2013 NCPMI Annual Conference
Lee Congdon
Leading the Red Hat Way
Chief Information Officer
@lcongdon
2013 NCPMI Annual Conference Twitter: @lcongdon
Every Leadership Situation is Different
• You must analyze your situation• There are no guaranteed formulas• Situations are not static• Challenge creates opportunity
2013 NCPMI Annual Conference Twitter: @lcongdon
Everything Everywhere is Changing
• Moving from industrial to information society• Old tools are becoming less relevant• Consumer solutions are driving technology• Always connected is the norm• Social tools are dominating
2013 NCPMI Annual Conference Twitter: @lcongdon
There are No Guaranteed Formulas
• Collaboration and contention• Appetite for and acceptance of change• Pace of change in external climate• Resource constraints• Tactical versus strategic
2013 NCPMI Annual Conference Twitter: @lcongdon
Culture Comes First
• The Open Source Way is our leadership style at Red Hat
• If you have the culture you need, cherish and nurture it
• If you don’t have it, you and your organization must build it
2013 NCPMI Annual Conference Twitter: @lcongdon
Your Team is Important
• Right people• Solid leadership• Relevant objectives• Right motivation• Growth opportunities
2013 NCPMI Annual Conference Twitter: @lcongdon
You Must Execute
• Project and program management enables strong leadership
• Without basic capability, leading change becomes even more difficult
• Industry best practices can help
2013 NCPMI Annual Conference Twitter: @lcongdon
Adopt and Adapt Best Practices
• Great starting point for what you need• Obviously, must be tailored• Help and documentation available• Not the ultimate goal
2013 NCPMI Annual Conference Twitter: @lcongdon
Experiment!
• Just because it works today…• Sometimes it takes multiple approaches• Fail fast is worth considering• Foster an expectation of innovation
2013 NCPMI Annual Conference Twitter: @lcongdon
The Future is Coming
• Even more mobile• Even more social• Ubiquitous, utility computing (= “cloud”)• Global audience
2013 NCPMI Annual Conference Twitter: @lcongdon
Communicate, Communicate, Communicate
• Traditional means will continue• Business social is the new frontier• Internal and external communications are
both essential• Personal and work personas are becoming
less independent
2013 NCPMI Annual Conference Twitter: @lcongdon
Reflection
• Passion for the mission• Global is the new normal• Rapid growth is a great problem to have• Resources play a vital role• People remain the essential ingredient
2013 NCPMI Annual Conference Twitter: @lcongdon
Connection
People thrive when they are part of a community connected by
their ideas and passions
2013 NCPMI Annual Conference Twitter: @lcongdon
Transparency
People grow and learn by sharing, not withholding
information
2013 NCPMI Annual Conference Twitter: @lcongdon
Meritocracy
The best ideas win
Respect is earned by making visible contributions, rather than
just by title or rank
2013 NCPMI Annual Conference Twitter: @lcongdon
Collaboration
People are given the opportunity to offer ideas and feedback to
both peers and leaders
2013 NCPMI Annual Conference Twitter: @lcongdon
Trust
These traits lay the foundation for leading the Red Hat way, but
people must also trust that a leader has their best interests at heart
2013 NCPMI Annual Conference Twitter: @lcongdon
1. Vision
• Put a vision in place early• Repeat it and communicate it• Change it carefully
2013 NCPMI Annual Conference Twitter: @lcongdon
2. Fortitude
• You won’t be appreciated• Adapt and prioritize• Generate value• You won’t be (fully) appreciated
2013 NCPMI Annual Conference Twitter: @lcongdon
3. Flexibility
• Have a plan, but don’t be locked in• Since things change, you must change• Listen to your people and your customers• Listen to your boss, your CEO, your Board• Monitor the environment
2013 NCPMI Annual Conference Twitter: @lcongdon
4. Alliances
• Friends and frenemies• Know the sources of power in your
enterprise• Long term collaboration• Tactical collaboration
2013 NCPMI Annual Conference Twitter: @lcongdon
Management and Leadership
Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things
Peter F. Drucker
2013 NCPMI Annual Conference
Lee Congdon
Leading the Red Hat Way
Chief Information Officer
@lcongdon