Today's post isn't about a CEO or Fortune 500 company. It's about an 11-year-old girl who didn't make her school softball team. Her response to the news speaks volumes about her character and provides a lesson for us great big adults about creating opportunity out of so-called failure.
Instead of walking away in defeat, our young hero very intuitively got what was important: engage, don't avoid. She understood that if she wanted to achieve her goal - playing softball - she needed to maintain relationships rather than shy away from them, and she had to get back in the game rather than accept defeat.
Here's how she did it: A natural relater, it was important to her to first congratulate the girls who did make the team. Then, she went to the coach - in uniform - to ask if she could just practice with the team. The coach agreed. Just a few weeks later, the coach has been putting her into games. The girl who didn't make the cut is playing on the team. And, she's doing it because she didn't let rejection define her or limit her options.
We adults have plenty of reasons to be avoidant these day: layoffs, demoralization at work, lack of clear direction, distracted leadership, and of course, general financial malaise. As our young friend demonstrates, it really isn't the problem that defines us, it's what we decide to do with it that matters. Avoidance isn't the answer; Leaning in and engaging is.
Tell me about a recent defeat or let-down, and how you did, or would, overcome it.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Everyone's a Hater
One of my clients, a creative agency, used to have an amazingly collegial and inventive culture. Until last fall. Now, even the most committed employees hate their jobs. With downsizing, roles have changed, the mood is glum, the fun is gone. Things just aren't what they used to be. For anyone.
Organizations shouldn't be counting on their top performers and usual champions to maintain momentum. These people are just as derailed as everyone else. Even the most senior leaders - and business owners - are off their game.
In a moment when our collective impulse is to scramble for new business, or to just look busy, it's time to pause.
Pause and reflect on what's really important, to get grounded in your values as an organization and as individuals. Ask yourself and others why you do what you do. Breathe deeply and get grounded in yourself.
Think of what you could create if you were starting new. Because the world is different. So, we have to be different than we were before. As Marshall Goldsmith says, "What Got You Here Won't Get You There."
How do you think we can get people to start loving their jobs again?
Organizations shouldn't be counting on their top performers and usual champions to maintain momentum. These people are just as derailed as everyone else. Even the most senior leaders - and business owners - are off their game.
In a moment when our collective impulse is to scramble for new business, or to just look busy, it's time to pause.
Pause and reflect on what's really important, to get grounded in your values as an organization and as individuals. Ask yourself and others why you do what you do. Breathe deeply and get grounded in yourself.
Think of what you could create if you were starting new. Because the world is different. So, we have to be different than we were before. As Marshall Goldsmith says, "What Got You Here Won't Get You There."
How do you think we can get people to start loving their jobs again?
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
So...Now What?
When I ask clients about their talent development, diversity, and other culture-building initiatives these days, they're at a loss for words. Across industries, they don't know what the priorities are: should they be involved in these extracurricular activities right now, or just stick to their core jobs?
Employees don’t want to be seen working on initiatives like diversity recruiting or culture-building events because they don’t want people to think they have time for anything nonessential to the business. And, in every case, I hear about leaders being too busy trying to keep the ship upright to tell their people what's important.
I understand the plight of leadership in these tough times. Huge pressure to cut costs to the bone, let go of people they'd much rather keep, and just plain survive. It's genuinely lonely.
But, if leaders don't tell their people where to focus, strategy becomes subject to interpretation, and a lot of productivity gets lost. (And, psst, leaders! If you tell your people what you need, you might even feel less isolated.)
So, now what? How do we get leaders to tell us what's important?
Employees don’t want to be seen working on initiatives like diversity recruiting or culture-building events because they don’t want people to think they have time for anything nonessential to the business. And, in every case, I hear about leaders being too busy trying to keep the ship upright to tell their people what's important.
I understand the plight of leadership in these tough times. Huge pressure to cut costs to the bone, let go of people they'd much rather keep, and just plain survive. It's genuinely lonely.
But, if leaders don't tell their people where to focus, strategy becomes subject to interpretation, and a lot of productivity gets lost. (And, psst, leaders! If you tell your people what you need, you might even feel less isolated.)
So, now what? How do we get leaders to tell us what's important?
