“Busy” is the enemy of consistent reflection; when are you reflecting on life? Without consistent reflection you will not reach your full potential.
Steve Laswell, CSC The People Developer
Q: How hard was it to re-focus with such a short time off the medal podium and the next event?
A: I had about five coaches on my rear in the warm-down pool making me re-focus so I didn't have a choice.
Pro-active: An emerging leader is on your radar, you don't want to lose them to the competition while "that position" opens up, you need to send culture message: "We invest in our leaders", and/or you know what got them here won't get them there... some "tweaking" of business behavior is in order
Incentive: Your culture is about the people; this year a few select leaders will not only receive a "job well done" merit raise but the career-impacting investment of a coaching engagement a individualized road map to even greater success.
Re-active: A leader's business behavior is hurting them and costing you with undesired turnover, disengaged direct reports, HR complaints, office conflict, low productivity; it has become a corrective measure you hope to keep the employee.
"People change when they hurt enough that they have to; learn enough that they want to, and receive enough that they are able to."
~ John Maxwell
"If you are selected for coaching, the attitude, as they say, is gratitude.... You have after all, just been handed a customized map of the road to success. And fortunate you are ... in the employ that values you despite your flaws and actually — mirable dictum — wants to invest in you."
{The broken link to the video is corrected; please forgive the inconvenience}
It’s funny how people become friends. Some just fall in line, some just by repeated meetings…some by a grand collision of paths. ― Shawn Lein
Photo by tuppus on flickr
Have you seen Brad Paisley and Robbie Williams’ video – Collision of Worlds?
Written for the movie Cars 2, the song is about Mater the tow truck. It seems Mater has trouble adjusting to local customs, as he travels the world…before saving the day. (No, I have not seen the movie).
Collision of Worlds explores the differences between American and British English cultures and language in a fun sort of way.
Last week, while in Montana, my early flight was canceled by a winter storm. But what a gift…as the snow fell, over breakfast the CEO rehearsed the Story of how our paths connected last year.
It is still amazing how our lives “collided” and the Story since. My work began with the CEO before expanding to the other partners. A few months later, an Employee Leadership Development program was launched.
The changes over the past 5 months are as remarkable as the transformation of the landscape by the snow.
A Positive Collision
Most often we think of the damage caused by a collision associating it with motor vehicles smashing into trees or crashing into each other. We buy collision insurance.
In the tragic story of the Costa Concordia cruise ship, it crashed into the rocks. According to the Associated Press CEO Pierluigi Foschi stated they the company
…could not offer proper assistance because the captain’s description “did not correspond to the truth.”
This story provides another illustration of how lives collide … decisions made by individuals have impact; creating the story.
Collision and the Story
The business of life is people and this is where collision takes on a deeper meaning.
A collision is an encounter between people resulting in an exchange or transformation of energy or life.
Collision is about the story and there are at least 5 characteristics:
Everyone has a story – look around your office or as you move about your day; how well do you see the people?
Every day we add to our story – some days are pretty ordinary, some are significant; what happened today in your story?
Today, you will have influence on someone’s story; was it for better or worse?
There is always more to the story – rarely do we have the full story; how open are you to what you don’t know?
You can write a new story – really good news; how well are you at accepting personal responsibility?
The “collision of lives” in Western Montana continues like ripples in the water. What started when one CEO and I joined our stories, moved to include the other two partners and then, the employees. On my last visit, I presented to a group of over 40 people from the city … a “collision of lives”.
What is the affect of your life on others?
When people encounter you what type of energy exchange do they experience?
Please forward to a friend or Tweet if you like this article; and I would love to hear your comment below.
Newly released, available to you and your team, a must have book:
THE PEOPLE PROJECT:
Your Guide to Changing Behavior and Growing Your Influence as a Leader
Almost everything – all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart. – Steve Jobs
Photo by accent on eclectic on flickr
Death helps us live.
The business of life is…
…people.
Much of my work involves reminding people to See the People.
There is a lot of pressure in the workplace and strain on relationships at home and work. The chaos and lack of life harmony is taking its toll.
The energy crisis is human not oil. Look around, do you have enough energy to support yourself physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually?
No surprise here: lack of energy causes us to be more susceptible to fear. It takes energy to engage others; it is so easy to lose sight of the person with all the demands and pace of life.
When a problem grows between two people, they stop seeing each other and often stop wanting to see each other; forget finding solutions. Just think – politics, custody battles, domestic violence, office battles, “them”/“us”.
To deal with what matters most – the people – requires a reality check: we will all die. As Steve Jobs said,
Almost everything – all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important.
