Carbon Copy

This is an email from the CEO Institute announcing that one of the Chairs is retiring.

“Dear all, It is with sadness that I’m writing to advise that Susan is retiring from chairing group 43 effective from June. Susan’s leadership has been outstanding … [la, la, la] …”

A bit of background; the Chairs hardly ever see each other. Maybe once a year at a forum and that is it. They aren’t work colleagues as such.

The replies from some of the other Chairs are listed below … it’s one of those great big carbon copy chain emails that go on for ever. 

The question that springs to mind is whether all this sentiment is real or whether, just quietly, they all think it’s tosh but they need to keep up appearances for the sake of club membership?

I can’t participate in the merry go round of carbon copy gush because:

(1) I was brought up to share such thoughts, if I have them, on a one-on-one basis to avoid (a) creating the appearance that I was using them as a currency and (b) since this would be somewhat mendacious, and:

(2) because I don’t have such thoughts. I have absolutely no feelings whatsoever for Susan; I can’t remember ever meeting her.

There is one thing that I have noted in my role as a Chair; I am the only Chair that is strategic in the nature of my chairing. The rest, all of them, are focused on the human side of business.

This works primarily because the majority of the hundreds of Australian business leaders involved are in the services sector or in generic products. They all have roughly fixed market share and no plans for global domination. This is a pretty good reflection of our entire business sector.

Hence the leaders of these businesses are not too concerned with strategy development. All their issues and concerns are related to how they feel on a daily basis, and the hassles of dealing with other people, either employees, customers or vendors.

Thus they gravitate to mentors and consultants that have little advice for their businesses but make them feel better. Any strategic advice they receive is filed away never to be used.

I’m telling you, the leaders of our business sector are soft, cuddly and sensitive teddy bears. They are going to wiped out in a flash if our hidden barriers to incoming trade get properly eroded.

*****************************

“Albeit that I am a relatively new Chair and we have not be able to spend a great deal of time in each others company, I would like to thank you for over 16 years of service to the CEOI. As both a member and now a Chair, I am well aware of what is involved in successfully leading a Syndicate. I wish you well as you move ahead”

“Thank you for this update, and I agree with all your wonderful comments on Susan’s longstanding contribution to The CEO Syndicate. In particular, I would like to add my personal thanks to Susan for her mentorship when I first became a Chairman, and her ongoing support and advice whenever called upon. It has always been invaluable and much appreciated. Susan – I will miss you as part of our Chairman group, however I know we will always remain connected!”

“Susan – I think I first presented to your group some 6 or so years ago and was impressed by your professionalism.  Congrats on a stellar CEO Institute career and all the best”

“My thanks to Susan for trusting me with taking on the Chair of her group.   A group of members it is so very clear she is very passionate about, determined for each of their individual successes and a real belief in the power of what her Syndicate could bring to all the opportunities and challenges they have had.  Susan as others have expressed I will miss you on many levels including your  sense of fun and your  wonderful witty humour.”

“Oh no! Susan, how I will miss your amazing kindness, intellect and warmth. You have inspired me as Chairman on so many levels.”

“Thank you for your friendship and kindness over the years with the CEO Institute. I wish you all the best in the next stage of your life’s journey.”

“We will all miss Susan enormously and I am sure wish her well in the future.  Well done Louise for taking this role.”