Blowing In The Wind

NYC June 12th warm temperature, bright sun and lots of wind. I don’t recall having windy days (in the absence of a storm) in June. I like millions of other Americans wake up to the horrific news of the Orlando murder rampage . For the next few hours we are glued to the TV watching and listening to the reports. Paris, Brussels, San Bernadino, now Orlando. What is next? I listen to one of the first news conferences and hear Muhammad Musri, the president and imam of the Islamic Society of Central Florida, deploring the horrendous act of violence and asking people not to rush to judgement. I see the subtle changes in facial expressions of police brass standing behind him and say to myself this is futile. They know something.

A multi-layered attack upon America and in particular our LGBT community during Gay Pride month, and the first week of Ramadan. Am I dreaming?

My heart goes out to the families of the murdered, the victims in hospital and those that were there who were able to flee but will have to deal with the post trauma memories; to the first responders and medical center doctors and staff who trained for such a situation but never thought their training would have to kick in.

I write this today because I worry about my own reaction. I scare myself with my own lack of response. Numbness. I’m in my head. I watch the reports as if I’m watching a TV police drama. This is not good, I think. Not healthy. Am I becoming complacent? Have terror attacks and savagery become routine? I am appalled at my own reaction…curiosity, wanting the facts, feeling numb, devoid of emotion usually felt in my body. Yet yesterday, in a monthly conversation with two healer colleagues of mine I learn that the body regulates how much we can take in at any given point of time. This is a healthy response.

It helped to watch the Tony Awards Sunday night. James Corden’s opening statement dedicated the night to the victims, survivors and country. Hearing Lin Miranda’s sonnet ending in “is love, is love, is love, is love, is love, is love, cannot be killed or swept aside”, and Frank Langella’s eloquence regarding our choices of how to respond to such an event to “live in fear, let it define us or strengthen us”. I choose strengthen us. Stephen Colbert, reminds us love is a verb and requires action.

I have spent much of the last few years a student of “evolutionary consciousness”. I use the mantra, taught by don Oscar Miro Quesada “I am, We are, One, as a continual prayer. We have choice. What we focus on appreciates…increases. Years ago people used to speak of the 100th Monkey phenomenon. Not sure if it has any scientific grounding but it presented the idea that when enough monkeys engaged in a particular behavior, monkeys in other parts of the world suddenly started doing the same thing. Scientist Rupert Sheldrake’s concept of morphic fields, aka nature’s memory, in my mind, somewhat similar to Jung’s collective unconscious, provides me with hope we can shift our consciousness from hatred and violence to love, compassion and the fact “we are one”.

It’s taken me a few days to compose this blog. During this time, I become aware of the senseless killing of Christina Grimmie, a young singer while she signs autographs after a concert Friday night in Orlando. Her family needs our love and support. This morning the story of toddler grabbed by an alligator at a Disney resort there. Pulled underwater despite the futile attempts of his father to free him. What is going on? My heart breaks as I imagine the family watching their child being snatched in front of their eyes. I trust the outpouring of love and support from all over the world will bring comfort in particular to families who have lost loved ones, members of the LGBT communities, the Muslim community. We must eradicate fear and hatred. We must watch the language we use which incites negative behavior. We must send positive thoughts to the family who watched in horror as their child was pulled under.

How can we handle this onslaught of tragedy? We must take care of ourselves as well. I invite you to visit the website of Carla Reed http://www.carlareedpiano.com/ and listen to Keys For Healing. Her music will open your heart and heal the pain and despair you may be experiencing from this week’s tragic events in Orlando. I invite you all to revisit the words to Bob Dylan's "Blowin' In the Wind".   The winds blew strong in NYC last Sunday all day long, and continued less strong on Monday.  Do you think Mother Nature is trying to tell us something?

Mom At 97: A Woman, Courage and Transformation

Yesterday was my mother Mary Bova’s 97^th Birthday. We celebrated Sunday with a small family gathering. In a call with cousin this AM we reflected on the life my mother has had these 97 years. That conversation sparked the thought to write about her life, courage and transformation. So here goes.  

Born in 1918 the seventh child of Italian immigrants, Mary (Marie Kathleen Ribellino) was born at 197 Hester Street in the midst of the Italian ghetto, and lived there until age two when my grandfather bought a home in Brooklyn at 1370 72 Street. Seeking a better life for his family.

Some of you may recognize the address as being the address of Bova Enterprises, Inc., Dan’s Art Lab and our home. She’s lived in this home all of her life except for a period of about five years. After marrying my father Frank in 1941 they set up an apartment close by, only to have WWII intervene. Within the year she went to live with my paternal grandparents.

Mom lost her mother at age six and a half, and was raised by her father and siblings. They did the best they knew to do, but she missed out on the attention of a loving mother. She was just 11 when the great depression began, which affected my grandfather’s business significantly. Like so many other families they huddled together in the family home, adult children and their families. Mom’s education was not a priority. Fortunately, the home, business and family survived.

Four months before the US entered WWII, at 21, she married my dad. They were married 56 years when he died in 1997.

Both my brother and I (and, our partners and his children) recognize how fortunate we are to have mom with us and able to participate in life. Sure she doesn’t go out very much, doesn’t bake anymore and has serious hearing problems that have made her more isolated and dependent on others, but she still is feisty and reads the paper everyday and will question what is going on in the world of politics.

Reflecting on her life these last few days my appreciation of what she has experienced and witnessed in her lifetime is heightened. Here are a few milestones that have helped shape her:

Mom’s a survivor. Somehow she learned early on in her life that she needed to stand up for herself and not focus on pleasing others. She did this out of necessity, likely intuitively for her own survival.   However in raising us she taught us to put others needs before our own. “Be nice,” she’d say. “Extend a helping hand”, even if it might interfere with what you might want to do. Our life was pretty easy. Only recently, an outgrowth of deeply feminine exploration, did I realize I hadn’t built up the muscle of truly standing for what I want from an authentic place inside.

