhile, is giving as good as she gets.
Neither side’s behaviour is especially endearing. Even if nastiness is generally expected in politics, it’s tawdry to watch.
For a demonstration of leadership, you’d be better off booking tickets to Flushing Meadow. If you missed the men’s singles final at Wimbledon this year, you missed not only an epic match but an inspiring show of professionalism and humility on both sides.
It is precisely Fiorina’s lack of humility — her hubris — that makes her vulnerable to attacks today, according to Businesspundit’s ‘10 reasons people hate Carly Fiorina’.
The 10 complaints offer a cautionary tale and raise questions for any change leader. If some seem obvious, remember that they felled Fiorina.
- Can you admit to your shortcomings? Honesty is more effective than defensiveness — M&S’s Sir Stuart Rose has been too prickly under pressure, while Pendragon car dealership won approval for being honest about its uncertain future. “More of the same transparency… would not go amiss,” said Mark Kleinman in The Sunday Telegraph.
- Are you as good as your word? Good leaders, say Rob Goffee and Gareth Jones, practise “tough empathy” — that is, they care genuinely about employees and are realistic with them.
- Are you delegating fairly or guilty of favouritism? Try to avoid a command-and-control structure that alienates the bulk of your employees. Teamwork flourishes where people feel their contribution matters.
- Are you focusing on a few key priorities? A scattergun approach to strategy will confuse everyone and dilute the impact of each initiative.
- What’s great about your company’s culture? New doesn’t always mean better. In dismissing the ‘HP Way’, Fiorina “hobbled employees’ abilities to communicate effectively with managers.”
- Does your vision translate into action?
- Where is your innovation coming from? What products or services will give you the edge and who are the people who can bring them to market?
- Where will sales come from? Have you got a sales pipeline?
- Do you feel trusted by employees — do you walk the floor or are you too busy promoting yourself?
- Do you listen to shareholders, employees and the public? What measures have you got in place to allow their voices to be heard?