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
The Untapped Dollars in Diversity
Can companies really afford not to use every possible business resource to its full potential to help them survive and thrive? Well, I know of one resource that most companies significantly underleverage: their Employee Resource Groups.
ERGs (also called affinity or business resource groups) have long been sources of community for women, people of color, LGBT, differently-abled and other minority groups in companies. These groups have been great drivers of engagement for these employees; I've even heard employees describe ERGs as their strongest link to their companies.
Best-practice ERGs, from companies like IBM, Citi and Kodak, are both communities and powerful business resources that enhance the bottom line. But, most companies haven't leveraged their ERGs for direct business growth or support like these best practice examples. It's time to start.
Structured as more of a business resource, ERGs can help not only develop their own market niches, but also support initiatives that have nothing to do with their own communities. For example, the African Americans group at a pharma company could lead a project team working on product development of a new drug. Or, the LGBT group at a media company could sponsor research on new online ways to reach customers.
These initiatives don't directly benefit these ERGs, but they do increase their visibility and inclusion, and perceived contribution to the business. They foster greater engagement between ERG members and allies, and help organizations see their value beyond headcount and diversity policies.
So, I see two actions that need to take place:
ERGs (also called affinity or business resource groups) have long been sources of community for women, people of color, LGBT, differently-abled and other minority groups in companies. These groups have been great drivers of engagement for these employees; I've even heard employees describe ERGs as their strongest link to their companies.
Best-practice ERGs, from companies like IBM, Citi and Kodak, are both communities and powerful business resources that enhance the bottom line. But, most companies haven't leveraged their ERGs for direct business growth or support like these best practice examples. It's time to start.
Structured as more of a business resource, ERGs can help not only develop their own market niches, but also support initiatives that have nothing to do with their own communities. For example, the African Americans group at a pharma company could lead a project team working on product development of a new drug. Or, the LGBT group at a media company could sponsor research on new online ways to reach customers.
These initiatives don't directly benefit these ERGs, but they do increase their visibility and inclusion, and perceived contribution to the business. They foster greater engagement between ERG members and allies, and help organizations see their value beyond headcount and diversity policies.
So, I see two actions that need to take place:
- Company leaders need to reimagine how ERGs can be a valuable business resource, and clearly communicate that message so that employees will feel "safe" spending their time with an ERG
- ERGs need to strengthen their muscles as business resources, not only sources of community, and help their membership deliver on this new part of their mission
Friday, February 20, 2009
Don't Expect Any Thank-Yous
Just because your employees have a job during hard times doesn't mean they'll thank you for it. Even in a recession, you have to earn their thank-yous, their engagement, and their productivity.
If you aren't giving them a reason to want to work for your organization, your employees are likely to exert just the minimum effort, and they'll only stay until they find something else. I see this every day: secretive cellphone conversations in conference rooms with recruiters, searching online job sites, updating resumes.
Remember, this recession is unlike any before it. The Internet affords today’s workforce the ability to research, network and build relationships in ways never before available - and they can do it FOR FREE.
So, while the economy is in a tailspin, employees have no economic barrier to preparing for their next job - anytime they like. Whether that job is with their current company or another will be determined by how well leaders like you engage, dialogue and collaborate.
How will you engage, dialogue and collaborate? These demonstrations of respect and trust will engender loyalty that helps you retain your most valued and talented people.
If you aren't giving them a reason to want to work for your organization, your employees are likely to exert just the minimum effort, and they'll only stay until they find something else. I see this every day: secretive cellphone conversations in conference rooms with recruiters, searching online job sites, updating resumes.
Remember, this recession is unlike any before it. The Internet affords today’s workforce the ability to research, network and build relationships in ways never before available - and they can do it FOR FREE.
So, while the economy is in a tailspin, employees have no economic barrier to preparing for their next job - anytime they like. Whether that job is with their current company or another will be determined by how well leaders like you engage, dialogue and collaborate.
How will you engage, dialogue and collaborate? These demonstrations of respect and trust will engender loyalty that helps you retain your most valued and talented people.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Snap Out Of It!
Snap out of it, leaders!