Mom never finished high school and so in the 1960’s she had to take a literacy course and pass a test in order to earn the right to vote. Since that time she has never missed voting in an election and, makes sure to remind the rest of us to do the same. She is passionate about her responsibility as a citizen. That term isn’t used all that much these days.

She has seen change in the world appear almost overnight. When my dad crossed over in 1997 we didn’t know how she’d handle it. He died 11 days before Christmas. She cleaned out his closet within days of his burial and insisted with our support that Christmas celebrations go on as usual. “Life goes on” she said.

When her last surviving sibling died in 2012 she became the matriarch of the Ribellino family line. Shortly thereafter, Dan and I bought my Aunt Sadie's former apartment, renovated it and moved in bringing a bit of Manhattan to 72^nd Street. It’s been quite a learning experience living so close to her.

So why am I writing this today?

Obviously, I am honoring my mother. I’m also weaving together some recent aha’s, which I hope you think are worth your attention. I’ve learned to view unconditional love through a different lens and appreciate the power it can have. I’ve learned about the courage to move forward when life’s circumstances throw us curve balls. I’ve learned to appreciate gazing at clouds while sitting on the front porch to see new whats in them, putting the blinds up at night when the full moon shines brightly so moonlight can bathe you while lying in bed. Only since moving here have my mother and I realized we both love watching the clouds and the moon.

The last 60 years have seen the most rapid advances in technology and science than ever before in the history of humankind. New discoveries and subsequent required changes in how we live just keep emerging. Living moment to moment requires us to modify, course correct and or change how we view the world. An appreciation of that, which falls under the realm of the Feminine, is finally, after thousands of years coming to the forefront. It is not linear but more likely a circular spiral. Its essential each of us, women and men do our inner work.  I've recently started cracking my inner "glass ceiling" freeing myself from the earliest programming.

"We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.” T S Eliot. I am finding my mother and seeing her for the first time. Seeing me for the first time, as a daughter unconditionally loved and loving.

The Power of Crocus

Much has happened since I penned my last blog A Turn Of A Season late September 2014.  An unexpected medical diagnosis shortly thereafter, resulted in a shifting of priorities. Rather than say more, other than I am fine, I choose to focus on what’s ahead. Suffice it to say it has been a long hard winter in many places around the world.  Although we are 23 days into spring, it has only felt like spring in NYC these last few days.  Saturday in Brooklyn was a lovely day.  Windows open, I loved hearing the birds calling to one another and landing on still bare tree branches soon to be full of buds.  Birdcalls I hadn’t heard all winter delighted my ears. I am so happy to have heard them. The house next store to ours has been under renovation for 8 months, the front yard the staging ground for equipment and materials. Yet an abundance of purple crocuses have popped through the barren earth. How delightful to witness the joy of new beginnings.

We hibernate in winter, hunkering down and then allow for new growth to emerge as spring unfolds.  Will we like the crocus poke our heads through the tightly packed ground?  I’m pleased to report just like nature, we at BEI are poking our head out to celebrate new beginnings with the launch of our new website look and content.  In the midst of revitalization with enthusiasm like never before we announce our presence and availability to help new and returning clients create vibrant businesses and engaged workforces based on sound business values and practices which recognize a “rising tide lifts all boats”.

I’ve been eagerly awaiting the release of David Brook’s new book The Road To Character out today.  Over the last few years I’ve been noticing him speaking about his own yearning, and soul searching.  Yesterday on CBS This Morning he was interviewed and gave a definition of humility, which is worthy of repeat.  Humility is radically honest self-awareness. Teaching nowadays, he commented about how his students are yearning for what I refer to as life’s meaning, an inner moral compass.

You can get a taste of the book by reading his essay the Moral Bucket List, http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/12/ which appeared in the NY Times Sunday Review Section this weekend. Character is such an important aspect of life and I’m concerned it has taken a back seat to the fast paced, goal oriented work environments we’ve created.  Have we lost sight of it?  To have a workforce that’s engaged we need to have accountable managers who behave based on the basis of a moral compass.  Companies need expressed business values as well as their managers having their own personal moral compass.  Their character becomes the beacon of their managerial leadership.

How does your character affect your effectiveness at work?

The Turn Of A Season

Hundreds of thousands of people around the world marched last Sunday, September 21st  to draw attention to the importance of addressing climate change. At 10:29 PM Monday summer ended and fall began. Today, Thursday is the New Moon a good time to set intentions.  

Like clockwork temperatures have dropped not much higher than the mid 70’s. Nights bring cool breezes. In NYC today heavy rain is expected. The UN is in session and for the first time there has been a resolution regarding terrorism. I’m reminded of Pete Seeger’s song Turn, Turn, Turn referencing a time for everything. lyrics

Personally, Uncle Larry my only remaining uncle, my father’s brother, passed away last week at the age of 95. A veteran of WWII Uncle Larry was in intelligence. He had a full military funeral. My brother and his son are the only ones that carry on the family name in the traditional fashion that is.  What is the Bova legacy? I am aware of the end of an era; the mantle of patriarch passes to my brother now as the senior Bova male in our clan. Mom at 96 is the matriarch of her clan, the Ribellino's. She doesn’t like this role. Mom hates being the oldest at gatherings.

Transitions and new beginnings!   In my uncle’s death I get to know his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Sadness lingers as I recognize the impermanence of everything around me. Change occurs. There is a natural ebb and flow, like the tides, seasons come and go, trees drop their leaves, fields whither and die. Change is everywhere whether we realize it or not. This is the thought I want to focus on today.

How important is it to recognize change? To honor transitions? Are some transitions more significant than others? My only niece gets married in two weeks. I remember receiving the call at 4AM the morning she was born announcing her birth. Soon she will be married. Likely raising a family of her own soon enough.

I’ve spent the last 18 months in transition. I’ve studied with indigenous teachers and have heightened my awareness of the natural world; ebbs and flows, patterns, timing. I watch clouds travel across the sky to change form before my very eyes. I wonder. I’m fascinated, amazed.

