Blue Balance In A Black And White World!
Monday was Labor Day and to celebrate my life partner Dan and I went to see Avatar. We are probably the only two in the city who hadn’t seen it the first go around. We treated ourselves and went to see the extended version in IMAX 3D. What an experience. It was as if we were in the film ourselves. To anyone who can see it this way I/we highly recommend you treat yourself to the opportunity. The rollercoaster my emotions experienced had me intensely angry one moment and experiencing nirvana the next. I wondered if I’d have violent dreams that night but fortunately the love and “oneness of all life” messages overcame any negative images that might have lingered in my psyche. So what has Avatar to do with Engaged Organizations? James Cameron had the vision of this movie for more than 20 years. He had to wait for technology to catch up to what his brain created-could see, feel, hear and taste. He held fast to his vision and maintained his commitment to this endeavor. He kept those around him engaged in this vision to varying degrees. I’m sure the making of Avatar programs go into this but I can only imagine the excitement and creativity that went into creating the Avatars and the creatures on Pandora, the music, cinematography.
In my July newsletter I shared my excitement about the new RO Platform, software that enables RO advisors and managers to expeditiously demonstrate the impact timespan measurement of roles has on organization design. Elliott Jaques died knowing the benefit and impact of his research on the lives of workers around the world, but before software technology advanced to make clear-cut illustrations of outcomes available to clients. Without technology it was harder to demonstrate the impact RO has on an organization’s effectiveness. Elliott’s vision of the potential vibrant work systems can have by adding value and wealth to society and providing opportunities for workers at all levels to contribute their best, remains as strong as ever. Blessedly we are here to carry forth this important work, which takes me back to Avatar.
I didn’t read reviews and was turned off by all the hype. Consequently I did not expect the violence and oppression. I recall people saying to me “you must see the film”, “it’s wonderful”, its message is great”. Even one of the priests I know mentioned he went to see it four times. Perplexed, I choose to imagine that most people resonated with the Avatars’ strong sense of oneness --of us being united with all living things. Is there a more clear-cut illustration of engagement?
A colleague and friend died this week after suffering multiple strokes. We created a sistercare prayer and holding group for her. Literally there was always someone at her bedside for the two and a half months she was ill. Others sent energy and prayers from afar. I took great comfort in the Avatars chanting around their sacred tree. Who were more evolved? Perhaps we need to learn more about organization engagement from Avatar!
Eid Mubarak to those friends who are ending Ramadan and Happy New Year those celebrating a new beginning.
The More Things Change The More They Remain The Same
The adventure of a new school year, new classes, teachers and friends, is imprinted on many of our psyches as a time of new beginnings. It’s the perfect time to reflect on the past, understanding why some initiatives worked, and other’s didn’t and to look to the future with the excitement and enthusiasm we had as children starting a new school year. While digitizing older files from our records, we found a letter written to clients and friends in 1996. Bova Associates the precursor to BEI had a policy of writing an annual New Year’s letter to clients, colleagues and friends at the beginning of each year. What amazed us here at BEI today is the consistency and determination of Rosemary’s vision and interests.
BEI actually has all the data from that time and is considering doing a longitudinal study. Appreciate your comments.
How Can You Transform Doom and Gloom Into Opportunity?
In our newsletter last week I spoke about Mercury Retrogrades. Well folks, on Monday NYC experienced a system-wide shut down of the Long island Railroad (LIRR) when a small fire occurred in a main switching station. Reports were quick to say that the fire was caused by the weather. However the most mind-boggling tidbit was that this switching station depended on equipment from 1913 and there was no back up for it. Can you imagine a system that carries 245,000 riders daily into NYC, in 2010 using equipment just under 100 years old and not having a back up in place? It’s a clear-cut demonstration of a short-term mindset on the part of LIRR management. There is no strategic thinking here, no preventative equipment upgrading. These are not the actions of an engaged organization. I’m not a gambling woman but I would bet money a survey of workers who were assigned to this switching station in the last 50 years would show they repeatedly advised management the equipment needed to be upgraded. It is situations like this one that erode the trust of the workforce. It creates malaise, which is hard to undo. Those of us on the east coast have been experiencing our fourth straight day of rain. Although it affects many of us, most of whom would prefer to be on a sofa reading an interesting book, its also a great time to get to some of those items on your to do list that never seem to get done.
