Leadership in the Hood
Talking About Leadership Application and Management Issues in Organisations
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Leadership requires individuals coming together for a common purpose. There are many groups that rely and benefit from each other. These groups are the hoods. Hoods are informal groups and formal organisations that can have the opportunity to bring about synergy and high performances that require coordination and direction. Individuals rely on and operate in several hoods and with differing roles. These hoods all rely on great leadership to exist, benefit and grow. Leadership has wide ranging influence and should not be viewed or aspired too as having the opportunity to only being at the top of the chain of command. It needs to be fully realised for the opportunities to bring positive change to hoods, i.e. communities, organisations, academia, neighbourhoods, markets, industries, alliances, teams and the individual. In taking such a holistic view to leadership it should never be taken lightly or for granted. The hoods can be a leader’s greatest asset or test, as change is naturally resisted or questioned at the least and will always be filled with winners and losers. The hood is the metaphor to have discussion based on my management and leadership experiences across all the hoods I have been involved with calling out the unpleasant and very pleasant aspects of leadership and its impacts that come with the role and hopefully, starting open and candid discussions on leadership and its requirement for management in all its hoods. Hopefully leading to greater debate and critical thinking regarding the application of leadership will see it as both a guide and stimulus to achieve envisioned outcomes and bring about the high performances that individuals as teams can achieve with direction from leaders and cross collaboration at all levels in the Hoods. The leader cannot be successful without having leaders as managers albeit that may be one of the same in supporting them in management and leadership. The most crucial point in discussion of the hood is that it is about people and what they can achieve together and in collaboration with other hoods. All the hoods that you are involved with will provide benefit and opportunity for greater performance and self-development let alone the positive impact that you can have on people’s lives through great leadership even without being their formal leader.
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About the Book
“Hoods” are informal groups and formal organizations that can create synergies and help us achieve more than we could on our own. A hood is an apt metaphor as it suggests that organizations aren’t always simple and nice. They’re compiled of teams that should be working in synchronicity, with direction, and in harmony for the benefit of stakeholders. Leading these hoods, however, isn’t so simple as leaders must do more than obtain consensus; they must get people excited about executing a strategy, innovating with constant improvement, and adding value. Veteran business executive Bob Sutton shares lessons and strategies so you can: • make individual team members better at what they do; • eliminate dysfunction that can hurt operating results; • back up your business vision with strategy; and • empower people to operate within clear boundaries. The author also highlights ways to improve systems and processes, brand management techniques, navigating succession, business culture, and how to keep team members engaged. Whether you are just starting out as a leader or have been on your journey for many years, you’ll find insights you can use in Leadership in the Hood.
About the Author
Bob Sutton, a native of Sydney, Australia, has been a senior executive with Goodyear, Kmart, and Tyre & Auto Service Australia. He has also served in general manager roles in retail and wholesale divisions, including marketing, purchasing, merchandising, store network development, sales/operations, and property. He studied business strategy, marketing, and management at the Pacific Dunlop Limited executive program in Hong Kong, The Melbourne Business School, and Deakin University. He’s retired and a skipper/leading crew for volunteer Marine Rescue NSW on the Tuggerah lakes, New South Wales, Australia. He is married to Sue and has a wonderful family.