What does all this have to do with work, the hours we spend doing our jobs, running our businesses? Sounds corny but I think “slowing down to smell the roses” is essential to our overall well-being and effectiveness. Take a breath and notice what nature has to teach. Some of the most important scientific breakthroughs have come when people are out in nature. Wasn’t it Einstein who had a major aha while sailing?

I invite you to take 3-5 minutes during each workday, while at work to be exact, to look out the window, go outside, focus on a live plant, a fish tank. Gaze! Wonder! Over time reflect on your own behavior, have your thoughts changed? Consider making a daily notation After three weeks to a month are you more calm? Relaxed? Creative? Engaged? Has your energy increased? Have you noticed changes in your relationships with others? Let us know.

Initiating Peace

Summer fully upon us, bizarre weather patterns occurring around the globe. We took a pass on a July blog but feel compelled to write now. Will be brief and to the point.  Friday August 8^th 2014 is a Global Day of Peace.  Numerous organizations and groups around the world are asking members to focus on peace that day.  Each and every one of us needs a more peaceful personal existence. We all know too many places in the world where people are terrorized by their own governments, governments that threaten their sovereignty, terrorist organizations. and thugs. Natural disasters and the Ebola virus also terrorize innocent citizens of the world.  I long for peace and know many in my circles of influence long for it too, which is why I’m writing to you today.  Below is a link to an initiative in which I will be participating.  

Visit globalmeditation and sign up to be part of this important global meditation event of the year. You need not know how to meditate to participate. Or can just google Global Peace Day and find out about more ways to participate.  Simply if you just set an hourly reminder on your smart phone and sing (or hum)  or say the phrase "let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me" you will be adding to a ground swell of worldwide peace consciousness that day, as well as on a cellular level bringing peace consciousness to the cells of your body.

Also this weekend, on Sunday, August 10th at 2:09 PM EDT the moon enters her full stage and this is the second “super full moon” of the three that will occur this year. I looked at the moon Tuesday evening and couldn’t believe how bright she was. So I encourage all of you to spend some time gazing at what many Native peoples refer to as Grandmother Moon as she radiates in her fullness.  Treat yourselves to this awesome sight.

An earlier blog addressed some of the changes underway at BEI. It continues to be an important time as we find a new balance in our work, client base and other undertakings.  Enjoy the heat of August.  As the song says "see you in September"!

THE COURAGE TO CHANGE

A few weeks ago the NY Times OP Ed page featured an article by Tony Schwartz and Christine Porath entitled Why You Hate Work. Apparently it was one of the most widely read and responded to pieces in the Times, having more than 500 comments made. Obviously it struck home to readers. A 2013 Gallup Poll report states only 30% feel "engaged at work". Schwartz’s company partnered with Harvard Business Review last fall to survey 12,000 plus people some of the results of which are discussed below. The Schwartz Porath article identifies four essential needs that when absent, diminish a worker’s experience dramatically, having a domino effect on the culture and effectiveness of the entire organization. They are opportunities for Renewal, Value, Focus, and Purpose.

On a recent webinar conducted by the Institute For Corporate Productivity on Managing Talent I was pleasantly surprised to see that current research about companies considered high performance organizations confirmed the importance of an employee’s experience at work, and consistent definitions and language across business units and whole systems, as leading indicators to corporate high performance.

Their findings aligned very nicely with the findings of Dr. Elliott Jaques, my mentor, who over a 50-year period of social analysis developed the comprehensive system of building highly effective organizations known as Requisite Organization. Although they used different language the message is the same. (Read: Social Power and the CEO available at Cason Hall. Here is my take on a few of the points made. • A requisite organization is by definition a high performing organization • Business strategy and values inform the work to be done • Managing, consisting of assigning work clearly, providing parameters within which an assignment needs to be done, and giving feedback regularly are all aspects of Jaques’ role of a manager. They are also consistent with the new data on high performing organizations. • Consistent language and agreed upon definitions were a passion for Dr. Jaques. They are a requirement for scientific rigor to be applied to the field of management making it a science in and of itself. The complexity, size and cost of multiple systems now necessitate common language within companies. However as a field of science, management is not yet there.

Elliott conducted his social analysis throughout the world on six of the seven continents and in every workplace he entered he found workers who wanted to do a good job, wanted to be treated with respect and integrity, and wanted feedback as to how they were doing and how they could do better. They wanted fair remuneration. My career also confirms that most workers want to do a good job at work. They want to be appreciated, valued and recognized for their efforts. They want to be paid and treated fairly and have opportunities for advancement from which to choose.

We see the debacle that has unfolded at the VA. It took courage for those that blew the whistle, in some cases incurring the wrath of management and co-workers, to stand up for what they believe. At GM the ignition switch failure has resulted in a first round of firings. Will CEO Barra be able to keep her word that this will not be tolerated going forward? Will she be able to restore pride and a productive culture at GM? Time will tell. Both lapses resulted in people dying. Yet criminal action is not being talked about openly.

Summer Solstice begins tomorrow morning. The cycle of summer begins. It happens every year about the same time. Solstice requires no human effort or courage. It happens naturally. People however, require courage and effort to change. We have power over how we perceive what is happening to us and around us, and what we do about it.

More now than ever in our lives we need to slow down and allow time to reflect, to know what we value and whether we are living a life based on our values and beliefs. If we are, fine. But if not, we must muster the courage from within to do something about it. Only then will we have greater personal satisfaction and bring greater positivity, productivity and profitability to our organizations.

“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” Gandhi

Happy Solstice weekend! Let me know what you think.

EngagedOrg.com, our blog was initiated to create awareness and dialogue about the importance of people being engaged at work. This is not only essential for individual well being, but also for the creation of vibrant organizations, communities and our country as a whole. We must fix what is broken!

Embracing the Human Spirit

In a recent NYT Metropolitan Diary feature a reader lamented why s/he finds him/herself more concerned about a rat in a subway station than a homeless person on the street. I thank this person for having the courage to put his/her experience out there for all of us to reflect on. This person is not alone.  