Sometimes we just don’t feel like working. Our energy dips and it’s hard to rally and get energized to complete the tasks before us. Here are a few tips I’ve used to cope when feeling this way:
- Acknowledge what you are feeling and take a break. Just saying I don’t want to be here can create a shift in energy. The more you resist a feeling or emotion the more it persists. If possible take the day off, or a more modest solution do something you really like to do sometime during the day-it could be as simple as calling a friend.
- Shift your physiology. If you can take a walk or exercise break that helps. If time is extremely limited stand with knees bent, feet shoulder-width apart and shake for 60 seconds. It helps your blood flow and gives each cell in your body a massage.
- Sometimes we don’t act like the responsible adults we are. Ask yourself if what you are doing must be done today. Can it be done tomorrow, or in a few hours? I have learned when I force myself to work on something when my heart and energy are not in it, the task takes two to three times longer to complete and the end product usually leaves something to be desired. Actually this is more costly for the company. So be a courageous adult and tell your boss you need to take a few hours, or you are going to go home early. You are likely to be pleasantly surprised. Many managers are okay with such requests when used sparingly.
Let us know any tips you may have that work for you.
We are coming up on the last week of August. Outside of NYC most kids are back in school, here they’ll begin on September 8th . I don’t know about you but my time clock has September be the start of the year. I’m using this late August down time to plant the seeds of opportunity I know are forthcoming in “the new year”. Have a great week.
Watch and Listen Before You Leap!
So what have you learned? The question is one I’ve been asked millions of times. I am one of those individuals who see myself as a life long learner. In fact I’ve had colleagues ask me “Rosemary why are you interested in so many areas of study? Why am I interested in continuously discovering new things about myself? The second question is much easier to answer. As a consultant and Requisite Organization advisor I am the instrument of learning and change with which my clients interact. Role modeling when building engaged organizations is essential. I cannot ask workers to do anything I have not done myself. People take stock more in a person’s behavior than in what they say. If the two are incongruous a red flag is likely to go up. Often an unexplained sense of caution prevails.
So lets get back to the question at hand. What have you learned? If you have been reading the previous two blogs you may have learned that as astute as you think you are in skilled observation you were befuddled by the marbles and did not see the changes taking place before your very eyes in the ball playing video. You are not alone. Unfortunately, I do not have the statistics but can only imagine most of us don’t see what is before our very eyes.
It’s important to keep an open mind. Even when you think you know what a person means when they make a statement it’s prudent to paraphrase to be sure your assumption is correct. I’ve been teaching this basic of all communication skills for more than 25 years and am fascinated how infrequently it is used. Focus is important, but too strong a focus can be detrimental. Focusing on one area or problem can result in not seeing the bigger picture or more important situation. There is always “more than meets the eye.”
During these dog days of August I ask you to pay attention. Rethink immediate reactions to other people’s ideas and thoughts. Challenge yourself to use the skill of paraphrasing what another says to insure you understand the intent of their communication. I guaranty this simple skill will improve your communication with others at work, as well as at home. You will be more engaged in the interaction and subsequently in your own unique fashion helping to build more engaged organizations.
Did You See The Kangaroo Run Across The Set?
I happened to be watching the Today Show last week when a kangaroo ran across the set to the surprise of the four morning hosts who were visibly startled. I wonder how many people saw that kangaroo? I’ve got to assume the clip is on Youtube by now.
We are living in challenging times. Armed conflicts throughout the world, and in the US we can’t have meaningful conversation about our differing points of view. We focus on the negative and do not provide space for positive occurrences to be recognized. We see what we want or expect to see and lose sight of what is really going on. The same is true of listening, which I’ll talk about in a future post. Please click on this link and see what you see. Let me know what you learn about yourself.
How Do You Demonstrate Your Brilliance?
I believe each of us has a unique gift we bring into the world. Some might refer to that gift as our uniqueness I prefer to refer to that gift as our brilliance. I’m using brilliance in a slightly different fashion referring to brightness. Brilliancy is captured in degrees and I like to think that we all shine. As human beings our brilliancy differs. Some of us make scientific discoveries that change how all of us live our lives. Some invent computer chips while others invent ponytail clips. Sometimes the one who invents the computer chip makes less than the one who invented the ponytail clip. Others might have a beautiful smile. When they smile their face lights up and their smile is contagious. A hello from a homeless person on the street on the other hand can change the attitude of a successful person having a down day.
Perhaps we might say brilliance is in the eye of the beholder. Engaged organizations create opportunities for individual’s brilliance to shine and grow in intensity. They celebrate the unique contributions and characteristics of the workforce. Half of the time we don’t see what is in front of us, which in part is today’s theme and will be taken to a different level next week.
