Burning Building of Leadership

This week Nokia’s CEO Stephen Elop sent a sobering email to his employees about the state of Nokia’s business. The memo (http://blogs.wsj.com/tech-europe/2011/02/09/full-text-nokia-ceo-stephen-elops-burning-platform-memo/) has been widely published and quoted and is now renowned as the “Burning Platform” memo. In his opening, he shares the story of a man working on an oil platform in the North Sea who woke up to find his platform on fire. With seconds to react to save himself, he jumped 30 meters into freezing waters. Although in ordinary times no one would do such a crazy thing as jump into icy waters, however he was living in an inordinate time where his platform was on fire. Elop stated, “We too are standing on a ‘burning platform’, and must decide how we are going to change our behaviour.”

In reviewing the memo, yes it is a wake up call. Most employees don’t get in their inbox a big ol bell ringing loudly that says “we are on a burning platform, jump or die!” I’m all for honesty to employees. In fact we are in sore need of more of it. Honest dialogue would in itself be a wake up call. However positioning is key. You can say anything to anyone as long as you say it in a way people can hear it. At a time when the ship is sinking, people want reality, however they also want a dose of inspiration – not hype, inspiration. They want vision and leadership – someone who can show them that although we may be down, it’s going to take a lot to turn us around and I am asking for your support to do so.

Only the last few sentences of the memo asks employees to help change the sad state of affairs of Nokia. “The burning platform, upon which the man found himself, caused the man to shift his behaviour, and take a bold and brave step into an uncertain future. He was able to tell his story. Now, we have a great opportunity to do the same.”

Elop is on the right track – honesty is wonderful and enlightening, however if you are going to pour cold water on the troops, it’s great if you also give them a towel to dry off and inspire them to what’s next. Leadership skills include the frank words you say, and even more importantly, also includes building people’s confidence to provide a motivational environment so they seize hold of the opportunity in front of them and fly.