A Pioneer of Leadership

On yesterday’s episode of Smashing The Plateau, Ira Miller discussed the five responsibilities of effective leadership.

Here are some of his biggest influences:

1) Vitee and Harold Miller

Their multi-generational view and personal sacrifice allowed me to attend college. They also instilled in me the importance of having a longer-term view.

2) My Initial Managers at GE

My goal was to observe their techniques and styles to see what worked. I came away with a long list of what didn’t work. That was the start of developing my own leadership style.

3) Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged

This was my first philosophical introduction to capitalism. These philosophies became the driving force behind ensuring my organization understood the higher purpose of our business, not just the financial results.

4) Rick Richardson

Rick was the best operational leader I’ve ever seen. He taught me how to (almost) instantly dissect where a business is out of balance (control), how to put together and communicate a business plan, and most importantly, how ethics in business always leads the leader to the proper conclusion.

5) Tom Thompson

Tom has helped me get through some personal, difficult times. He has also shown me how my leadership philosophy and teachings mirror those of Eastern religions. That in turn has opened a new area of discovery for me.