For your viewing pleasure please watch the linked video. Take note of this individual’s brilliance and enjoy the message as well.
Moving forward In This Challenging Economy
The recession and slow recovery has caused fear and frustration in the minds and hearts of workers throughout the country and world. Many US based businesses have been frustrated by their lack of success in creating sustainable improvements in their companies, while having spent millions if not billions of dollars on technology and consulting. The spirit of the American worker is strong even though s/he may have been beaten down. Robert Kiyosaki in his new book, The Business of the 21st Century presents network marketing as a solution. Network marketing is a vehicle by which individuals can become self- employed, with a modest initial investment and usually manageable monthly expenditures. Many of you know that Rosemary Bova has recently joined the Trump Network (www.trumpnetwork.com/rosemarybova) as an independent marketer. Her interest is twofold, firstly to learn more about this model of product distribution and secondly to use it as a vehicle to create long-term residual income.
It’s been an interesting journey. The bottom line is: self-employment is not the answer for everyone. Most people I meet are intimidated by and fearful of having to rely on themselves for an income. Having been self-employed for more than twenty years I find that hard to understand. It takes courage to be self-employed.
Most people want to be employed in a work system that values their contribution, treats them right and pays them fairly for their efforts. That is why it is so important to build strong vibrant work systems, which is the mission of BEI. We help build engaged organizations, and will soon be using the newly launched tool the RO Platform (www.RequisiteSystem.com) to help managers get a handle on the hidden fractures in their infrastructures.
Bova Enterprises, Inc. www.bovaenterprises.com looks forward to introducing clients and colleagues to the RO Platform software. Call us at 212 685 0870 for a demonstration.
How Can You Prevent Vision Vampires From Draining Your Energy?
I just got off the telephone with a colleague who was asking me what was going on in my life. I decided to tell her about the new business venture I’ve embarked on called the Trump Network. I was totally engaged in telling her and could tell from her responses she wasn’t really interested in knowing about the business or the product line. Suddenly I could feel a tightening in my heart and my enthusiasm start to dissipate. My colleague was what some in the network call a dream snatcher and I’ve renamed “vision vampire”. Her lack of interest and disparaging comment about the namesake of the business bummed me out. I could feel my energy shift. I found myself on the defensive. “You know about residual income,” I said. I want to create residual income for my retirement. Though I knew she wanted to get off the phone, I still wanted her at least to know that even if she wasn’t interested in the products, (I’d already come to the realization she wouldn’t be interested in the business opportunity), perhaps she might think about referrals for me. I know better than this. There is nothing worse than getting into a control duel. The call ended and I felt awful. I suspect she felt relieved. Vision Vampires are people who knowingly or unwittingly drain your energy. Sometimes they suck it out literally with their negative views like “that won’t work”, “are you crazy”? This even though you were not asking their opinion or permission. Other times, like this one, it’s subtle. It was more about the tone and innuendo I picked up from her responses that triggered my reaction. It wasn’t so much her, as the fact that I turned over my power to her. I did not stand grounded in my own energy.
Sharing your dream or your excitement about something needs to be done when you are in a fully aware state. There are many people in the world who don’t want to see or experience your excitement because they have given up their own dreams. Or, sometimes a person says they want to hear you but really doesn’t have the time or interest at the moment. Whatever the reason the result is the same. You get zapped.
Here are a few tips to protect you from the vision vampire. One thing is to be sure you are coming from a grounded place inside yourself. Obviously I wasn’t. I’d been writing all day and this unexpected call threw me off. I wasn’t prepared for it and just started talking. A better strategy would have been to say I am in the middle of something let me call you back.
When asking for referrals I could have set it up better by asking for her assistance and saying something like I know she’d want to see me be successful with this new venture. She’s asked me for referrals over the years and I’ve been generous. Professionally speaking she would have understood the dynamic of give and take.
Perhaps most importantly notice how many people have given up on dreaming about their life. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve come in contact with who have given up on their hopes and dreams. This is a very sad fact for us individually, for our family and friends and for our country. Without dreams, which then turn into goals we cannot create the kind of life we want. Please keep dreaming and beware of vision vampires who, because they have no dreams of their own, want to suck the vitality of yours out as well.
How does Independence Day Reflect Engagement?
