Lincoln, Gorbachev, and Change Leadership
11-19-2009

The final Power Breakfast-In-The-Park for 2009 featured Russ Cobb, Vice-President of the Alliances and Marketing divisions at The SAS Institute and the largest crowd of the year, topping 140 early rising networkers. The presentation was well focused upon the concept of change leadership, presenting three analysis cornerstones: competence, flexibility, and team orientation.

Interestingly, "competence" was described as a process and not a steady state. While many of us, based upon credentials or status mistakenly assume that we are of high competence, it was argued by Russ, that without constant learning all of us eventually revert to the mean or the middle of the bell curve. The call for continuing education, formal or informal, could not have been more clear or compelling.

While knowing where you are going, and being flexible to adjust are commonly cited themes, his take on team orientation, rather than teamwork, was particularly revealing. Russ contended that this concept was a stealth destroyer of leadership, and potentially the largest obstacle for many to see, or overcome. The characteristics that make someone particularly suited to some functional disciplines, like accounting or writing code, may inhibit team orientation and ultimate leadership potential.

Accentuate Staffing looks forward to sponsoring an exciting line up of 2010 speakers, presenting a forum for leadership, learning, and networking. We hope you enjoy the holiday season and we'll see you early next year. And in closing, if you don't get the reference to Lincoln and Gorbachev, well, you should have been there.

About Power Breakfast-In-The-Park
In conjunction with Business Leader Media, and the Council for Entrepreneurial Development (CED), Accentuate Staffing hosts a monthly breakfast meeting at the Brier Creek Country Club, to present influential community and thought leaders, as well as offering an opportunity to network. In the spirit of lifelong learning, it is our goal for each attendee to put into practice, at least one compelling concept, idea, or action, within the immediate 24 hours, to help differentiate their company and / or their career.

About Accentuate Staffing
Since 1996, Accentuate Staffing has delivered "The Power of Positive" to you. As one of the Triangle's largest woman owned companies, we source candidates in the career specialties of accounting, information technology, clinical / scientific research, human resources, customer care, and light industrial / distribution services. Our current roster of 160 corporate clients is diverse, highly regarded, and often exclusive. We cherish our position as a leader in the community, offering support to charitable institutions including the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Children's Flight of Hope, and the MS Society, amongst many others. For detailed information on how "The Power of Positive" can impact your company or your career, please visit us at www.accentuatestaffing.com.