With layoffs rampant, surviving jobholders rightly feel lucky to be holding on to their paychecks. But, as leaders, should we really be hanging our hats on employee fear and sense of relief?
As organizations and their people jump down the Maslow scale from creative openness to self-preservation, fear and frustration have replaced calm and vision as the modus operandi of leaders and managers.
Internal communications have become not-so-thinly-veiled threats reminding people to keep their noses to the grindstone. Recognition is perceived to be a frivolous luxury, and workloads are increasing to accomplish the work of departed colleagues. “Your job is always on the line and don’t you forget it,” I hear one manager say recently to their beleaguered staff. Atmospheres are poisoned; morale plummets; innovation and customer service suffer; and employees perform their jobs in fear.
This is like trying to grow vegetables in battery acid. There has to be a better way.
As leaders, we remain responsible for providing vision, guidance and encouragement in difficult times like these – especially in difficult times like these. It isn’t acceptable to rely on the dearth of outside opportunities to retain our employees, or to allow our own reactions to the economy to isolate us from our people.
Here are some guidelines I use with clients to help them manage their own fears and frustrations so they can resume being the true leaders their organizations need so desperately:
How else do you think we can snap out of the current leadership rut?
With layoffs rampant, surviving jobholders rightly feel lucky to be holding on to their paychecks. But, as leaders, should we really be hanging our hats on employee fear and sense of relief?
As organizations and their people jump down the Maslow scale from creative openness to self-preservation, fear and frustration have replaced calm and vision as the modus operandi of leaders and managers.
Internal communications have become not-so-thinly-veiled threats reminding people to keep their noses to the grindstone. Recognition is perceived to be a frivolous luxury, and workloads are increasing to accomplish the work of departed colleagues. “Your job is always on the line and don’t you forget it,” I hear one manager say recently to their beleaguered staff. Atmospheres are poisoned; morale plummets; innovation and customer service suffer; and employees perform their jobs in fear.
This is like trying to grow vegetables in battery acid. There has to be a better way.
As leaders, we remain responsible for providing vision, guidance and encouragement in difficult times like these – especially in difficult times like these. It isn’t acceptable to rely on the dearth of outside opportunities to retain our employees, or to allow our own reactions to the economy to isolate us from our people.
Here are some guidelines I use with clients to help them manage their own fears and frustrations so they can resume being the true leaders their organizations need so desperately:
- Get Into The Mindset – Figure out where you can take charge, and lead from there; you’re not a victim.
- Assess Priorities – What challenges should be tackled first, and what management tools are needed to address them? You may not accomplish your old strategic objectives, but you can certainly establish new ones.
- Find Your Champs – Which colleagues and staff, even outside partners or customers, can communicate your message and inspire the troops?
- Share What You Can – Be as transparent as possible, both at work and at home; your family is anxious, too, right now. Go for dialogue, not monologue; communication is a two-way street.
- Create Breathing Room – Taking a walk, being playful, and exercising don’t cost you, and your people will thank you for the outlet.
- Find Your Own Way – Not every approach works for everyone; what other approaches work for you?
How else do you think we can snap out of the current leadership rut?
Monday, February 9, 2009
What Turns People On...
What Turns People On...At Work?
What makes them want to go beyond what's expected of them, to give their all for themselves and their organization, to be FULLY ENGAGED?
In any economy, particularly a troubled one, fully engaged employees can make the difference between merely surviving – and thriving. In fact, organizations that have an engaged workforce are up to 20% more productive than those that are disengaged.
Yet, in a typical company, fewer than 1 in 3 employees are engaged, and 19% are actively disengaged. This has huge implications for productivity and retention, and the distractions of the current economy are making the situation worse.
What do you think gets people turned on at work?
What makes them want to go beyond what's expected of them, to give their all for themselves and their organization, to be FULLY ENGAGED?
In any economy, particularly a troubled one, fully engaged employees can make the difference between merely surviving – and thriving. In fact, organizations that have an engaged workforce are up to 20% more productive than those that are disengaged.
Yet, in a typical company, fewer than 1 in 3 employees are engaged, and 19% are actively disengaged. This has huge implications for productivity and retention, and the distractions of the current economy are making the situation worse.
What do you think gets people turned on at work?
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