Happy Independence Day to all! If your life is anything like mine you spent the weekend with family and friends sharing food and drink, taking a swim in a pool, pond, lake or ocean and celebrating the uniqueness of the United States of America. I am writing this to you from my home in Amagansett. Once known as the sleepy village in East Hampton-its not so sleepy anymore. We are blessed to be a part of this community for many years and have seen it develop and grow. Saturday, as tradition would have it, we watched fireworks sponsored by the Devon Yacht Club. Sunday night, like millions of Americans, we watched the celebrations on TV. Personally, I thought the number of servicemen and women dressed in full uniform honored at the celebrations was heart warming. The patriotism was evident when those in my living room burst into song when the patriotic medleys began. Sure, not all of the on-goings in this country are positive and inspiring, but I must say the feeling of being part of this great country overwhelmed me. It’s a great feeling to be a part of something larger than oneself. Last night I witnessed millions of American’s from all walks of life, political persuasions and economic classes celebrating their American heritage. This is engagement, at its best.
Last week I had a client, recently promoted to the top spot, say to me “my people are hungering for leadership”. I don’t think he is alone in this observation. Millions of American workers hunger for leadership. They hunger for the woman or man at the top to exhibit courage, honesty and integrity in the decisions they make. They want to know the reasons behind certain decisions that affect them personally.
Many years ago at a Human Resource Planning Society Annual Conference I heard an executive of the then Martin Marietta Company talk about how he managed a significant number of job eliminations by personally meeting with each individual whose role was being eliminated and letting them know he was committed to helping them find other positions. What a novel idea. I remember him saying it was not an easy task, but turned out to be a very rewarding task as those whose positions were eliminated experienced were treated with respect and dignity. No one lost their temper or used abusive language. This morning I received the Jim Rohn Newsletter. It speaks about “Maintaining Honesty and Dignity”. I link it here for your perusal, as it is just another perspective on Organization Engagement: http://www.jimrohn.com/.
Have a great week!
What's The Connection Between Peace And An Engaged Organization?
Have you ever asked yourself the question “What is peace?” Last week I attended an international peace conference held at Hope Springs Institute (www.hopespringsonstitute.org) in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in southern Ohio. People gathered from Europe, Curacao, India and across the US to discuss peace.Retired Col Ann Wright, a warrior in her own right, discussed her resignation from the military in protest to US policy in Iran, and her subsequent commitment to work for peace. Her story is compelling. The perspective of a female warrior working for peace and weaving together her experience, information and heart was exhilarating. Violence is at the root of all trauma says Gina Ross, Founder and President on the International Healing Institute (www.ginaross.com). She gave a wonderful presentation on healing trauma by understanding the Trauma Vortex and being more aligned with the Healing Vortex. The experience of trauma is retained in our bodies. It can be eliminated through SE (Somatic Experiencing). I experienced this marvelous technique first hand through her skilled guidance in healing the trauma of living through the September 11 attacks on the WTC. A most powerful experience, it took just minutes.
What the connection is between peace and an engaged organization? Peace is a state of mind. When we are authentic we generally are coming from a peaceful place, at one with ourselves even though our expression of a point of view or emotion might be intense. Engaged organizations are inhabited by people who strive to be and are authentic. These companies are places where people feel comfortable sharing their thinking, creativity and even feelings. Engaged organizations are great breeding grounds for peace. I’d love to hear some of your views on this. Please share them with me.
Summer Solstice Greetings
I’ve decided to write a day or two earlier this week so that I could honor the Summer Solstice. I am reprinting a brief message from a dear friend Diana Byrnes regarding the history of the Solstice.
Summer Solstice Greetings
As the days lengthen and the sun rises higher and higher in the sky, we enter the Summer Solstice. The word Solstice comes from the combination of sol, meaning "sun", and sistere, "to stand still".
Solstice, the day the sun appears to stand still, has been celebrated for centuries:
- The Celtics and the Slavic people celebrated the first day of summer with dancing and bonfires to help increase the sun's energy.
- The Chinese marked the day by honoring Li, the Chinese Goddess of Light. This honoring of the feminine at the beginning of Summer, the yin forces, complemented their Winter Solstice celebration, which celebrates the masculine and yang forces.
- In ancient Sweden the Solstice was about promise of the future harvest. A tree was decorated in each town and girls would bath in the local river with the intention to bring rain for crops.
- For the Hopi, Kachinas come from their cloud homes to live among the people and renew the powers of fertility and rain.
As the Solstice announces the beginning of the harvest months and the fruits that abound, we can't help but be in awe of the great power of the sun and it's blessings upon us.
Wishing everyone a wonderful summer.
