609: How Proactive Leadership Can Navigate Inflation, with Ram Charan
Coaching for Leaders
Enhancing Financial Literacy and Leadership in Challenging Times
This chapter provides valuable recommendations for enhancing financial literacy and leadership skills, particularly during tough economic times. It features highlighted podcast episodes and concludes with an invitation to a free membership for continued leadership development resources.
00:00
Transcript
Play full episode
Transcript
Episode notes
Speaker 3
Lizzie, I was going to look for you. Come into my room.
Speaker 1
She followed him thither and her curiosity to know what he had come to tell her was heightened by the supposition of its being in some manner connected with the letter he held. It suddenly struck her that it might be from Lady Catherine, and she anticipated with dismay all the consequent explanations. She followed her father to the fireplace, and they both sat down. He then said, I
Speaker 3
have received a letter this morning that has astonished me exceedingly. As it principally concerns yourself, you ought to know its contents. I did not know before that I had two daughters on the brink of matrimony. Let me congratulate you on a very important conquest.
Speaker 1
from the nephew instead of the aunt, and she was undetermined whether most to be pleased that he explained himself at all, or offended that his letter was not rather addressed to herself
Speaker 3
when her father continued. You look conscious. Young ladies have a great penetration in such matters as these, but I think I may defy even your sagacity to discover the name of your admirer. letter is from Mr Collins. From
Speaker 1
Mr Collins? And what can he have to
Speaker 3
say? Something very much to the purpose, of course. He begins with congratulations on the approaching nuptials of my oldest daughter, of which it seems he has been told by some of the good -natured gossiping Lucases, shall not sport with your impatience by reading what he says on that point. What relates to yourself is as follows. Having
Speaker 4
thus offered you the sincerest congratulations of Mrs Collins and myself on this happy event, let me now add a short hint on the subject of another, of which we have been advertised by the same authority. Your daughter Elizabeth, it is presumed, will not long bear the name of Bennett after her elder sister has resigned it, and the chosen partner of her fate may be reasonably looked up to as one of the most illustrious personages in this land. Hmm.
Speaker 3
Can you possibly guess, Lissie, who is meant by this?
Speaker 4
This young gentleman is blessed in a peculiar way, with everything the heart of mortal can most desire. A splendid property, noble and extensive patronage Yet in spite of all these temptations Let me warn my cousin Elizabeth and yourself of what evils you may incur by a precipitate Closier with this gentleman's proposals which of course you will be inclined to take immediate advantage of
Speaker 3
Hmm.
Ram Charan: Leading Through Inflation
Ram Charan is a bestselling author, teacher, and world-renowned advisor to CEOs and other business leaders of some of the world’s best-known companies. His work is often behind the scenes and focused on highly sensitive and fate-making issues. Fortune magazine published a profile of Ram in which it called him “the most influential consultant alive.” His book Execution, lauded for its practicality, spent more than 150 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list.
Ram’s energetic, interactive teaching style has won him several awards, including from GE’s famous Crotonville Institute and Northwestern. Ram was elected a Distinguished Fellow of the National Academy of Human Resources and was named one of the most influential people in corporate governance and the board room by Directorship magazine. He has served on the Blue Ribbon Commission on Corporate Governance and serves or has served on a dozen boards in the U.S., Brazil, China, India, Canada, and Dubai. He is the author with Geri Willigan of Leading Through Inflation: And Recession And Stagflation.
In this conversation, Ram and I explore the changing macroeconomic environment and what leaders can do to address it. We discuss the importance of managing cash well and how pricing decisions can be made effectively. Plus, we discuss the critical nature of partnerships throughout the supply chain — and where the opportunities may be in the midst of challenge.
Key Points
Inflation consumes cash. Cash management is the number one risk to an organization during this time.
The way to get ahead of the curve is to be predictive vs. reactive. This may be a time the existing business model needs to change.
Inflation creates an illusion of growth. It’s important to adjust for this in all reporting and planning.
Work with all sides of the value chain. Help customers deal with rising costs while also working closely with suppliers. Regular communication is essential.
Smaller, regular price adjustments are better than less frequent, larger increases. Resist the temptation to offer less for the same price.
Resources Mentioned
Leading Through Inflation: And Recession And Stagflation* by Ram Charan and Geri Willigan.
Interview Notes
Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required).
Related Episodes
Improve Your Financial Intelligence, with Joe Knight (episode 244)
How to Approach Corporate Budgeting, with Jody Wodrich (episode 355)
How to Multiply Your Impact, with Liz Wiseman (episode 554)
Discover More
Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
