If your could only ask your CEO one question, it should be the following:
"What are you doing to improve your skills and your character?"
If the answer only covers the former, then "danger, Will Robinson."
More than likely he or she is running your organization into the ground. It may not happen immediately, but it's happening like atrophy.
How well do you execute on the following:
The answers to the above will reveal two things:
Your true values (the type you would deny or hide)
Opportunities for growth
I don't recommend seeking greatness if your motives are suspect. But if you are aligned with motivations around changing the world, it can be a good thing…just make sure you have people around you that aren't impressed-by you. I firmly believe that most people want to leave a mark before the clock runs out.
In the end, the roots of greatness are nestled in doing the small well. It's the stuff of obscurity, humility and authentic love/care. If those situations disappoint, you may have issues with self-worth or identity. Needing the applause of others is a dead-end road. Eventually, the "crowd" moves onto another show. Believe me, I know.
So start working on doing the small well. Slow down, be ok with coming in second, let someone else have the last piece of cake (figuratively speaking), find someone to love/care for.
Here's the secret:
If you won't do the small things well, you'll never be able to do the great things well.
Regardless of the business you're in, or a owner of, it's vital that you control your emotions. Specifcially, around how you treat your customers. Way too many organizations are led and operated by those who allow emotions to rule the day.
For example, if you're a retailer and a customer returns a shirt because the quality and fit are not up to their expectations, don't frown with disgust because their at the return desk/department. It's an opportunity to grow the relationship. Maybe there's a problem with QC at the factory where the shirts are sourced. Don't wait until there's three boxes of returned shirts to get clued into a problem. Customers do want to engage about your product-if you let them.
Sadly, most employees forget (if their thinking about the customer at all) that the customer comes in expecting to be treated…less than warm. When you or an employee confirm that expectation, the customer convinces themselves that another store is there better option. If the employee taking the return would have been prepared (or been trained/developed) in the art of restraint and vision, the result might be radically different. Controlling our emotional urges requires practice.
A friend once told me that you'll know how much a service/product provider really cares about you when a problem arises.
Maybe you should start a program around training/developing emotional control (EC). Yes, your manager/leaders will have to engage with the staff. But that's what they should be doing anyway. Think of what you might discover? Your customers might discover something remarkable in a landscape full of the "unremarkable."
Even with the economic conditions here in the States, specifically the employment situation, many still seem to be charmed by security. I'm alluding to security in the form of career/work. Now certainly, some have all but concluded that security is a myth. But I find many career/work pilgrims are disturbed by current trends.
I used to be in that group, but am now a freak of the not-so-weird variety. Why? I entered my period of mass disruption almost 4 years ago. Back then many felt certain about the future. Now…
Well, let's face it, life (all things in) has never been certain. And that's part of our problem. We bought the marketing message of "too big to fail." I know we're better off with a sense of not taking anything for granted. Especially since that's the way business and life were supposed to be conducted/lived. Leaders of the highly developed nature know this to be true.
We just haven't done a good job at handling success and good times.
Now's the time to embrace uncertainty and insecure times. Watch your values shift and find out what right alignment is all about. I think the following might open up for you:
I've written and taught about wearing masks before, but this post (The Joy of Quitting) from Seth got me thinking. What if we burned our masks (the type that suck away our authenticity) in some great fire?
Politicians tend to be prone to mask wearing. Ironic as that may be, since they really are supposed to be servants of the citizenry. This is soberly played out in the video clip link of President Nixon in Seth's post. The pre-speech interaction and honesty is worth the view.
When you wear masks to "project" or to deceive, you are taking a poison pill. A pill that takes life very slowly…over time. Most would agree that it's not worth the cost.
Have you come to that conclusion?
Here are a some stakeholders who stand to benefit when the masks are discarded:
One thing that drove me crazy when I was paying for my sins in corporate America was all of the hidden costs inside the organization. As a corporate manager I was always asked to cut expenses. However, I was rarely asked to look at those hidden costs. The costs that were silent killers. For example:
If your organization really wants to be efficient and lean, then take a look at the hidden costs. It could lead to a new curve. Failure to look always leads to atrophy. And as we know atrophy lives next door to extinction.
Maybe you have heard the statement, or read the bible verse, about God being opposed to the proud. Well, here are some reasons in our day and time that helps us understand why:
Next time you engage with a person full of pride, tell them God is on defense.
By the way, pride is always knocking on your door. Be careful.
Sometimes those involved in people leadership are like those in social media consulting, it seems like everyone thinks they can do it. But, alas, not everyone can. There are numerous people out there who have scars to prove my point. This is a problem.
I came across this post from Ed Batista, someone who has encouraged and informed me, that speaks to leaders who have an arsenal of corrupt instincts. These types of leaders act on their stressed and vitriol emotions. Not unlike the spoiled child who always threatens to take his bat on home if you don't play by his pre-set rules.
I won't give away Ed's insights, but I will give you some insights on what you must do in order to keep your heart and mind from being trampled upon-in any organization. Here are some things to consider:
The thought of mistakes can drive some people nuts-I'm one of them. Well, I used to be.
As time has moved on, I've have learned the art of, not only learning, but seeing mistakes as a tool to reinvent. It has served me well in the following ways:
I became a guide long before I became an entrepreneur. That's important because it reveals motivation. Don't get me wrong, I don't deserve an award or a round of applause. But for context purposes I believe it to be important.
When I first began this journey almost 7 years ago, we were living in a different time. People (specifically in the corporate world) were running at a fast clip and hiding. Fast clip in regards to chasing down success, and hiding in regards to thinking success (rewards/outward manifestations) could shield us from having to deal with who we really are.
Then came along the meltdown. The economic stuff caught many off guard and left many facing detours or "road closed ahead" moments. Maybe God was doing us a favor. The quintessential "hey, you need to take off the mask and be who you are" moment. There really is no substitute for authenticity.
But here's the deal; not many coaches, leaders, gurus, consultants, et al. are advising you to pause and look around. Seems like there's just a lot of selling going on. 7 years ago it was how to turn all that fast-track good will into the next big thing, or a seminar on how to retire at 50. Now we've moved to programs on starting your own business now that Fannie Mae has sold us down the river, or how to turn government stimulus funds into a cash-cow.
Maybe you were meant to follow the path described above. But don't go there unless your wiring (your personality, your vision, your talents) is a fit. Don't follow that road because of someone's or something's dogma persuades you to. Life is so brief.
I have a vested (read my book, read my bio, see what others are saying) interest in you following the path that your destiny is screaming for you to follow.
Here are some things to weigh as you decide who you should trust:
This post and mission are all about a matter of trust.