Last week the 118^th running of the Boston Marathon took place.  “Reclaim the Finish Line” was the theme embraced after the horrific terrorist bombing at the 2013 marathon.  Approximately 36,000 people ran from all over the world, which is about 8 % more than usual.

April 22^nd was Earth Day, now acknowledged around the world as a time to focus on and encourage sustainable programs reducing carbon emissions, global warming, and increasing clean water supplies.  The recent report by the UN acknowledging the seriousness of global warming added a degree of seriousness to the issue.  We as a species have learned to self-destruct. It’s only a matter of time if we continue on the path we are on.

Our hearts go out to the families of more than 250 high school students who perished on a class trip in what appears to be dereliction of duty by the captain and some crew of the Korean ferry that sank. The school administrator who survived the disaster committed suicide, the Prime Minister Chung Hong-won resigned this weekend both acts of taking full responsibility for the disaster.  Grief counselors are present in the high school gymnasium where families await word of their children but few if any avail themselves of the service. Grief counseling is not embraced in the culture and having your children die before you is reason people take their own lives.

Families in China, Malaysia and other countries await word of the final resting place of their loved ones who were traveling on the ill-fated MA Flight 370.  People around the world empathize with their pain and frustration.

By now you are probably puzzling what this has to do with building engaged organizations?  Let me weave it together.

Compassion is alive and well around the globe.  It gives me hope.  It is so easy to forget the power of the human spirit. Crises of magnitude, terrorist acts, storms, etc. seem to bring out the best in people.  People want to help; they want to do something to alleviate the pain of those affected.  This is the human spirit at its best.   A “we are one” mindset exists naturally in people. In some cultures this is an explicit value.  In others, individualism and survival of the fittest predominate. A sense of connectedness, oneness, can lie dormant for years. Yet can move to the forefront of our minds immediately when disasters, natural or manmade and senseless acts of killing, take place. Think of the millions of dollars sent to help those in need or the scores of people from all over the country or the world who make it to the site of a disaster to lend a helping hand.

This weekend alone the news reported two incidents of good Samaritans.  One in which a waitress was given a $1000.00 tip to cover the cost of surgery for her dog and the other where a restaurant customer age 92 has paid the college tuition for a nursing student and promised to pay for her masters Degree as well. At the marathon last week there was a wonderful story about a runner who collapsed fairly close to the finish line.  Other runners rallied and carried him the distance letting him down before the finish line so that he could have the experience of crossing the finish- line alone.  This is a magnificent image.  Everyone is participating is something bigger then themselves, they see someone struggling, they stop to help putting the other’s need before their own and everyone wins. The human spirit is alive and well. We need for the media to acknowledge it regularly. These are steps in the right direction.

However, millions of people go to work each day feeling isolated, alone, bored, not valued or cared about.  This disconnection, particularly in the realm of social media overload, is intensified and causing people of all ages, ethnicities and professional or non-professional backgrounds to feel isolated and depressed. Can you imagine what would happen if the human spirit was alive and well in workplaces large and small?

I know it is in many businesses, certainly amongst groups of employees.  It gets thwarted though because of dysfunctional work structures.  We know that structure affects behavior.  Unfortunately in the last twenty plus years we have over-emphasized leadership and de-emphasized management which is most associated with structure.  Every worker knows there is someone in a role above them who makes essential decisions about their work, promotions, and compensation.  They know who that individual is.  Yet is some companies that is played down.

Of late we have not paid enough attention to the configuration of roles, authority and accountabilities in jobs.  Hierarchy is a natural organizing principle in science.  When systems reach a certain size they need to create a hierarchy of roles, and associated role relationships. Hierarchy is not bureaucracy. Work system hierarchies can be lean and support the release of human imagination, innovation, creativity and profitability in companies. Hierarchies provide the conditions in which the human spirit thrives at work.

It is essential for the human spirit to be vibrant in all of us in both our personal lives and our work lives.  Do you have the courage to embrace your Spirit?  I welcome your comments on these thoughts.  

Why Send Heartfelt Thoughts?

Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day.  The day we celebrate the loving relationships in our lives.  Many of you reading this have that certain someone who is special in your life, the person who you call your Valentine.  Are you one of the hundreds of thousands spending millions on chocolates, dinners, flowers, jewelry and hundreds of other gift items in an effort to demonstrate how much they mean to us?  I’ve been

struck by this year’s Hallmark Cards advertisement on TV.  Simply it’s a variety of people saying what they’d like to hear someone dear to them tell them.  Not overtly a valentine ad, it can be used most anytime because the sentiments are so universal.

Recently I’ve taken an unplanned breather from blogging and the BEI newsletter.  A few people have mentioned how much they enjoy my blogs and compendium newsletters.  They find them stimulating and a vehicle for keeping up with me personally.  Hearing that today from two very different sources inspired me to sit down and write.  So as we approach Valentine’s Day I want to express heartfelt gratitude to those of you who read what I write, keep current with my thinking and follow my personal and professional journey.

May I also suggest you wish a stranger or two a happy Valentine’s Day tomorrow.  That simple gesture can make someone’s day. Have a Happy Valentine’s Day!

All Hands On Deck!

Current events have created an interesting window from which to view the subject of leadership.  At BEI we always are interested in leadership that builds a sense of engagement among those who we consider followers.  The examples spotlighted today are not from employed work systems.  Rather they come from current events, which tell us a great deal.

I remember as a child being fascinated by stories of the sinking of the Italian cruise liner Andrea Doria, after a collision at sea with the MS Stockholm off the coast of Nantucket.  That fascination re-emerged with the grounding of the Costa Concordia off Giglio, Italy.  I’m intrigued by this story.  Why you might ask? Ship captains have always held a place of high regard in my psyche.  I didn’t put them there consciously but somewhere in my upbringing and education a fascination with the sea, captains and voyages developed.  More than a romantic notion, the fact the captain is always the last to leave the ship inspires a sense gallantry, admiration and respect for their leadership.  The Concordia’s captain Francesco Schettino, abandoned his ship before all the passengers were accounted for, this is hard to understand.

