“The Power of Leadership”

As introduced yesterday, we’re taking a lesson from Scott McKain’s book the Collapse of Distinction regarding business today. To paraphrase what the “old-timer” pointed out in the quote from yesterday is that the points of distinction between businesses have been nearly eliminated as it is much easier and much safer for a company to copy all of the successful practices of its competition than to innovate and create true points of distinction.

Scott say’s this phenomenon makes it difficult for customers to be able to distinguish any difference between you and your competitors in the market.  If your customers cannot differentiate your business, then they will fall upon the one point where they can always find some difference, price.  But as you know, price is the single worst point of differentiation for a business because it leads to lower margins and in time fewer resources with which to develop people and new innovation.

Distinction requires passionate leadership!  But, most organizations merely “shuffle” along; they reorganize, reallocate, and hope to stumble upon something with which to reconnect with their customers.

You must create passion within yourself and your organization to create distinction for your business and differentiation from your competition or be doomed to mediocrity in today’s highly competitive marketplace.

Scott McKain asks these questions in the book:

1. Make a list of the ways that you believe your customers can tell the difference between you and your competition.
2. Other than product and price; what do you really sell?  Make a list.
3. Why would a customer pay for yours over your competition?  Note at least three reasons.
4. What is your level of commitment to achieving organization and personal distinction?

We’ve just touched on the intro thoughts of the book, so there is a link below to get your own copy, it’s really excellent; and you can certainly find Scott easily by searching on-line, he’s a sharp marketer and so he’s easy to find and get more great lessons from!

“A rut is a grave with the ends kicked out.” – Paul J. Meyer

Have a creative day!

Shawn
Performance Institute – A Global Leader in Human Capital and Business Development

Russ M. Miller, LLIF – Chairman & CEO

Sunny Hong Zhang – Managing Partner – China

Shawn M. Miller – Managing Partner – USA

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