The Truth Passes Through Three Phases:
My hope is that by sharing my learning and thoughts below on beliefs, competition and behavior it may help others as we all strive to do better. Validating these thoughts and learning from and with others helped us through some of the most challenging times we faced at different stages of our business. A special thanks to all of my CEOs and colleagues, as they provided this opportunity for many to learn. Focus on things larger to us than a number and we will achieve a bigger number. Beliefs It is about being part of something bigger than oneself. This is the foundation of a great team, making a true difference and removing hubris of self. Leaders and managers need to spend less time prescribing and more time defining what we are striving to accomplish and the "why" that aligns the organization and its people. Solving for Shareholders, Company, Employees and Customers are never mutually exclusive. It is amazing how you can find more revenue opportunities, reduce costs and increase employee engagement by focusing on and understanding the customer. In addition, service can carry you through a rough crisis which will happen. Insist on realism and make it a priority in our environment - it brings emotional fortitude to the organization. Recognize only by embracing conflict can it be resolved. It is actually "good" to agree to disagree, but start first by trying to understand. Being politically correct and passive aggressive is not acceptable or professional. The most important decisions and relationships are not based on money. Quit suppressing intrinsic with extrinsic motivation or manipulating people with money or titles. In great companies and great people it is not the answers they know but the questions they ask that make them different. Are we asking the right questions? We have an obligation to each other to hit our goals. The barriers and adversity are inevitable. It is our commitment to the purpose (people and world), each other and ourselves that will carry us. The point is: are we "All In" or do we have competing agendas and motivation. Goals are not used to manipulate people or a system. They are established with a foundation of trust to reinforce focus on meaningful work, personal growth, clarity on outcomes, validation of achievement and to teach us the real lessons about winning and losing. It is a commitment between management and employees that we are accountable to each other. Done right and over time, goals are a strong enablers to helping an organization achieve a potential it never thought possible. The only path to obtaining self-esteem is through actual accomplishments. Accepting anything other than this in a culture is disingenuous - not having it tied to team and purpose is mercenary. The greatest accomplishments in our lives typically involve and effect others. Give people the courage to act and ask. Fear can be the thief of all dreams and there is no time for doubting or just trying to survive. Character and integrity without performance is meaningless. Performance without character and integrity is poison. Never sacrifice your moral compass - the "means" matter just as much as the "end" to sustain the right culture and the committed engagement of all. If someone does something that is wrong from an ethical or moral perspective ask first if the real cause is our environment before judging the person. Learn to be our own harshest critics and celebrate. In the right environment it fires people up that tomorrow is an opportunity to be better and we have a purpose to come to work - it is never personal. In the wrong environment it turns into the sky is falling or pointing left in the room. The difference between the two is the presence or absence of leadership. An interesting observation is that organizations that cannot be open about their problems (opportunities) also do not know how to celebrate the wins - resulting in a definition of something other than actual winning. Great coaches know some wins deserve the toughest assessments. The details really matter. Get dirty. The challenge is, most people do not get excited about the details or get recognition for this level of work. I met a gentlemen who owns hundreds of fast food restaurants and he believes that you will know if a restaurant will make it by inspecting the cleanliness of the restrooms, kitchen and refrigerator. If those areas are not right, nothing else matters. It is not about the kitchen or restrooms, it is the lack of attention and commitment that permeates into everything. He went on to say that the General Manager of his best performing store (despite its location) is not good with Excel and reports but her staff has been there for years, the establishment is spotless and they know many of their customers by name. He sent her on a cruise to show his appreciation for being the best. Coaches lose games and players win games. This is the mindset of the greatest coaches. Competition Competition is a wonderful thing. The greatest thing about business is we get to do it not for a trophy but to serve others. Being right doesn't matter. Accomplishing the mission does. Being competitive with your own team is misguided. A team with no confidence because of a leader dominating the stage is not playing to win. Healthy competition occurs when we are pushing each other, we find motivation from each other, are celebrating our collective progress, and become better from the experience. Unhealthy competition is when people are pitted against each other, it is win at all costs, commitments are not followed through at all levels of the organization and jealousy, self interest and hostility are accepted in the environment. Life is Not Fair. Get up and be fair. Never Ever Settle. It is our obligation to ourselves. Behavior Be Relentless and Authentic. Let's get real or let's not play. Continuously Learn:
Admit when you are wrong. So hard to do and so liberating when done. Do not take things personally. Do this by not making it personal for others. Do a better job of following up with people and less time worrying about why they haven't. Stop trying to sound smart. Leaders that execute speak simply and directly. They know how to simplify things so others can understand and act. Using long, complicated, or obscure words not only defeats the goal of communication, it typically hides the reality of the situation or is centered on an individual's personal brand or agenda. Learn to trust others and, when in doubt, ask them. I wish I would have done this more often. Helping people reach their potential starts with holding ourselves accountable. Helping others solve their problems seems to make my problems not appear so big. A new friend signed his book for me, "Be Human". I do not view that as advice but rather a mandate for living. Glad he called it out for me. Some people will claim I have violated many of these statements - And they are right. "Don't Give Up. Don't Ever Give Up" - Jim Valvano (1946-1993)
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AuthorBob Olson Archives
April 2014
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