Move Over For The INNOVATION Generation

Was at the University of Pretoria (Tukkies) Orientation Day for Students and Parents on Sat. 20th Jan. (yup, as older daughter finishes at UCT, youngest enters into Tukkies - it doesn't stop) where I was captivated by the Vice-Chancellor's address.

In essence, Prof. Pistorius underscored how Tukkies had 'rid itself' of the old-fashioned, autocratic, conservative-style of 'management by decree' to instil a 'value-based participatory democracy' to 'produce respected world-leaders of the INNOVATION Generation'.

I just smiled as I thought of how his speech echoed the simple messages promoted in this blog to our local Lonehill leadership - i.e. open transparency, value-based leadership and innovation.

But first, let's doff a cap in recognition of the continuing signs of open transparency beginning to return to our initiative... the emails discussed below are an inkling of what this commentator has been looking for.

The latest LRA emails - Sent: Friday, January 19, 2007 9:40 AM Subject: INCIDENT UPDATE & Sent: Friday, January 19, 2007 5:59 PM - Subject: IMPORTANT SECURITY ANNOUNCEMENT - begins to get us all back into understanding that we live in a REAL community with REAL issues.

What the five incidents in the past week allow us to do is:

1. To ensure that our wives and daughters are aware that bag-snatchers are a reality in our shopping centres and to ensure that you continuously - WATCH YOUR BACK - in your rear view mirror as you return home. If there is someone you don't know on your tail drive to the nearest patrolling guard.

2. For the LRA sales team to approach the non-subscriber households broken into to find out why they are not part of the security initiative important market research)... and to also approach each non-subscriber household with this story to promote the benefits of the community working together by being part of the initiative.

3. To demonstrate to all that, whether in complex or in free-standing home, criminal elements are constantly in our midst and we have to continually hone our security game to beat them

4. To question why security companies and/or personnel still cannot proactively prevent such incidents at shops and homes despite the numbers around. Seems to me that there must be poor training into awareness of what constitutes suspicious characters profile looks and actions... especially considering the numbers of security personnel in our area at any one shift (I estimate between 80 to 100).

5. And if 4. above is considered an unfair observation, let us see the good news about where and how our proactive security IS working.

I firmly believe that any community that is spending close to or over a R1 Million in security spend is missing a big trick by not demanding FAR MORE liability cover for specific non-performance from such security company directors when crime incidents occur in their territories. When such company directors begin to feel the pain of crime in THEIR pockets they will put their minds to training and strategically utilising their workforce to do the job we really pay them to do.

Another big trick that we are missing, I believe, is the inspired thinking and input of 'Good To Great' INNOVATION Generation input.

Where ARE the big ideas? Where is The BHAG - the BIG Hairy Audacious Goal for our community. Where are the FRESH dynamic minds and inspired thinkers? Where are the Church leaders, street & complex leaders, business leaders, Crawford college students and other young minds (whether 80 years 'young') being encouraged to give of their input?

It is not for their not being around - I know where some of them are in our community! Why are they not already invited on board?

If any of our local leadership are standing in the way of this needed progress, move over to the portfolios you CAN handle well, and invite/bring in the fresh innovators to allow this community initiative to grow. There should be plenty of room for everybody in an open and inclusive community environment.

And, if YOU are indeed the innovative leader we seek in this community - show us by stimulating some BHAG action and results!

Here's a great link to stimulate Good To Great thinking, leadership and application: http://www.jimcollins.com/

This site has EVERYTHING Lonehill leadership needs to contruct a great future strategy... e.g.: 'If you need help to find your core values and core purpose, it may be time to consider a “Mars Group.” - Download the “Mars Group ” PDF - http://www.jimcollins.com/pdf/Mars_Group.pdf

The site also contains Jim Collins' latest writing: Good to Great and the Social Sectors: Why Business Thinking Is Not the Answer - http://www.jimcollins.com/lib/articles/socialsectors.html . Collins discusses what can be the '..fundamental difference between the business and social sectors. The third circle of the Hedgehog Concept shifts from being an economic engine to a resource engine. The critical question is not “How much money do we make?” but “How can we develop a sustainable resource engine to deliver superior performance relative to our mission?”

Personally, I think it is a healthy combination of the two that has to be considered in the Lonehill community initiative - money and/or resource - whatever terminology attracts the passionate drivers. But that's the point of conversation... to openly highlight, discuss and select ideas for implementation. All the ideas in the world are useless if not actioned!

I'm hoping to see MASSIVE progress in this vein on our OPEN community discussion evening on Tuesday 6th February.

As Jim Collins says: 'Good is the enemy of great!'. I ask, so how much worse is mediocrity? How do our leaders and stakeholders rate our Lonehill community project... mediocre... good... great?

This communication covers some of the questions and insights that I'd like to see discussed and answered on 6th February.

Regards
Trevor Nel - 011 705-2790
Lonehill Resident