Good morning, Leaders! It’s Friday!

Pardon the dark picture of the river Tyne in New Castle, U.K. The Global Power Leadership Team met to discuss the future of Power and we were treated to dinner in the view box on fifth floor of the BALTIC centre for contemporary art. The Gateshead Millennium bridge, looking a bit like the arch in St. Louis, MO, is a functional piece of art. http://www.gateshead.gov.uk/Leisure%20and%20Culture/attractions/bridge/Home.aspx

Also notice in the upper right hand corner, a lighted structure. It is a small portion of the football stadium for Newcastle United. This night they trounced their competition (6-0). Some 30,000 fans flooded the streets and the hotel we stayed at was directly across the street. Ugh.

Getting to New Castle is a bit harder than flying to London but we came to demonstrate that we are committed to a global presence in Power and New Castle has a significant group that works on Power projects.

What does this have to do with leadership, you might ask…
•Leaders go to great lengths to show support, including flying across the pond, to show our colleagues we haven’t forgotten why we are here.

•Leaders cover an enormous number of bases in a given day and don’t look for recognition but certainly do appreciate being thought of with noble intent.

•Leaders own their forward looking role. They learn by asking good questions and gather opinions then digest, articulate and work to forge a path that anticipates the future client’s needs, the future project work, the correct staffing needs so we position ourselves for success by any measure.

Similar to my respected colleagues in HR and IT, a leader’s performance is inversely proportional to their recognition. When things are going swimmingly, you don’t know they are there. In fact, it is easy to fall into the trap of believing that they aren’t doing anything. Be reassured that clearing hurdles, avoiding business-busting pot holes, pointing the ship in the right direction and influencing the right forward-momentum-forces to give a little more and pash a little harder, at JUST the right time is more than nothing.
It is everything.

We will continue to travel as part of our role. In this circle, we are global and that requires longer trips, bigger sacrifices of time with family and other direct reports. The glass of champagne, the delightful dinner and the stunning views do not replace the time with loved ones, they simply help to pass the time until we return to them.

Have a blessed weekend!