10. Learning from the GFC

Dramatic economic downturns inflict pain both widely and deeply. People lose their jobs, homes and self-worth. No wonder they look for scapegoats. Tearing into Bernard Madoff in America, Fred Goodwin in Europe or fringe investment bankers in Australia deflects our own pain. But, as a leader, how much time do you spend reviewing your own responsibility for what you've experienced recently - for your own organisational and systemic failures?

As I look back over my own career and investment history, my main conclusion is that the real stuff-ups have been my own fault. At the time I was angry with others: the employee, who failed to deliver; and, the fund manager, who made dumb decisions. But, with time, I recognised I'd made the key decisions: to employ, to invest, etc. My priority is to remember the importance of self-responsibility. That's what this Action Pack is about.

What you will learn about

• Beating the bust
• Multi-tasking through the downturn
• Rebuilding profits
• And, much more including topics such as: Recession not depression; Your fiscal stimulus; Twilight of the gods; Avenging angels or Gadarene swine; Survival and beyond.

Core message: remember the lessons.

Who is this for?

This Action Pack is for any of us with time left in our careers. No leader is safe from a macro-economic calamity that upends the whole global economy. But, if we learn the lessons from the GFC, we'll be better equipped, if another ever comes our way. More importantly, we'll have clearer insight and sharper skills to handle those smaller market upsets, which will certainly arrive every few years.

What can you expect

As with each of our nine thematic Action Packs, this one contains a total of seven articles. Four address specific aspects of LEARNING FROM THE GFC - with action suggestions, check-up questions, etc. Three shorter ones provide more general background and checklists. Above all, there's a format for the creation of your own action plan.

Guarantee of value-add – or your money back

I believe passionately in the power of leadership. My Packs encapsulate 40 years of line and consulting experience that have convinced me it's the key differentiator between mediocre and outstanding business performance.

Read more about the content and structure of our
Action Packs (and our money back guarantee) here