Audiotapes of his conversation with Captain De Falco of the Italian Coast Guard, outraged by Captain Schettino’s actions, ordered him to return to the ship.  De Falco has become a national hero in Italy.  Uncomfortable with this image he says he was just doing his job. One news report stated Italian citizens don’t want the world to see them as “Captain Schettino’s”.

For the last 17 years the people of Italy have been living under the ether of scandals – sex, greed and corruption.  The exploits of their former Prime Minister, media mogul Silvio Berlusconi are well documented.  Yet he was re-elected repeatedly.  Has it taken this fatal disaster, viewed around the world to let the people of Italy “wake-up”?

I’ve no answers here.  Only questions.  Is there is a phenomena of leadership that permeates cultures wherein people become resigned and allow themselves to be led by individuals they don’t respect, or don’t like?  Do cultures need tragedies to wake-up?  What is it that lulls each of us into a state of resignation and non-action?  How does this macro leadership phenomenon influence leadership in work systems?

This may be a bit much for a morning blog, but I am thinking of all the work we have to do here in the US and around the world to save our planet and reignite our humanity.  Each of us needs to revisit our values and beliefs about power.  Are we living according to our values and beliefs?  If not, why?  Personally, I don’t think there are any valid excuses for not doing so.  The stakes are too high.

Wishing You All the Best!!!

I will keep this blog short and to the point. We at Bova Enterprises, Inc. Building Engaged Organizations wish each of you a Blessed Christmas and a Happy, Healthy, Peaceful and Prosperous New Year. The thought occurred to me as I wrote Blessed Christmas, if I was being politically incorrect? Am I offending friends and colleagues of other faiths, or no faith at all? I hope not, as that is not the intention. We at BEI celebrate Christmas and in the spirit of the holiday I am extending blessings to you from my faith base. At this time we say goodbye to Yong June Lee our intern from Baruch College who has been helping us with our social media. We appreciate his efforts this semester and wish him well in his career.

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season!

From Kona To Manhattan: Reflections From The Journey

We just arrived home from a glorious 11day vacation in Hawaii.  First stop Maui for the fairytale wedding of friends and then off to the Big Island Hawaii.  We arrived in Maui in what was for us the middle of the night, made it to our hotel and crashed till our breakfast date with the bride and groom. The real vacation did not begin until we landed at Kona Airport the following Monday.  Just the drive from the airport to the home we were staying in was awesome.  Pulling out of the Dollar Rental lot onto the highway we were awestruck by mile after mile of lava rock.  The flow thousands of years old from the active volcano, (there are three or four on the Island I believe) goes into the sea.  The contrast from Maui itself was startling, from Manhattan dramatic.  Compared to our life in NYC we were on an uninhabited island.  As I said to Dan when we landed at JFK, we’ve seen more people in the airport than we did all week on the Big Island. The Big Island is beautiful.  Eleven of the world’s 13 eco systems can be found and experienced there.  The air is clean and fresh except in those places that “vog” is prevalent.  Vog is the combination of fine volcanic ash with the atmosphere that results in a haze that hangs over parts of the island.

What was most striking though was the sound of silence.  I’m reminded of the famous Simon and Garfunkel hit Sounds Of Silence. (SONG LYRICS)

We spent a week enjoying the sounds of the Pacific Ocean lapping up the shore, of birds singing at different times of the day and the occasional golf cart going by our home.  We played music occasionally, turned the TV on for news, mostly read or took in the sights of the Island. Whether at Volcano National Park, or Akaka Falls the combination of nature’s majesty coupled with her natural music made for an extraordinary experience.  Coming from NYC where residents have become unconscious to the bombardment of noise, I found myself luxuriating in the sound of silence.  In last week’s NYTimes, Maureen Dowd (CLICK HERE FOR LINK) writes about the new film The Artist that made a splash at the Cannes Film Festival.  It’s a silent film in black and white.  It’s hard to believe but we have generations of people throughout the world who have no appreciation of the importance of silence, quiet moments alone or being with another with no interruptions.

I speak for both Dan and I when I express our gratitude for the “sounds of silence” we experienced on the Island of Hawaii.  Look for our holiday newsletter coming out shortly.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

While driving back from the East End of Long Island Sunday evening I had to do some dancing along the airwaves to find the music I wanted to listen to for the 115 mile trip. Traveling through different counties interferes with FM radio reception. As I went from rock, to Greek, to classic and jazz, I couldn’t believe that one of the stations was playing non stop Christmas Carols. We haven’t even celebrated Thanksgiving yet and they have full Christmas programming? What is this saying about our culture? Autumn itself seems to speed up time. In what seems like a blink of an eye we go from Halloween to Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. In between a variety of Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim and other religions are celebrating special feast days. I’d like to use this blog to invite us each to slow down and breathe.

I’ve heard a lot of people comment recently about how they love Thanksgiving. No gifts, being with friends and family and sharing food. For the past fifteen years or so I’ve decided instead of sending Season’s Greetings to clients in December I send handwritten thank you notes at thanksgiving. Appreciating clients have a choice of who they hire I like to let them know how much I appreciate they’re choosing Bova Enterprises.

Similarly I invite you to take a moment this Thanksgiving to thank your employees for the effort they have expended for your business, and to you personally. When people feel appreciated they want to give more. As managers we too need to recognize how grateful we are. This week spend a moment in gratitude to reflect on what you do have.

These are trying times. Most of us have less than we had before. We are doing more with less staff at work. Perhaps it’s harder to close that new deal. Are we being asked to adjust our price? I encourage each of us to reflect this Thanksgiving and express gratitude for our gifts. Thank the people you work with on a daily or scheduled basis. Slow down, take a deep breath, smile and express your gratitude to someone else. Not only will you feel good but you will make their day!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

FYI we are off to Hawaii and will return to the blog the week of December 7th .

