#139: The vice in Vice-President
What does the word ‘vice’ in Vice-President mean to you?
The common meaning is ‘person acting or qualified to act in place of’ the CEO. But it has another meaning, one that I have come to appreciate as a nonsense consultant, because it highlights how many senior executives actually spend their time and energy.
The word ‘vice’ also means ‘instrument with two jaws between which thing may be gripped’.
In many organizations there is a divide between the CEO and the employees. In other words, between vision and execution. You need both to be successful. If you have only one, you are like a vice with only one jaw. You just cannot get to grips with the thing to be done.
And that’s what an effective vice-president does. She is the instrument that brings the CEO and the workers together so that they can get a grip on reality.
I’m james@nonsenseatwork.com
Copyright: 2007 James Henry McIntosh
James can be heard on Public Radio, 88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA.
Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am
The common meaning is ‘person acting or qualified to act in place of’ the CEO. But it has another meaning, one that I have come to appreciate as a nonsense consultant, because it highlights how many senior executives actually spend their time and energy.
The word ‘vice’ also means ‘instrument with two jaws between which thing may be gripped’.
In many organizations there is a divide between the CEO and the employees. In other words, between vision and execution. You need both to be successful. If you have only one, you are like a vice with only one jaw. You just cannot get to grips with the thing to be done.
And that’s what an effective vice-president does. She is the instrument that brings the CEO and the workers together so that they can get a grip on reality.
I’m james@nonsenseatwork.com
Copyright: 2007 James Henry McIntosh
James can be heard on Public Radio, 88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA.
Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am
posted by James Henry McIntosh at
7:19 AM
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