Not so for these folks.
On this Memorial Day, join us in honoring those who put it all on the line every day. For their family, for country, for freedom, for us.
Happy Memorial Day.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Remembering Those Who Give It All
Not so for these folks.
On this Memorial Day, join us in honoring those who put it all on the line every day. For their family, for country, for freedom, for us.
Happy Memorial Day.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Dreamers
A confession: I am oft accused of being a dreamer. It's no doubt related to my strong belief that work and the workplace can and should be stimulating, rewarding and, all things considered, healthy. A place where you can express yourself, where you can innovate. A place where you can learn and teach. A place you enjoy, possibly one that is even fun. A place where you can truly make a difference. Call me naive, which many do, but it is possible. These places exist! I've seen them up close and personal! And over the years, enlightened managers have even engaged us to help them create this type of workplace in their organization. We know it's possible, because we've seen the amazing transformation that occurs -- the enthusiasm and energy that are unleashed, the productivity that is gained -- when certain elegant steps are taken to create an organization built to run.
It all starts with a dream: A compelling aspiration, a cherished ambition. Big thinking uninhibited by barriers, politics and history. A goal that causes excitement. In our parlance, The Brass Ring.
Where are those dreamers? Those managers, some might call them leaders, who know that their organization needs remodeling, retooling to become something special? Have the economic events of the last few years scared them into hiding? Are they hunkered down behind their desks waiting all too patiently for this economic climate to blow over? Worse, have they stopped dreaming, accepting instead a compromised reality?
I say it's time to dream again.
Possibly like this guy. An engineer believes that a version of Star Trek's U.S.S. Enterprise can be created in 30 years at a cost of roughly $1 trillion. Regardless of whether you are a fan of the series or think $1 trillion is excessive for an vehicle without an integrated iPhone connection and one that doesn't park itself, the idea of building a spacecraft capable of exploring the universe is compelling, is it not? Save for warp drive, much of the technology required to build such a vessel apparently already exists. The remainder will require invention during the design and construction phases. But don't let that deter you. Velcro, Teflon, even Tang were products of our quest to land on the moon in the 1960s. That was over 40 years ago. Think of what we're now capable of and what might follow some of the Star Trek-inspired inventions already part of our reality.
The same can be said for the workplace. Is it not the time to explore what steps can be taken to create a workplace that stimulates, excites and inspires people to perform their jobs brilliantly? Is now not the time to develop an organization that operates with creativity, energy and high productivity? Is now not the time to captivate the aspirations and ambitions of your people? Is now not the time to travel by star ship rather than by bus (thanks, Jim Collins)?
Now is the time. Dump the bus. Build a star ship. It won't take 30 years or anywhere close to $1 trillion. And we won't endanger the entire universe by attempting to create warp drive.
It is time to dream again.
It all starts with a dream: A compelling aspiration, a cherished ambition. Big thinking uninhibited by barriers, politics and history. A goal that causes excitement. In our parlance, The Brass Ring.
Where are those dreamers? Those managers, some might call them leaders, who know that their organization needs remodeling, retooling to become something special? Have the economic events of the last few years scared them into hiding? Are they hunkered down behind their desks waiting all too patiently for this economic climate to blow over? Worse, have they stopped dreaming, accepting instead a compromised reality?
I say it's time to dream again.
The same can be said for the workplace. Is it not the time to explore what steps can be taken to create a workplace that stimulates, excites and inspires people to perform their jobs brilliantly? Is now not the time to develop an organization that operates with creativity, energy and high productivity? Is now not the time to captivate the aspirations and ambitions of your people? Is now not the time to travel by star ship rather than by bus (thanks, Jim Collins)?
Now is the time. Dump the bus. Build a star ship. It won't take 30 years or anywhere close to $1 trillion. And we won't endanger the entire universe by attempting to create warp drive.
It is time to dream again.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Enough With the Lists Already
Reader beware: It's rant week.
Those damn lists. Have you had it about up to here with all of the seemingly millions of business- and lifestyle-related lists that seem to be everywhere? One can't seem to get through Fortune, Forbes, Yahoo! or Entertainment Weekly these days without a barrage of dos and don'ts lists. Ten things never to do in an interview. Ten things always to do in an interview. Five expressions never to use with your boss. Seven behaviors of successful managers. Five articles of clothing never to wear at work (beyond stripes with plaids). Ten ways to make her happy. Seven things that will make him totally furious. Ten ideas never
to think while riding a bike, especially a red one. Five ways to
ensure a happy marriage. Nine things to never, ever forget. Seven foods that cause insanity.
