Biography
James Ware, CFA, is the founder of Focus Consulting Group, a firm dedicated to helping investment leaders leverage their talent. Ware is the author of “Investment Leadership: Building a Winning Culture for Long-Term Success,” and "High Performing Investment Teams," both of which discuss those elements of leadership and teamwork that lead to sustainable success for investment firms. Ware has 20 years’ experience as a research analyst, portfolio manager, and director of buy-side investment operations. He has been a guest lecturer on the topic of investment firm management at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University. Ware has a Masters in Business from the University of Chicago and a degree in philosophy from Williams College, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa.
Building and maintaining a healthy culture over the long term isn't easy, but one firm's success story offers some valuable lessons.
Firms with strong and healthy cultures share certain essential factors.
These factors drive motivation: Mastery or Excellence/Continuous Improvement, Autonomy, and Purpose.
How firm culture is built and sustained must evolve in the COVID-19 era.
What is creativity and how can investment teams cultivate it?
What sorts of mindsets correlate with investment success and better decisions?
What do top investment teams have in common? What makes some succeed while others fall short?
Appreciation is a greatly under-utilized tool in the leader’s toolkit, says Jim Ware, CFA.
The topic of emotional intelligence (EQ) usually evokes predictable responses: eye-rolling, finger tapping, cavernous yawning, and wristwatch glancing. While expected, this response is counterproductive. The research is clear: Intelligence (IQ) gets you in the door, but EQ lands you in the winner’s circle.
Tension, friction, and conflict are common in the workplace, especially when pressure is high. One habit, or nonhabit, in particular, helps to reduce conflict and build trust. It may sound simple, but it's difficult to achieve. The practice is this: Don’t attack people.