Leighton AGAIN talks you know what!

[NEWS]

It's been useful to reflect how different leaders have approached different situations over the last weekend. At Royal Mail the leadership of myself and Adam Crozier, my chief executive, will come under scrutiny as we face possibly the first national postal strike in 10 years. This debate is over change, not pay.

Don't forget that as well as the "do the right thing" test, the ultimate test for all leaders or companies is "change or die". When you have been a state-owned monopoly for 200 years it's hard to adjust to commercial reality. This is a reality where your market share can only go one way - down - and where there is pro-active regulation to give that share away. Ours is also a reality where your competition pays its workers 25pc less, but is 4pc more efficient. It's pretty hard stuff and the change required is painful for many of our people to adapt to. But as leadership is about doing the hard things then change - and change for the better - we must.

At Royal Mail we know that for as many of our people who are scared of the issues we face, there are just as many who are passionate about us succeeding. We are working hard together to embrace the change needed. Our brand is strong and our quality is the best in the market. A lot of leadership is about engaging with people to help them understand what is going on and their crucial role within that process of change. In other words is about talking with each other, not at each other. It's vital to continue this dialogue so people can work together to win.

The one common context in all leadership debates is that they nearly all take place in a competitive environment - it's always about winning versus the competition. So I guess the ultimate test of a good leader is the answer to the questions: "what's changed, and was it for the good in the long term?"

This is why most leaders are best measured by their legacy, not just their actions today. Time will tell what our legacy will be at Royal Mail, but I am optimistic about the future. I've said to our people that if we crack on with transforming the business I am confident we will succeed and they will reap the benefits of that success.

GETTING BORED NOW

[johno47]

He really loves himself doesnt he, me, me ,me, it sounds like one of those speeches that dictators make, telling their subordinates about the sacrifices that we all have to make, what he doesnt say is that the sacrifices dont include him and Crozier... UNITY IS STRENGTH

[L Tommo]

Dont he sound sooo compassionate!!! Such a people person. Such the "good man" in all these "hardships" ohh that we all suffer......

THIS IS HOW HE TRIES TO COME ACROSS!!!! A time for "talking with each other and not AT each other."

So with this inlight what has HE BEEN DOING FOR THE YEARS IN POWER??? SPEAKING DOWN TO US BY ANYCHANCE??? I THINK SO,

HOW ABOUT U??? DO U THINK THE SAME???? WELL IF YOU DO ??? VOTE YES FOR THIS TO STOP!! AND YES FOR THIS SO CALLED
MAN ON A DESTINY A LEGACY IN THE MAKING, BUT OFF OF OUR OWN BACKS!!! OF COURSE HE IS OPTIMISTIC OF THE FUTURE. WHEN HIS FUTURE
IS FILLED WITH MASSIVE SIGN ON FEES OR INSENTIVE BONUSES!!!! I THINK WE TO WOULD BE OPTIMISTIC IF EVERYTIME WE CHANGED JOBS WE HAD
A BIGGER PAYDAY THAN BEFORE!! THE REALITY FOR US THE WORKERS ISNT SO OPTIMISTIC WITH THESE KIND OF FATCAT MANAGERS IN PLACE.....

SO LETS VOTE YES... THE BIGGER THE MORE CHANCE BIG EARNING AL AND HIS lil mate adam CAN GO AND SPONGE OFF OF ANOTHER INDUSTRY BUT HOPEFULLY OUT OF A JOB FULL STOP!!!! YES FOR OUR FUTURE!!!!

OUT

DONT LET THE BASTARDS GRIND US DOWN!!!

[mdtomuk]

I SAW THAT 'WIN WIN' 'LOSE LOSE' 'B*LL*X B*LL*X' DVD FROM LEIGHTON YESTERDAY. HE REALLY GIVES ME NIGHTMARES, HE FRIGHTENS ME. I'M SORRY BUT I FELT TERROR IN WTL. WHEN I GOT UP TO GO I HAD TO EXPLAIN THAT THE WET PATCH ON MY SEAT WAS SPILLAGE FROM MY WATER BOTTLE. I'VE BEEN ON EDGE EVER SINCE, AND CAN'T KEEP MY FOOD DOWN. NOW I KNOW TRUE STRESS AND DEPRESSION, AND IT'S NOT NICE! PLEASE, PLEASE SOMEONE OUT THERE, FOR GODS SAKE HEEEEEELP ME!!!!

[POSTMAN]

Allan Leighton, who made his name at Asda, is one of the kings of the non-exec world. At one point in 2003, at the height of his attempts to "go plural", he held 10 boardroom posts, including roles as non-exec chairman at lastminute.com and a non-executive director of BSkyB. He now has just four non-exec jobs, his biggest role being chairman of Royal Mail.