And that's just lists we've stumbled across in the last couple of weeks.
Granted, some of the myriad lists have useful suggestions. Yes, we know not to make racist, sexist and/or vulgar jokes during an interview. Or ever. They're not funny. Yes, eating fatty foods will make us fat. Yes, being honest is a good quality for the successful manager. It's a good quality for everyone, for that matter. Yes, a bathing suit at work is not likely a very good idea, even if you're ripped. And, yes, banana creme pie does, without any doubt whatsoever, cause insanity. (Look it up if you're skeptical.) But, really, most of the guidance provided in these lists is vacuous at best.
And even if the lists contain a modicum of accuracy, how in the world are we supposed to remember all of the information in them? We're talking hundreds if not thousands of dos and don'ts. Impossible. Overwhelming. And no way to stay current. Too much thinking; not enough doing. It was so much easier when all we had to remember was to be a good bee. (Romper Room? Remember?)
I say enough with the lists already. Save for this one.
Living life according to my Uncle Bill. In a personal, seminal, whiskey-induced moment a number of years ago, my then-aging (and now long deceased) Uncle Bill laid out his approach to life. Beginning with the insight that 'it took me getting old to finally figure it out', my uncle claimed that a wonderful life could be had by doing just a handful of things. I present them here as a way to honor him and, just possibly, to undermine my argument above about lists. This one might be worth remembering.
Imagine a gravel-voiced, 90-something New Yorker, pipe in mouth, glass of whiskey in hand, outlining the following:
1. Be afraid of no one. Not the authorities, not the police, no one at work. Especially no one at work. (This from a Jew who grew up among Nazis.)
2. Make sure those you love know you love them. Assume nothing. Tell them. You can't say it often enough. You can't prove it enough.
3. Always tell the truth. Your honor is all you have. Don't jeopardize it. (His actual words were more graphic...) And the more you lie, the more stories you have to remember. So why bother?
4. If you like stuffed cabbage, eat stuffed cabbage. Don't let anyone tell you how to live your life. Aside from your wife. It's her job.
5. Grow old, but don't grow up. Maturity makes people boring. Don't be boring.
I miss you, Bill. I haven't forgotten. And like I promised you, I'm trying.
Those damn lists. Have you had it about up to here with all of the seemingly millions of business- and lifestyle-related lists that seem to be everywhere? One can't seem to get through Fortune, Forbes, Yahoo! or Entertainment Weekly these days without a barrage of dos and don'ts lists. Ten things never to do in an interview. Ten things always to do in an interview. Five expressions never to use with your boss. Seven behaviors of successful managers. Five articles of clothing never to wear at work (beyond stripes with plaids). Ten ways to make her happy. Seven things that will make him totally furious. Ten ideas never
to think while riding a bike, especially a red one. Five ways to
ensure a happy marriage. Nine things to never, ever forget. Seven foods that cause insanity.And that's just lists we've stumbled across in the last couple of weeks.
Granted, some of the myriad lists have useful suggestions. Yes, we know not to make racist, sexist and/or vulgar jokes during an interview. Or ever. They're not funny. Yes, eating fatty foods will make us fat. Yes, being honest is a good quality for the successful manager. It's a good quality for everyone, for that matter. Yes, a bathing suit at work is not likely a very good idea, even if you're ripped. And, yes, banana creme pie does, without any doubt whatsoever, cause insanity. (Look it up if you're skeptical.) But, really, most of the guidance provided in these lists is vacuous at best.
And even if the lists contain a modicum of accuracy, how in the world are we supposed to remember all of the information in them? We're talking hundreds if not thousands of dos and don'ts. Impossible. Overwhelming. And no way to stay current. Too much thinking; not enough doing. It was so much easier when all we had to remember was to be a good bee. (Romper Room? Remember?)
I say enough with the lists already. Save for this one.
Living life according to my Uncle Bill. In a personal, seminal, whiskey-induced moment a number of years ago, my then-aging (and now long deceased) Uncle Bill laid out his approach to life. Beginning with the insight that 'it took me getting old to finally figure it out', my uncle claimed that a wonderful life could be had by doing just a handful of things. I present them here as a way to honor him and, just possibly, to undermine my argument above about lists. This one might be worth remembering.
