What really counts in management - with Hermann Simon

Hermann Simon on strategy, leadership and the essence of 50 years of management

Few names are as closely associated with the topic of strategy as Hermann Simon. The inventor of the term "hidden champions", co-founder of Simon-Kucher & Partners and one of the most influential management thinkers of our time, has published a new book: "Simon says what really counts in management".

It immediately entered the SPIEGEL bestseller list at number 15.

In our podcast "Hope is not a strategy", he talks about the essence of 50 years of experience - and explains what leadership, time and courage mean for strategy work today.

Leadership needs more than specialist knowledge

For Simon, modern leadership consists of two dimensions:

• Professional competence - managers must understand their business.
• Motivation and enthusiasm - employees should achieve more than they could without management.

Many CEOs fulfill the first dimension, but fail in the second. "Does your boss inspire you?" - Simon often only receives cautious answers to this question. Good leadership must be able to do both.

The entrepreneurial gap in Germany

Simon sees a central problem in the "entrepreneur gap":

Many managers are good administrators, but not entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs dare to swim against the tide and make decisions that are not geared towards applause. "Personality means independence from the applause of the masses," says Simon - a skill that Germany urgently needs.

Time as the scarcest resource

Another key point of his book: time.

"Time is our scarcest resource today," says Simon. Those who act faster gain lasting advantages. He illustrates this with examples from AI development - and points to China, which is rapidly transforming scientific findings into marketable products.

Strategy in volatile times

When asked whether we need to rethink strategy, Simon's answer is clear: "The basic task of strategy remains the same - to build a strong market and competitive position. What has changed is the ability to plan. Uncertainty caused by wars, tariffs or technological leaps requires more flexibility, experimentation and a willingness to keep scenarios open.

Humor as a strategic tool

A surprising perspective: Simon also sees humor as a strategic tool. Changes encounter resistance - humor can help to mitigate this and create acceptance. Strategy must not only be rationally convincing, it must also be emotionally appealing.

Conclusion: What really counts in management

The interview with Hermann Simon shows that strategy is not a simulation game. It requires leadership, courage, time and personality - and sometimes a sense of humor.

His new book is more than just a collection of anecdotes. It is the condensed knowledge balance of five decades of strategic work.

If you want to understand what makes for successful leadership and strategy in uncertain times, you shouldn't miss this podcast episode - and take a look at the book.

SHOWNOTES

Christian Underwood https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianunderwood/

Hermann Simon https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonhermann

Link to the book https://www.murmann-verlag.de/products/hermann-simon-simon-sagt-was-im-management-wirklich-zahlt

All links https://linktr.ee/strategyframe

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