Does Money Really Incentivize Employees?

In a recent conversation a woman who was lamenting her recent college graduate son has been unable to find a job. I asked what he majored in and she said he was an engineer.  I commented. “I thought engineers are in demand” to which she said, “he wants to work in finance”.  “Guess he wants the big bucks” I said and she smiled. Throughout the years people have debated what really incentivizes people in the workplace.  If you listen to those in the finance industry they say its clearly money.  From a Requisite Organization perspective being paid fairly for the work being done coupled with working in an atmosphere characterized by trust, respect and recognition is the answer.  I recall discussions with Dr. Jaques wherein he’d express outrage and frustration at the belief you have to dangle a carrot in front of people to make them work effectively.  He’d invite his audience to look at the underlying values and belief systems from which they were operating.  Now with the younger generation in the workforce we have a new set of wrinkles that complicate the situation.  They come with a different view on the role of work in their lives. See Younger workers.

There was also a story this week about a young entrepreneur in SC who has instituted a $50,000.00 bonus for all of his full time employees if they work at the company for 5 years.  See Money.  At 30, Dan Schneider, has already had two successful companies.  His last company sold for $35m.  Presently he has 30 full time employees. The company, SIB, is three years old with revenues of $6M projected for 2011.  He has recognized that hiring and training employees costs thousands.  By offering the $50K bonus to full time employees he hopes to engage them and create a sense of loyalty.  He has two years to test out his theory.  Anticipating rapid growth over the next 18 months he is hoping this incentive will develop loyalty.  He also anticipates that the longevity bonus will keep people happy.  “When employees are happy they perform better”, he says.

Schneider is experimenting with a new model.  Only time will tell how effective it is.  Personally, I’d like to think that effective managerial leadership within a culture characterized by colleagueship, coupled with fair pay is enough to motivate employees to be and do their best.

What's That Sparkle In Your Eyes Telling Me?

Inspiration comes from many sources. But you’d never guess it from the negativity we hear about everywhere.  I was just listening tovideos of Benjaminn Zander on YouTube.  You can learn more about him at http://www.benjaminzander.com  At a business meeting last Saturday a twenty minute video was played from his Art of Possibility series.  I found it truly transformative.  He describes the "aha" moment he had years ago when he realized as a musical conductor he makes no sound.  A conductor has power and is ultimately accountable for the music the orchestra plays, but makes no sound.  After his aha moment he began to look into the eyes of his musicians for an answer.  Simply, if their eyes were shining brightly the music they played was bright.  Getting many musicians all to play different scores brightly to create magnificent music people feel and experience is the goal.  The contrast to managerial leadership is obvious isn’t it? Here are some other gems from him.

“A leader must not doubt for one iota that which s/he is asking of employees is possible".

If your employees, teams, children, lover’s eyes are not shining we must ask ourselves “Who am I being now?”

The story he told to get this point across is a poignant one.  It's worth paraphrasing here to capture the message. A Holocaust survivor after having been separated from her parents found herself on the train to one of the camps with her younger brother.  She looked down at him and noticed he’d lost his shoes.  She scolded him for not keeping his things in sight.  The train arrived and they were separated.  She never saw him again.  She survived and upon leaving the camp made a vow. “I’ll never say something that won’t stand as the last thing I ever say to someone again".  She’d been haunted by the last words she said to her brother.

Lastly he emphasizes the important distinction between “positive thinking” and his phrase of “radiant possibility”.  I for one have had difficulty with positive thinking in that, it has often felt empty, inauthentic.  I was raised to tell the truth and have difficulty even with “little white lies”.  Radiant possibility acknowledges what is so and creates an optimistic perspective on it.  His illustration of this distinction comes from his childhood.   His father would say, “there is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing”.

I suggest visiting  his website and listening to some of the You Tube videos.  There is much to learn from this very special man and beautiful music to listen too as well.

Do You Check Your Horoscope Daily?

Are you one of those people who like to read your horoscope in the newspaper regularly, or follow an astrological newsletter?  Most who have been reading my blogs know I frequently mention mercury retrogrades. I guess I am one of the curious about the influence astrology has in our everyday lives.  Yesterday I received a newsletter from Rose Marcus discussing the current astral configuration as one “moving great multitudes over great distances” Go to Rosemarcus.com In the past week my mailbox has been flooded with invitations to listen to webinars or sign up for teleconferences addressing the need to come together and influence the course of events here on earth.  You can visit the Shiftnetwork.com or worldwidetippingpoint.com to learn more about these efforts to align people to focus on world peace, responsibility and accountability.  In its simplest form this is an attempt to test out the Hundredth Monkey Theory that was so popular years ago.  Why not participate?  The thought of having millions of people aligning towards world peace is thrilling to me.

From the standpoint of the workplace wouldn’t it be exciting if management and employees truly did align according to a set of core values and actually walked their talk.  I met with a company last week, which seems to be doing just that.  A bank intent on realizing its strategic plan to become a full scale commercial bank ( I won’t name them without permission) has trained branch managers and personnel in new ways of thinking and shifting their mindset by introducing some of Napoleon Hill’s concepts. They’ve expanded the program to tellers and corporate personnel.  The Napoleon Hill work stresses self-responsibility for what happens in one’s life.  This is an exciting attempt to build greater engagement throughout their organization.

I do hope you will check out some of the websites I’ve referred to.  Note that mercury will begin retrograding at the end of the month Thanksgiving Day to be exact.   Wishing you all a Blessed Thanksgiving.  BEI will be closed from November 24^th –December 6^th.  Watch for our next newsletter in mid December.  Blogs will continue weekly.

What Role Do Commitment & Trust Play In The Workplace?

