Leadership Series, Article # 3

[Readers: A significant part of my legal practice relates to the movement of employees from one company to another and the litigation that often ensues as a result of these transitions. When the departing employee holds a significant leadership position, additional issues are implicated. What effect will the executive’s departure have upon key customer relationships? If the executive joins a competitor, will that jump start the competition? What impact will the executive’s departure have on the remaining employees and their attitudes about the company he or she left?

In the years I have practiced, I periodically have met executives who are inspirational leaders. When these individuals leave their companies, either to join a competitor or to start a new company, the ramifications of their departures are heightened. Almost immediately, they are deluged with inquiries from their former colleagues, exploring whether there might be additional opportunities at the executive’s new employer.

Steve Champeau, the author of the third article in my leadership series, is one of these inspirational leaders. The CEO of Trans-Alarm, Inc. (http://www.transalarm.com/index.cfm) for the last several years, Steve previously had extensive experience in critical leadership roles at other national and international companies. Steve’s insights into leadership, set forth in his article below, illustrate why he inspires those around him. I hope that you enjoy Steve’s observations. Regards, Roy]

Leadership Reflections

By: Steve Champeau

Change is good…You go first.

After 22 years of growing a very small business into a medium size business and having it acquired by a big business which I then led as well, I eventually decided to move on to join a small company again. Creating the 100-day plan for my new venture was exciting, but nothing could prepare me for the reality of what I was actually going to face. The people, culture, systems, customers, products, scale and cash flow were all quite different from what I left. Not bad, just different. Thankfully, the leadership requirements of the job were identical. Best-selling author Mac Anderson wrote the book titled, Change Is Good…You Go First, and I reflected long and hard about the change management process before I decided to leave.

I’m glad I made the change, and here is what I learned in the process: Read more

Leadership Series, Article # 2, Another Lesson from Kids

Earlier this month, I started a series of articles on the subject of leadership.  The first article, written by Brian McDermott, was entitled, “Everything You Wanted to Know about Leadership . . . and Should Have Asked Your Kids.”  (That article is still available on the Blog and can be found by using the “View By Topic” bar to the upper left and clicking on “Leadership,” or simply by scrolling down this Blog page to Brian’s May 5 article.)  As Brian’s article suggests, you can find examples of leadership in many different contexts . . . if you simply pay attention.

I’ve spent a considerable portion of my non-work time coaching youth sports.  Like Brian, I try to keep my eyes open to examples of leadership from those around me, young and old. Let me offer an illustration.

I have coached a lot of boys traveling baseball teams.  These teams typically start when kids are 9 years old and continue until they are 15, when their high school sports careers begin.  Practices almost always begin with stretching exercises, followed by a 3-5 minute jog around the baseball fields.  On a team of 12 boys, the players are in different shape and of varying athletic ability, strength and stamina.  Consequently, when they run, the kids often spread out, in bell curve fashion.  The two or three fastest, strongest kids take the lead, about six kids are in the middle group, and two or three kids lag behind.  As the run progresses, the last few kids get farther and farther behind the leaders. Read more

Everything You Wanted to Know About Leadership . . . and Should Have Asked Your Kids

[Readers:  Those of you who have been reading my Blog for some time know that on the first Wednesday of each month, I typically publish a 'West Coast' Quirky Employment Question, written by my colleagues in one of our four West Coast offices (Anaheim, Anchorage, Palo Alto and Seattle).  This month, I’m going to mix things up a bit.

I have long been interested in the subject of “Leadership.”  I’m intrigued by questions such as: what makes a leader effective or ineffective; what are the cardinal sins of leadership; what are the attributes that make an outstanding leader; when should a leader be replaced; what risks are associated with replacing a leader; what risks are linked to the failure to replace; and like inquiries.

For the last couple of months, I have been soliciting articles on the subject of “Leadership” from people I like and respect.  I have asked individuals in a variety of professions and positions to write on any aspect of “Leadership” that interests them.  I anticipate submissions from those in consulting, business, law, politics, faith based communities, non-profits, and other disciplines.  I occasionally will include articles written by my colleagues or me.  I will try to publish at least one of these articles each month.  (If you would be interested in writing on this topic for my Blog, please contact me at .) Read more