Trick Or Treat?

Happy Halloween! A wonderful holiday, no? A chance to knock on a stranger's door in pursuit of sweets. A day of parties. And, maybe most importantly, an opportunity, at least for a day, to dress up as who we'd really like to be.

Indeed, there's something special about the license to release one's inhibitions that brings out the best in many. Especially since most of us live our lives, likely our work lives, unable to speak with complete freedom and true expression. Unable to be who we'd really like to be. Too bad there aren't more Halloweens during the year. We certainly could use them.

Just ask the newest super hero: Sh- Sh- Shower Man.

Speaking of kids who don't know what to do when someone answers "Trick or treat?" with "Trick!", I offer a number of ruminations on the state of things:

• Who are these people who insist that everyone in this country must speak English? I have my theories about such people (starts with 'r' and rhymes with 'a cyst'), but I'll leave that for another day. Instead, I suggest that we demand that everyone in this country speak at least two languages with some fluency by the end of 2010 and three by the end of 2011. Maybe then we'll be able to connect with more people in this country and with those around the world. (And, no, slang does not count as a language, unless that slang is in one of your non-primary tongues.)

• People who can touch their elbows to the steering wheel while driving should be asked politely to take mass transit. Forever. A hypothesis: The speed that a car is driven on the open road is directly proportional to the distance the driver sits from the steering wheel. Just another reason to revoke the licenses of those who drive while resting their chin on the wheel. They're the ones going 45 mph in the fast lane.
  

• A terrific example of the brilliance of Rupert Murdoch: Naming his network Fox News. Is it any wonder then why people who watch Fox News actually believe that everything they see and hear on that network is, indeed, news? Of course these people also think that Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck speak the truth. I guess Rupert knew that with just enough scrolling text, flashing lights and nice colors, he could fool a large segment of the population. I bet his pets are also amazingly well-trained.
  

• Why aren't rank-and-file employees given the chance to participate more in decisions their companies make about efficiency, productivity, and customer service? Is it as one CEO once told me, "Why involve our customer service reps in improving the customer experience? They're just hourly workers."? Or, just possibly, might it be that those closest to the problem, those closest to customers, know best? Really. Why not opt for the Toyota model where factory line workers are asked regularly to find ways to improve efficiency? There, those who do the job are considered experts. For many companies in this country, that's a novel -- possibly a radical -- concept. One that could pay huge dividends (read: cost-savings, performance gains, customer service improvement and so much more) if operationalized.

• Company 'visions' are significantly under-utilized, under-communicated, and under-valued. And many fall short of serving their purpose: Galvanizing a workforce in the pursuit of a compelling dream. Those who think that the game of business is best played without emotion don't believe Jack Welch and scores of others who have written eloquently on the topic. They also overlook the obvious fact that people, those emotional life forms, do your work, serve your customers, and help you win in the marketplace. Why not tap into that vast emotional reservoir, ignite passion, instill pride and create an urgency that together may, if done well, help your organization achieve ever-greater performance? Why not, indeed.

• Why do many executives elect not to use specific metrics to track the success of their organization? Think fear has something to do with it? Are these the same people who took all of their college classes Pass/Not Pass? Want to motivate people to perform better? Set high goals (enough with 'stretch goals' already!), establish simple metrics to measure those goals and track your progress regularly. Here's a little secret to success: Let your people define the appropriate metrics. Without metrics, how else will your staff know if your company is winning? And know this: They want to know because winning is very important to them.

Enough ruminating. Remind me to eat less chocolate next year.

Enjoy the rest of your Halloween candy. But, please, don't put that costume too far away. You might try wearing it again soon. Your friends will get a kick out of it and you'll feel good. Sh- Sh- Shower Man knows these things.

See you next week.