Ep 149: Adam Bryant of Merryck - "The Listener"

Adam Bryant is the Managing Director of the Americas at Merryck - a leadership advisory group. Adam is also a noted author, and before joining Merryck, was a writer and journalist for the New York Times. He is perhaps best known for his column, the Corner Office, in which he interviewed over 500 CEOs. He is an extraordinarily astute observer of leadership.

The last year has, in many ways, brought us to the future faster. We have seen and solved problems that 12 months ago we could barely imagine. We have reacted and responded and adapted, perhaps further and faster than at any time in the history of humankind.

And as we begin to emerge, blinking, back into the light, those attributes will be necessary for some time to come.

But sitting above is something else. An ability that all leaders need and which too few demonstrate.

The ability to define where we are going and how we will know when we get there.

On May 25, 1961, John F. Kennedy said this.

“I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth.”

Vision. Mission, KPIs In 31 words.

JFK had been dead for 6 years when success was achieved.

Where are you taking your business? How will you know when you get there? And are those answers so meaningful that people will pursue them long after you have left the building?