Why Leadership Makes A Difference

There are many profiles of leaders in our world. Leadership is oftentimes measured by one's capacity to influence and instill values in a diverse group of people. For me, leadership is about being enlightened in one's thinking and approach to such vital elements in business as competitiveness, public perceptions, and internal momentum gained from providing inspiration to colleagues.

Enlightened leaders know that human capital is the difference between:

	Winning and Losing
	Imagination and Stagnation
	Solutions and Problems

As industries and companies move forward in the attempt to determine how to rescue themselves from the perils of our current recession, management teams around the world should consider the human capital dynamic beyond the simplistic notion of "hiring the right talent." We should examine concepts beyond the obvious of yesteryear and engage our thoughts in the realm of the following:

	Redefining our talent model differently;
	Deploying talent such that our employment structure remains solid and consistent throughout nearly any financial market, up and down; and,
	Securing the loyalty and faith we have lost in the very professionals who define and fuel corporations' competitiveness, and therefore, success.

If we consider the facts of leadership and the potential that leadership has to reshape any element of business, then we should look to the future to bring together management and employees such that there is a common bond...a return to the intimate faith and trust between employer and employee.

I encourage our clients and the professionals with whom we interact to use 2002 as a springboard to not just hire the right talent, but to lure the right type of leadership for every function as a means of revitalizing the corporate values that allow organizations to flourish. Attracting and retaining talent is the hallmark of tomorrow's leaders, and it is also the premise that will fuel corporations' ability to compete and ultimately return to the healthy operating environments of not so long ago.

Sincerely,

Smooch Repovich Reynolds
CEO