I happened to catch Neville Isdell a former CEO of Coca Cola who had worked for the company for 42 years being interviewed on CBS the other day.  He’s written a new book entitled Inside Coca Cola.  Two things stood out for me from this interviewthe first that he had studied social work at university. Go to http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7385779n&tag=mncol;lst;2  Of particular interest to me as my graduate work is in Social Work.  The knowledge and skills I learned at Columbia University  School of Social Work are foundational to my skill as a consultant and inform my thinking about the role of social policy in community building.  Isn't community organization closely aligned with building a vibrant culture in a company? Isdell also commented on the importance of gaining the commitment of your workforce to the success of the business.  “You can have compliance but to be truly successful you need commitment.”  What is commitment?  Simply stated for me when workers will do what they say they will do, and if they can’t will inform you as soon as they realize it. When they feel part of something bigger than themselves and recognize the role they play is important to overall success and valued management and co-workers.

If you read my blog a few weeks ago 4S you know I am passionate about Steve Jobs.  Little did I know the biography was in print, ready to be shipped when I commented about looking forward to reading a biography of the man.  Walter Isaacson has been interviewed on most news outlets about the man and the book.  Today in the Fast Company daily journal there is a short piece with a wonderful video of Steve talking about the essence of teamwork.  He addresses the importance of collegial working relationships while speaking of his executive team, the ability to trust people will do what they say they’ll do and the importance of these elements cascading down throughout the organization. Go to  http://www.fastcompany.com/1790791/steve-jobs-biography-walter-isaacson?partner=homepage_newsletter  to hear for yourself.  He also references simplicity of organization structure which I'll talk about at another time.

Engaged organizations are built upon values and business strategy.  People are essential to building a product or delivering a service.  The role of a manager has inherent in it the accountability to build a team among those in roles directly subordinate.  Three- tier team building helps insure the cascading of ways of working and the communication flow throughout the organization.   BEI exists to assist managers to build engaged organizations and transform the world of work.  Trust and commitment are key components to this process.  Businesses, which utilize and celebrate the talents and skills of employees, are trust inducing. and characterized by a committed and loyal workforce.  When people are acknowledged for their contributions and have clarity regarding what is expected of them they are most effective.  Trust inducing work systems provide profit for shareholders, satisfaction for employees, and add value to society.

Why A Coach?

It always amazes me how life goes in cycles.  A few weeks ago I was reading the New Yorker and saw an article about coaching in the medical profession.  Anal Gawande (in Personal Best, October 3^rd www.New Yorker.org) discussed his use of a coach while performing surgery in an operating theater in an attempt to reach his “personal best”.  In 1983 when I started by business I introduced the term executive coach.  I recall it was an uphill battle as the concept of coaching was only acceptable in professional sports. I had been accountable for developing managerial effectiveness across all tiers of management.  Responsible for organization and management development and training in the Equitable’s Pension business, I’d consult with executives on how to be more effective managers, how to build teams and how to solve organizational and performance problems.  I was accountable for strengthening the managerial effectiveness of existing management as well as developing programs for newly hired professional talent.  I referred to it as consulting, which consisted of a series of one on one meetings with clients.

When I started my own firm I was looking to brand the business and distinguish it, and set me apart from other consultancies. An avid tennis buff I realized all professional athletes and most wannabes have individual coaches.  Why not management?  My emphasis was and continues to be the executive interested in reaching their peak potential.   The individual who recognizes having an objective coach will accelerate reaching that pinnacle.

Since that time a whole new industry of coaching has emerged.  Many people call themselves coaches.  Certifying bodies have emerged.  Coaches can be tactical, skill development oriented or strategic.  Specialist coaches can prepare you for public speaking; help with writing projects and dealing with the media.  Clients have to be clear on what they need.

Gawande approaches coaching from a personal skills best orientation by hiring another surgeon to observe him operating.  This is an outstanding use of coaching.  I’ve coached MD’s who suddenly find themselves in senior administrative roles not having any education or skill development in business or management.  Designing a personalized executive development system conducted over a 4-6 month period is a unique solution.  Combining intensive managerial knowledge building with skill development and coaching within a relatively short period of time results in significant professional development.  It allows highly competent doctors to augment their professional skills set and get direct feedback so that they can be more effective managers.

4S

An avid Apple fan I like millions around the world was saddened by the death of Steve Jobs.  When he stepped down in August we all knew his death was imminent.  But just like knowing my father would never leave the hospital 14 years ago, and my mother, brother and I and the rest of our immediate family “prepared” ourselves for his death we learned we are never prepared. I have been a Steve Jobs fan since Apple was launched.  I am proud to say I’ve never bought a PC nor worked on a PC for more than 10 minutes.  I was always puzzled why people bought PC’s, which were susceptible to viruses and would break down.  Yes they are inexpensive but most require some kind of repair or fix when attacked by a virus.  If you add up those costs the PC is much more expensive than any Mac.

I’ve learned a great deal about Steve in the week that he died.  Not being a techie I never closely followed launches of new products or truly understood the scope of their uniqueness.  A genius he’s being compared to DaVinci, Michelangelo, Edison.  His legacy continues to grow as we learn much more about this unique individual. I hunger to learn more about this man. I hope the biography is written by a masterful wordsmith, one able to capture the full spectrum of the man.

A Buddhist.  Simply dressed in jeans and a black turtleneck.  Perceived as being difficult individual, yet he inspired loyalty among employees and customers.  Holding himself to a high standard, and holding others to high standards as well.  His love of beauty and appreciation of esthetics and precision was influenced by calligraphy.  I love my apple products.  I love my iMac with its floating screen, my macbook is eleven and on its last legs but I love the feel of it when I take it out of its case.  I replaced my iPhone 3 S with a 4 last March.  As I write this morning I’m moved to free it from the confines of its case.   Now I feel and appreciate it simple elegance when in my hand.

There has been much talk that no one can replace Steve Jobs and Apple will never be the same.  I’d like to think Steve did everything he could to transfer his gifts to those who have been selected to take the helm now.  I think he has created a engaged organization with a strong foundation.  When word came out last week that the launch was not for the iPhone 5 but for the iPhone 4S many viewed it as a negative.  I wondered if that was to provide Jim Cook with the opportunity to introduce the next version on his own terms.  This morning watching a review of the new iPhone with its magical capabilities one of the commentators wondered aloud about 4S…for Steve.

