Being a superstar salesperson doesn’t automatically make you a good manager.
I was never retained, considered nor ever acted as CEO of Hewlett-Packard (HP). But, neither was I fired or, ummm.. “asked to leave”.
Successful management is a skill. It encompasses a great deal of expertise, intuition and savvy regardless of the industry. Success or failure can often be attributed to the adherence and respect given to basic principles. Because let’s face it, if you don’t know the basics you’re going to lose.
Sometimes a single action, isolated in your consciousness, can be more telling than a mountain of press releases, reports or relentless spin.
When I read that struggling HP CEO Carly Fiorina, towards the ineloquent end of her embattled albeit short tenure, had fired three executives at 5 AM over the phone, I knew.
What do you call that kind of move other than cowardice?
Her reign as a media darling, which became pivotal points in her career, were sociologically well timed but what bearing did that have on her actual job performance? Because quite frankly, she sucked at managing. At a time when tech was blowing sky high, leading one of the most successful, well-funded, long-term companies in tech history, she managed to keep earnings and stock shares flat.
U.S. Senate? Really?
So now she wants a hand in running California, whoopee!! My assessment of her is based on a single action, which is legitimate, because it’s something I never did in my 30 years managing, and would’ve never considered. But don’t listen to me, read the comments of HP employees on their former boss:
http://www.carly-fiorina.com/hp-employees-on-carly-fiorina/gbook.php
And if that’s not enough, look at some of the media drivel she puts her name on. Seriously, the first time I viewed this clip, I thought surely it was a Monty Python skit.
What is it with these millionaires that think, all of a sudden, they know what’s best?…oh wait….I know…