Page 53 - How to Create a Winning Organization

The Pyramid’s Second Tier
My father liked to remind me that most of what I’d learn would 35
come from others. This can only happen if you’re alert and aware—
eyes wide open and paying attention. A driver who’s asleep at the
wheel will crash; the same happens to organizations whose leader
does not exhibit Alertness. Their common refrain? “I didn’t see it
coming.”
Make sure that you, the leader, see it coming. In fact, leaders
who prevail in the competitive environment are most often those
who see things coming when their counterparts aren’t even look-
ing. Alertness makes this possible, and it is a trait common to those
who lead organizations that consistently stay ahead of the
competition.
Basketball is played between the ears as much as between the
lines. This is true for your organization. Alertness is a potent
weapon for a leader—a great attribute. An alert leader creates an
organization filled with people who pay attention, are open-
minded, and strive always for improvement. This is true in sports,
and it certainly is true in business.

ALERTNESS IS A “HEADS UP” HABIT

Leaders who exercise this value of the Pyramid constantly
monitor the competitive landscape and are quick to identify
trends, changes, opportunities, and potential threats. They see
things before others because they make it a habit to be on
guard, alert for early signs and signals that necessitate adjust-
ments along the way. Consequently, they see what others
aren’t even looking for. They are quick to see weaknesses in
their organization and correct them and quick to see a weak-
ness in the competition and take advantage of it.