My heart aches for the loss of this very special business leader and innovator.  All of us who love what he created can honor him by bringing a little bit of him into everything we do.  Imagine the world we’d create.

Rest in Peace Steve! Condolences to his wife and children and all who have been touched by his greatness.

Do You Know How Structure Affects Engagement?

Engagement is a buzzword in organizations these days.  Most often engagement references an aspect of employee involvement. Since our first post we’ve introduced a comprehensive and robust use of the term.  The etymological origins of engage/engagement are under pledge/formal promise. I recall my mentor, Dr. Elliott Jaques emphasizing the importance of the employment contract between an employee and the company for which they worked.  This contract, sometimes unwritten and subtle is at the core of all employed work.  People agree to do X and in return the company agrees to do Y.  Thus solidifying the pledge /formal promise on the part of both parties.   Consequently, we at BEI see organization engagement as more complex. Organization engagement incorporates not only the employee’s agreement to perform the tasks assigned within quality standards, time and within resource allocation applying their personal effectiveness but also the responsibility and accountability of the organization’s management structure towards providing the conditions and resources within which the employee can best complete their assignments.  When this context is present a sense of engagement flourishes throughout.  

 An engaged organization is characterized by trust, open communication between managers and those in roles subordinate to them, and a network of role relationships that enables work to be done with clearly articulated accountabilities and authorities.

 Essential to the development of an engaged organization is the understanding and knowledge of how work is done. Appreciating the importance of a network of role relationships consisting not only of the managerial hierarchy (better known as who reports to whom), but also the lateral relationships, which support business process flow.

  A few weeks ago I said I’d be addressing the invisible aspects of organizations. You might imagine an iceberg.  Less than a third of it is visible to the naked eye.  One could make the argument organizations are similar.  For most companies the organization chart illustrates the structure.  Upon closer scrutiny these charts don’t distinguish which roles might be larger than others, or more complex.  They illustrate who reports to whom.  They don’t indicate how work gets done, who accounts to whom, and what roles have what authorities over other roles.  The organization structure is the network of role relationships in a company.  It exists even if there are no people in the roles.  Each role has tasks, accountabilities and authorities associated with it.  Clarity about the structure allows you to fill the roles with the right people.  Having the right people in the right roles is key to organization effectiveness.  All too often we focus on people not the role.  This puts the company at a disadvantage.  We need companies working at peak performance, totally engaged.  Wouldn’t you agree?

 An EngagedOrg Audit uses objective measurement to provide new knowledge about your organization.  The audit analyzes specific “reporting spines” identifying places of weakness and strength.  Referring back to the iceberg metaphor, it makes visible what was formally not visible.

 This knowledge allows you to align the organization’s structure with critical business objectives.  Having the right roles with clearly articulated accountabilities and authorities, and the right people in those roles creates the basic conditions to sustainably engage your people in meeting goals and achieving profitability.  It results in an engaged organization.

 Let’s strengthen corporate America by creating engaged organizations based on trust, effectiveness and the American work ethic.

Nothing Like September To Get Your Juices Flowing!

Don’t know if it’s the subtle change in weather indicating the transition to a new season but my in box has been flooded with opportunities to listen to webinars featuring well known speakers in the fields of sociology, psychology, leadership and world peace.  I signed up for two, week long fests Peace Week (did you notice the link in last weeks blog), and The NLP Mindfest.  I’m curious if any of you took my suggestion to sign up for Peace Week?  I never know whether I’ll be able to attend the many offerings scheduled but why pass up a free opportunity.  In the spirit of generosity and sharing knowledge this blog summarizes cogent points.  Two presentations stand out for me.  And it happens that each was from one of the aforementioned events. Yesterday I listened to Matthew James talk about NLP (neuro-linguistic programming) and Huna (the ancient Hawaiian spiritual and healing tradition).  NLP when first identified focused on “finding excellence in communication”.  It demonstrates how the conscious and unconscious mind work together. When I became a certified NLP practitioner there was no mention of the role energy might play in this process.  In his book The Biology Of Belief, Bruce Lipton addresses the role energy plays in belief.  Simply stated when you believe something and want to adopt a new belief, the amount of energy you can put behind the new belief will affect your success in actualizing that new belief.  James’ discussion went on to discuss The 3 Selves: the conscious mind; the unconscious mind and higher consciousness also referred to as energy, spirit or in Jung’s terminology the collective unconscious.

According to James the 3 Selves must be in full alignment with the 4 Aspects of who we are, a core component of Huna.  These are Spirit/energy, Mental, Emotional and Physical, which can be presented in a hierarchical fashion with a trickle down affect stemming from energy or purpose through the other aspects and manifesting in the physical world.  Go to www.Huna.com for more information.  Must say I appreciated the introduction to Huna and weaving it together with NLP teachings and technique.

Friday, September 16^th  I listened to a couple of consecutive programs sponsored at Peace Week conducted by Michael Beckwith, Deepak Chopra and Marianne Williamson.  Deepak talked about the importance of having quiet time each morning as you start your day.  He also discussed having a focus of peace for each day.

• Sunday: Being Peace;
• Monday: Feeling Peace -love, joy, compassion and equanimity;
• Tuesday: Thinking peace by letting peaceful thoughts permeate your thinking;
• Wednesday: Speaking peace focusing on creating happiness in the listener;
• Thursday: Acting peace furthering peace in your interactions with others;
• Friday: Creating peace engaging in approaches to reduce conflict, eliminate misunderstanding;, engaging in non violent speech,  and
• Saturday: Celebrating peace through ritual and celebration.

He suggests if you notice a strong emotional energy rising up in you, take a few deep breaths, smile to yourself, think a loving thought and then speak. This can even be done when you are answering a phone call.  According to Deepak it totally shifts the vibration.   This is a technique for living mindfully.  It can be used in all interactions.