Diana
I’d like to take her last paragraph, which comments on the beginning of the harvest months and wish all of you great success in harvesting that which you have been tending for the last six months or so. May you begin to reap the benefits of your efforts, and if you have been reaping benefits may they continue in abundance. I am off to an International Peace Gathering. More about this next week hopefully. You can visit Diana's site here: http://www.dianabyrnes.com/home.html
What's The History of ENGAGEDorg?
Some of you have asked about the history of the term ENGAGEDorg. In October 2009 I attended a conference called Engage Now in Calgary, Alberta Canada. The conference was really two conferences in one: a collaboration between Simplewealth, Inc., and the University of Calgary. Among the featured speakers were the Dali Lama, Edward DeKlerk, Richard Branson, Tony Hsieh of Zappos, and other successful businessmen and woman in businesses that are leveraging the new technologies. To be in the first row and hear all these extraordinary speakers was one of life’s treasured moments. At a post conference mastermind group it was clear to me that I had to revitalize my consulting business. We prided ourselves on being authentic with clients and eclectic in our approach. Weaving together science based management principles with Gestalt methodology, and being informed by Rosemary’s far-reaching interests, the consultancy created a loyal client base with little or no marketing. But alas like everyone else we have been hit by the recession. The business has changed and it’s time to do things differently.
The term Enagaged Organization emerged and I quickly purchased the domain names. Weeks later while strolling on the beach in Amagansett with my friend Suzee Foster I realized engaged organization.com is a mouthful. She, being in public relations, came up with ENGAGEDorg, which I think you all would agree is catchy and more current.
Organization Engagement will become the new buzzword of the next decade. It has many layers. There is the individual engagement that managers, employees and owners have with the company. Are they aligned with the values, mission and vision of the entity? Is the entity itself engaged with the community within which it does business? We live in a global society so that now we have people living on the Gulf Coast with the BP oil spill outraged and panicked by the lack of progress to stop the spill and save the wetlands, fish and fauna. At the same time we have millions of pensioners in Great Britain and other part of Europe and the world who because of the drastic devaluation of BP stock have seen their pensions evaporate before their very eyes. Has BP acted like an ENGAGEDorg? I don’t think so. There are many questions to be asked and the disinformation has been startling. Corporations both large and small are the vehicles that create wealth for the planet; they directly impact the communities in which they operate and serve. Rather than focusing on avoiding litigation they need to play a more proactive role in being corporate citizens. Becoming an ENGAGEDorg is an essential first step.
Since we launched ENGAGEDorg.com and started to rebrand our consulting business, our dear friends at Simplewealth have also launched a new initiative the Engaged Entrepreneur. I invite you to visit their website at www.engagedentrepreneur.com to learn more about their services for small business. Follow owner, Greg Habstritt’s blog for thoughtful and at times challenging commentary.
ENGAGEDorg seems to be satisfying a need. Our newsletter launched just yesterday had a 50% open rate. People are craving the authentic, candid communication and service we provide. As a boutique consultancy we can provide the personalized authentic services people want.
CLICK HERE for our Newsletter. And remember to subscribe!
Do YOU Have a Personal Mission Statement?
While attending an entrepreneurial conference in Calgary last week I had the good fortune to meet a lot of fascinating people. Some were young enough to be my grandchild and some old enough to be my parent. What struck me most was the enthusiasm all had about being engaged entrepreneurs and learning to live their life with greater authenticity. During a break I met a charming young man who told me he blogs regularly and recently wrote on the subject of the thoughtful leader. In less than 15 minutes Kyle McNeil from Edmonton and I covered a wide territory including grieving for a recently deceased love one and finding out that he does business from Edmonton with the daughter of a business partner of mine in NY. Just amazing! I asked him to send me his blog and after reading it decided to quote it. I am thrilled to know that our young people are thoughtful about their lives, the future of business and the planet. He blew me away when he said he had a mission statement for his life. I’ve heard Steven covey talk of this but had never written one myself. So here are excerpts from Kyle’s blog: “3 summers ago I wrote down a mission statement to: “positively & deeply impact at least one million people over the course of my life”.
“From that space, I realized to be a “thought leader” is good … what about being a thoughtful leader! That fits much better “
“With that in mind, here’s 7 KEYS to becoming a thoughtful leader.
- Have pen & paper ALWAYS available – the ideas will come fast & furious when you least expect it. Be ready to capture inspiration. Like in so many books that profess the power of writing things down – MY GOODNESS it’s true. Write it down!
- Acknowledge profound insights & powerful actions in yourself in others – celebrate this – it’s a gift. The more you honour this, the more you’ll receive. This is abundance.