Imagine a gravel-voiced, 90-something New Yorker, pipe in mouth, glass of whiskey in hand, outlining the following:
1. Be afraid of no one. Not the authorities, not the police, no one at work. Especially no one at work. (This from a Jew who grew up among Nazis.)
2. Make sure those you love know you love them. Assume nothing. Tell them. You can't say it often enough. You can't prove it enough.
3. Always tell the truth. Your honor is all you have. Don't jeopardize it. (His actual words were more graphic...) And the more you lie, the more stories you have to remember. So why bother?
4. If you like stuffed cabbage, eat stuffed cabbage. Don't let anyone tell you how to live your life. Aside from your wife. It's her job.
5. Grow old, but don't grow up. Maturity makes people boring. Don't be boring.
I miss you, Bill. I haven't forgotten. And like I promised you, I'm trying.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Attraction
Thanks to the many of you who took the time to answer the two questions we posed last week. If you recall (and who can, given that it was an entire week ago?), we asked:
Much has been written about physical attraction. The psychological research literature is littered with studies attempting to explain the peculiarities and vagaries of human attractiveness. Rather than asking you to read the many studies that have been conducted, let me, as a public service to you our cherished reader, sum up the entire body of literature on human attraction thusly:
1. We are attracted to other humans we find attractive. (I'm not kidding.)
2. What we find physically attractive in others varies from person to person. (This is a very important finding, as you'll soon see.)
3. Certain emotions -- happiness, optimism -- can increase physical attraction while other emotions -- unhappiness, anger -- can decrease it. (A key learning: Smile!)
4. We tend to be more attracted to those who wear clothing suitable ('flattering') to their body and who are clean.
5. Familiarity breeds attractiveness.
6. Our attraction for others tends to increase if they are attracted to us.
That's about it. But before we move on, take a moment to review Findings #2 and #5 above. These hold huge implications, as they clearly imply that:
It's true. I could walk you through the probability argument -- which would take some time and a good deal of space on a white board -- but suffice it to say that there is, without doubt, at least one person outside of your family you see regularly -- during your commute, at work, around town -- who finds you physically attractive.
Argue if you must, but it would be futile. Data never lie. Someone is physically attracted to you. And the more people you see regularly, the more who are attracted to you. Accept it. Better yet, enjoy it.
But while there's been much examination of physical attraction -- for obvious reasons -- little thinking has been devoted to what attracts us to employers or what employers find attractive in us as workers. That's where we come in -- and where your input has already been so very helpful. For we are in the process of developing a research study to explore the two questions we posed last week. The results we believe will hold important implications both for employers and individuals seeking work. Stay tuned.
In the meantime, who do you think it is who finds you attractive? That guy on the train? The woman down the hall? The man who makes your latte? The woman at the gym? Maybe the one you see in the elevator. Yes, maybe.
Keep your eyes open. It's going to be a good week.
- All things equal (i.e., job, pay, benefits, commute, physical work space), what would attract you to an employer? And,
- All things equal (i.e., education, experience, skills, abilities), what would attract an employer to you?
1. We are attracted to other humans we find attractive. (I'm not kidding.)
2. What we find physically attractive in others varies from person to person. (This is a very important finding, as you'll soon see.)
3. Certain emotions -- happiness, optimism -- can increase physical attraction while other emotions -- unhappiness, anger -- can decrease it. (A key learning: Smile!)
4. We tend to be more attracted to those who wear clothing suitable ('flattering') to their body and who are clean.
5. Familiarity breeds attractiveness.
6. Our attraction for others tends to increase if they are attracted to us.
That's about it. But before we move on, take a moment to review Findings #2 and #5 above. These hold huge implications, as they clearly imply that:
- Attractiveness takes many forms, yours being one of them; and, statistically speaking
- Someone currently finds you attractive.
Argue if you must, but it would be futile. Data never lie. Someone is physically attracted to you. And the more people you see regularly, the more who are attracted to you. Accept it. Better yet, enjoy it.
But while there's been much examination of physical attraction -- for obvious reasons -- little thinking has been devoted to what attracts us to employers or what employers find attractive in us as workers. That's where we come in -- and where your input has already been so very helpful. For we are in the process of developing a research study to explore the two questions we posed last week. The results we believe will hold important implications both for employers and individuals seeking work. Stay tuned.
In the meantime, who do you think it is who finds you attractive? That guy on the train? The woman down the hall? The man who makes your latte? The woman at the gym? Maybe the one you see in the elevator. Yes, maybe.
Keep your eyes open. It's going to be a good week.
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