Only 51% of the public polled
indicated “trust” in business to do
the right
thing!
What does
that say about how the public sees
business today?
Now
consider the fact that all these people
work for a business of some type! How
are they viewing their own
employer?
This
comes from a presentation by Mark
Sanborn during a simulcast on Friday,
May 11, 07. Along with Mark were 8
other nationally recognized leaders in
business, education, social reform and
sports.
So what
was their answer to the 51% “trust”
factor? What could business leaders and
individuals be doing to improve that
public perception? Here are six actions
they have seen work! ……
-
First
is to understand that Leadership is
the core answer. A key point is
that everyone can be a Leader right
where they are!
So as we
go through these actions, be aware that
no matter if you are the CEO or the
floor sweeper, the President or the
receptionist, you have the opportunity
to apply these actions right where you
are.
-
Where
and what do you focus your
leadership on. Tim Sanders formerly
of Yahoo, projected that two thirds
of all stocks will be screened for
their social value, not just the
financial value in just the next
few years.
That
means your focus will need to be more
than just financial. People, customers
and investors are asking what your
values are. What are you doing long and
short term that impacts the world and
its people?
Organizations as well
as people who focus only on financial
returns will find themselves in the
back of the pack. He had several
examples of how financial causes are
the least motivating, while providing a
more social cause binds people and
moves them forward in ways financial
focus could not. The organizations with
the financial focus as secondary
outperform the financial first
organizations the majority of the
time.
-
Focus
on actions that give people a long
term value rather than just short
term result.
John
Maxwell gave a great personal example
of how his money goes where his values
are. John’s father never paid an
allowance for tasks such as taking out
the garbage; he considers these short
term results. Instead, he paid for
reading books of value and set
expectations that tasks were part of
being in the family.
John
attributes this approach as the main
catalyst for his personal success. It
caused him to be prepared for
opportunities just as he is now doing
with his children.
Where is
your money going and what values are
being communicated? Could a change in
focus make a change in your business?
In your people?
-
“Comparisons are
a dead end street”, according to
Mike Sanborn. It’s really about
going beyond what others are doing.
It’s about how good you could be if
you allow yourself to do
so.
The
question was how fast can a bicycle be
peddled? Some indicated 20 mph; others
thought of the Tour de France going
down a mountain slope and indicted 70
mph. All of these answers are based on
comparisons to what each person was
familiar with.
John
Howard took his special developed
bicycle to Bonneville Salt Flats and
went 151 mph, and then a few years
later went 166 mph. There was nothing
for comparison, just John’s own
limitations!
Is your
organization busy comparing or focusing
on what it and its people could
be?
-
Using
chemical warfare to outdo your
competition. When Google was asked
how they beat AOL at the search
engine race, the answer was
chemical warfare!
You see
our brains give off chemicals based on
the mood one is in. When under stress
or negative situations a chemical is
produced which short circuits the brain
and can last for days.
When
happy and positive the brain
produces dopamine which has proven
to increase creativity by some 30%! It
also reenergizes people and increases
stamina!
Google
purposefully created an atmosphere
where people were happy and as stress
free as possible. AOL tended to be a
numbers driven culture with a much
higher stress level.
How would
you rate your organization’s culture?
How about your personal thinking and
environment?
-
People are born
as assets, not liabilities
according to Bill Strickland, a
social innovator. Strickland takes
welfare moms from Pittsburgh’s low
income north side and within months
has them trained and working in
high paying positions they could
only have dreamed of months
before!
With kids
he has over 80% going to college where
over 50% never get through high school.
How, because people are a result of
environment and a function of
environment.
By
creating a high level environment and
setting positive high level
expectations, these people respond like
most people do, they perform at or
above the expected levels. Strickland’s
advice, “Get away from sensitivity
groups, treat people like people.” They
respond when the comparisons are
removed!
How would
you describe your organization’s
approach to its people? How would you
describe your own approach?
There,
six actions out of many, many more from
nine leaders. A full day of information
on building yourself and your
organization.
Every
single one of the presenters also
indicated that once you have the
information and the ideas, it is up to
you to develop the skills to apply it.
That’s why we provide the opportunities
to
maximize your
organization’s
talent.
Take each of these actions and start
applying them. If you need assistance,
give us a call.
Till next week, use the slogan “Be all
you can be!”