- Serve YOU. Your core purpose is to love you & feed your soul. Without you – you can’t serve others. Death, sickness & unhappiness greatly reduces our impact. Set time aside for your body, mind & spirit – make it a priority.
- Explore your why – in other words, “why do you do what you do”? What’s your mission? The deeper this resides inside you, the bigger impact you’ll make & more results you’ll see. Will & determination ALWAYS wins.
- Take action – get involved – this is where your name will grow & thoughts & heart will touch others … the universe loves speed (action) and will show you the way. Expect challenge, failure & success. It’s just part of the journey. Sitting back thinking about how to change the world is important. At the same time, if this is 100% your plan … we’ve got a problem.
- Be impeccable with your word – Conscious & clean in your delivery of messages with people. Don’t spill your “crap” onto others. Your words make a long lasting impact. Also be aware, that trying to be perfect & not “hurt anyone’s feelings” will keep you in the backseat — trust me I know this intimately.
- Drop the me-me-me, ego and LISTEN! To be a thoughtful leader, you must be considerate of others, if you never stop talking … you’ll never learn what is important to them & you will lose them (especially now that we’re in the civic cycle)! Find out what moves them & what they need though; you’re GOLDEN!”
Kyle’s blog has taught me some things. I am starting to work on my own mission statement. What about you?
NO VACATION NATION ≠ AN ENGAGED ORGANIZATION
One of my and my partner Dan's favorite shows on television is the program Sunday Morning. It's a great, thoughtful and provocative TV magazine that regularly presents interesting facts and details about a wide variety of people, places and things. Two Sunday's was no exception. I’ve taken the liberty of paraphrasing some of their feature story and sharing some alarming statistics.
Of the 33 richest nations in the world we are the only one without a paid vacation policy. Denmark nationally mandates five full weeks and Germany and Switzerland four.
In the US only 10% of full-time workers get two weeks paid vacation. Of part-time workers only one third get paid vacation leave. In the US 23% of workers say they are not planning to take vacation this summer.
Many US workers “don’t want to be seen as the guy or gal who values play over work.” Consider the recession we are in and the pervasive fears workers are living with and you can imagine how much more intense this belief might be.
What does the impact of an all work no play mindset have on our creativity and ingenuity? Perhaps it’s prudent to reflect upon the philosophical implications of a position that sees paid vacation time as a perk as compared with the position it is an essential right of every member of society so that they can recharge themselves by doing something relaxing and non work related for an extended period of time.
As we start the summer season I wonder just how many people will be texting, calling or tweeting while supposedly spending the afternoon on the beach with family and friends. This mindset of constantly working, the never-ending job is at the other end of the spectrum of an engagedorg. As a self-employed person, I need to address this issue. Can I really take two weeks at the beach this summer without bringing work along? It’s an epidemic. What do you think? It would be great to hear your comments.
You Have to First Move Slow Before You Can Move Fast
I am a real fan of Fast Company magazine and their daily online newsletter. This morning while managing my inbox, I saw Fast Company’s slide show of the 10 Most Creative Women In Business. I also happened on a feature they have been running for quite some time: The 30 Second MBA program. This week’s focus is “What Have You Learned About Collaborating From Separate Locations?” Each day a different expert gives a reply. I chuckled this AM as the reply was the importance of communication, face to face whenever possible, using technology, etc. perhaps the real message was how to say a lot in a short amount of time. Certainly the speaker used language efficiently. Conflicting ideas…a 30 second MBA and the importance of communication and knowing to whom we are communicating. I’m reminded of the adage “you have to first move slow before you can move fast”. Our challenge in today’s business world is spending enough quality time with co-workers and colleagues to get to know them and build trust so that you can count on them to do what they say they will do and or what you need them to do. Remember trust is an essential ingredient of an engagedorg.
10 Most Creative Women in Business:
http://www.fastcompany.com/pics/10-most-creative-women-business
30 Second MBA:
This is the formula for success!
Just came back from a fascinating conference in Las Vegas where I heard Bill Fields speak. For those of you who aren’t familiar, he headed up Walmart’s US Retail Stores Division in the 1990’s. A highly successful businessman he has become an advisor to the company I have recently joined. As he walked on stage with a beautiful dog, (I think it might have been a black lab) my first thought was “he’s blind”. Not the case. He shared that there was no one home to take care of the dog, so he brought Tank along with him. A man of his wealth I can only assume he had his own plane so traveling with Tank was easy. Observing his sensitivity to his dog while on stage demonstrated just how much heart the man had. His speech was inspirational to the distribution network of this 5-month-old new company. He shared the progression of his career at Walmart having worked directly with Sam Walton for years. By bringing normally unavailable products to rural communities throughout the US Walmart changed the nature of geographic distribution throughout the country. Their strategy was to produce a better life for those living in rural America.
Bill learned the importance of Products, Promotion and People. During this discussion, he referenced a speech he heard Gen. Colin Powell make about the first Gulf War. According to Fields he spoke of 12 rules for leadership and management. Once he discussed the 12 he then said, “throw those 12 away all you really need to know is rule 13 and 14.”
Rule 13: When in charge take charge. Make things happen for yourself those you love and care about.
Rule 14: Do the right thing. Perhaps, let your conscience be your guide.
I began to think about how many people in managerial positions actually take charge. I can recall a number of client situations where people did not feel they had the authority to take charge. Consequently enormous amounts of energy and probably resources and money were wasted. And, what about the energy of the individual feeling disempowered?
Do the right thing. How many times do we compromise our own values and ethics? I know so many who do what they think their boss or another might want them to do. It takes courage to do what you think is right. Recently in a Fortune magazine feature it talked about the fortune 500 companies looking to hire returning young military officers. They liked the way they could make decisions in the midst of a great deal of uncertainty.
Bill Fields said, “Walton could make ordinary people achieve extraordinary things if they would work together as a team.” Fields believes the key to everything in life is having high expectations. “We get what we expect.” When I see some of our youth living in fear and taking jobs they don’t value it pains me. Their expectations are so low. It’s impossible to have an engaged organization if you don’t have high expectations. Perhaps a formula we should consider is:
High expectations+taking charge+doing the right thing with integrity= an engagedorg.
What Do Competitive Sports and La Famiglia Have in Common?
Not sure any of you saw this in the Sunday New York Times, but I found the article about “Bench Strength” very interesting. The interview was with Sharon Napier, CEO of Partners+Napier, an ad agency based in Rochester NY. It’s obvious Sharon is building an engaged organization. I resonate with her on a number of different levels. Sharon’s values and beliefs about people and the roles they play in her company are similar to mine. As a sportswoman in high school and college, she likes to use sports metaphors in her organization. She references the experience students have of being a star in high school, then being the 9th player in college. While this may be difficult for some to digest, the point of her sports analogies is that everyone on a team has a role, and each role has a specific purpose. People must be clear about their purpose on the team so that they can step up, but also so that the team can realize its potential.
Secondly, Sharon names family as one of her key corporate values. We both come from Italian heritage and “la famiglia” is an important aspect of life. It assumes a certain loyalty, sticking together and compassion and caring for family members. Growing up in this culture creates a sense of belonging, appreciation and being valued for all involved. Transferring these values to the workplace helps create engagement. I am sure Sharon, like myself, has had to clarify family as a value statement for those who have not had a positive family upbringing.
Lastly, Sharon is a woman business owner. Having served on the Board of the National Association of Women Business Owners and President of the NYC chapter, I recognize that many women are comfortable with their feminine energy and can bring the universal feminine into the workplace. Having received an MBA in her mid-forties, much of Sharon’s business acumen has been developed over her lifetime. My hunch is Sharon can draw from the strength of her energies to successfully manage her business. A model for all of us to consider in pursuit of building engaged organizations.
Happy Cinco de Mayo!
We need to celebrate as much as we can. That is why I’ve chosen to write this short blog on Cinco de Mayo. It commemorates the unanticipated victory the Mexican Army had over the French in 1862 in the town of Puebla. Only relatively recently has it become a popular holiday in the US. Here in NYC, Mexican restaurants are booked all day and the Tequila is overflowing. I thought I’d take the liberty of launching our new newsletter on this day as well. So let’s have a virtual toast to you and us, and the continued connection we will have. In NYC, the weather has been playing havoc with us since January. Winter was very cold, like the winters of yesteryear of which we really hadn’t had any during the last 10 years. For the past week it’s been July/August in May with the thermometer reaching 90 degrees last weekend. March was the rainiest on record and April was the warmest ever.
Last weekend we had a thwarted terrorist attack in Times Square. A vigilant street vendor alerted the police to an SUV parked in a turning lane. A former Vietnam Vet the street vendor has been at that intersection for years. At dinner the other night I heard people expressing a new appreciation for street vendors. The salt of the earth this is the entrepreneurial spirit in its infancy. Just thinking about the Vietnam Vets, many of whom came home with disabilities to be met by jeers from a country so conflicted about that war that we couldn’t acknowledge and celebrate their service.
Fast forward thirty years and the vigilance and focus that may have helped these men survive the rice paddies of Nam prevented a terror attack where hundreds if not thousands could have been injured or killed.
We launch our monthly newsletter this week. Our intention is to write interesting short articles and to reprint others I think might peak your interest. Occasionally I’m going to incorporate personal journal entries, which I think you might enjoy as well.
The world is a topsy-turvy place these days with volcanoes erupting, earthquakes happening throughout the world, flooding and that’s only the natural disasters. Then we have unemployment, business failures and people just trying to get by. It’s a time for us all to be reflective, identify what’s truly important and celebrate whenever an opportunity presents itself.
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How Acknowledgement and Action Can Improve Your Organization
Today I want to speak about Acknowledgement and Action respectively the third and fourth A’s in improving managerial effectiveness. To recap, the Four A’s (Awareness, Appreciation, Acknowledgement and Action) refer to the mindset and behavior of individual managers. Unfortunately we live in a time plagued by blame and denial. How often have you heard someone either deny they had anything to do with an outcome or blame a co-worker or other department for poor performance? It’s rampant.
Acknowledging your part in a particular outcome is an important step in taking responsibility for one’s actions. I recall a situation when I was President of a professional association years ago. We had our annual awards dinner and did not sell enough tickets to cover our budgeted costs. Even though we ended the year in the black I felt it imperative to call Board members and take responsibility for the failure of the dinner fundraising initiative. I also felt it was important to model good managerial accountability. Being authentic requires acknowledging the impact your decisions or behavior have on others. When you are the senior executive you must acknowledge responsibility. The one caveat I’d say is that in a positive situation you want to praise the efforts of those who helped along the way.
Taking action is also something we need to do more of in organizations. I’ve been with many clients who’d rather wait and see what happens than act on the courage of their convictions. We forget that our employees model their behavior on ours and get frustrated with them when they don’t act as quickly as we’d like. Taking action doesn’t mean taking giant steps. As those who have participated in recovery programs know all to well taking one step at a time in the right direction keeps you on the right path. Too many of us have gotten mired in our own procrastination. Wanting to be or do the best we become paralyzed. Some refer to it as analysis paralysis. Taking action even small steps helps us to be more effective.
Let us know how you are using the Four A’s to improve your managerial leadership.
Embracing That Which We At First Don’t Like
Last week we discussed the importance of awareness in becoming an engaged manager. This week my focus is on the second of the Four A’s which is appreciation. Searching the dictionary for a definition of appreciation we find words such as gratefulness, positive opinion, valuing something highly, full understanding, and a statement of praise. As managers we are accountable for the outputs of our employees. We want them to put forth their best efforts and be the most effective they can be to complete the tasks assigned them in the best way possible. How do we do that?
There are specific skills managers can learn to be effective in assigning tasks and monitoring progress. These will be topics for future blogs. However a manager’s mindset towards employees and for that matter, colleagues can have significant impact on their own and other’s effectiveness. When we as managers come from a mindset of appreciation we create a work atmosphere in which others want to do their best. It is important for managers to come from a mindset that appreciates different behaviors, attitudes and beliefs. You don’t have to like it but you can appreciate the difference and try to learn from it. This can be the difference between a highly successful organization and one that doesn’t realize its potential.
I find the best way to discuss this concept is to go back to the “golden rule” with which most of us are familiar. Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you! Thousands of years old it still rings true. People want to be appreciated. They want to be thought of highly and positively, be fully understood, have their efforts met with gratefulness. Be appreciated for the contribution they make. Kind words, and sensitivity go a long way.
Most of us are frazzled, ever busy, having little time to stop and think or thank someone for what they just did. Our interactions with our employees can develop into us barking orders treating them as if they are mechanical beings. This serves no one, and builds resentment on the part of many.
To develop a mindset of appreciation, use these simple tips.
- Ask yourself each day “Have I expressed my appreciation to any of my employees today?”
- Notice how quickly you can get irritated with an employee and ask yourself why? Then ask, how might I express my appreciation to this person?
- Think about how you feel when your boss or a colleague expresses their appreciation for your efforts or behavior. Recognize others are not so different. Mimicking the behavior of a colleague with a mindset of appreciating others might be a good first step. But be sincere about it as people can see through inauthentic attitudes and ehaviors.
If you try these simple suggestions you will find after a short period of time your mindset will change to one of appreciating others which affects everyone on the team.