What a reality check: to embrace our mortality.
Perhaps you re-call Habit 2 of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Begin with the end in mind. Habit 2 is an invitation to ask the question: How do I want my life to be remembered?
Yes, the business of life is people. In fact, the business of business is people - something eternal trumps the temporal: people.
How do you want to be remembered?
There is a third response
How we show up with each other – especially when we feel threatened – is a key leadership issue. As you know, fear kicks us into survival mode:
Stand and Fight – “That’s right, bring it on, I’m ready for this one; make my day.”
Tuck and Run – “Who needs this? I don’t want or need this; I’m out a here.”
Does it have to be either or? Is there not another option? I believe there is and that is to show up super-naturally …
3. Stay and Engage – “I will see you and listen to the Story; let’s enter explore what’s going on here, together.”
Is that possible?
Beyond Fear … Freedom!
To stay and engage requires more than survival reactions … we have a choice.
Remember, fear is that “unpleasant feeling of anxiety or apprehension caused by the presence oranticipation of danger”. (Encarta Dictionary)
How do we stay and engage?
Step 1: Live Aware
Pay attention, notice your behavior; how are you show up … especially when feeling threatened? When anticipating a threat? Identify your default setting; do prefer to stand and fight or tuck and run?
Step 2: Create Space
When we create space we can access the third option: stay and engage. We have room to see the person and engage dialog for solutions.
Are you getting adequate rest and exercise? How is your diet? When do you relax, read, meditate or pray; listen to the story? Do you have energy to stay and engage?
How will you manage your emotions so you can see the person?
To create space we have to control the P.A.C.E. – four easy steps to help you stay and engage.
P – Pause and Breath
It’s amazing how a deep, cleansing breath serves us, when we feel threatened.
A – Ask Questions
Why am I feeling threatened?
What’s really going on here?
Do I want to control or have influence?
What’s the story?
C – Challenge Beliefs
What am I accepting as true…is it? How do I know?
E – Edit the Story
If I see the other person
Acknowledge their story, and
Admit that there is more to the story
How might I imagine a different story, than the one I’m telling myself right now?
Remember, freedom is “a state in which somebody is able to act and live as he or she chooses, without being subject to any undue restraints or restrictions”. (Encarta Dictionary)
We the freedom to move from either/or … we can choose to stay and engage when the hard-wired natural bent is to either stand & fight or tuck & run.
Number our days aright…
This ancient Hebrew verse sounds appropriate as we seek to live well with others in freedom…
Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:12)
What do you hear? Please comment below.
Newly released, available to you and your team, a must have book:
THE PEOPLE PROJECT:
Your Guide to Changing Behavior and Growing Your Influence as a Leader
Mankind must evolve – for all human conflict – a method which rejects revenge, aggression, and retaliation. The foundation of such method is love. – Martin Luther King, Jr.*
With the expectation to “do more with less” and the bare-bone staffing of business the pressure opens the door for increased interpersonal conflict.
The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right place but to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting place.
– Dorothy Nevill
Photo by Clarity on flickr
When was the last time you were in a meeting or a hallway conversation where you were 1) caught you off guard 2) talking about something that really matters, and 3) you were emotionally stirred up?
Okay, maybe it wasn’t at the office. Think of the story when this happened; did you lean into it, emotionally engaged but not thinking clearly? Or did you back away, let it go, but left it unresolved?
Here’s a video where I provide four steps on how to re-visit the conversation; return to have a “hard chat”. I hope you’ll take a moment to watch it…
Headline: what do you want to talk with them about?
State the Facts: what happened? Not what you thought about it, your opinion on the meeting…just the facts: what happened?
Ask the Question: ask an open-ended question (cannot be answered yes or no) that engages the other person in dialogue
Silence. Wait for their response; repeat the question if necessary, but wait for their answer.
This is not hard to do, it’s just not easy. Rehearsing is important, especially when the emotions want to take charge. You may find it helpful to write your thoughts out. Edit. Listen for and eliminate judgmental words or opinions … factually speaking, what happened?
What do you think; please comment below.
Newly released, available to you and your team, a must have book:
THE PEOPLE PROJECT:
Your Guide to Changing Behavior and Growing Your Influence as a Leader
The ear of the leader must ring with the voices of the people.
- Woodrow T. Wilson
Photo by US Mission Geneva
We were at Border’s Cafe for Rachel’s coaching appointment. We had identified part of what was holding her back as a leader – a lack of confidence; she was not using her voice effectively.
If leadership is about having influence it’s pretty hard to achieve if your voice is silent. While she was writing in her coaching journal, I excused myself. Making my way to the check-out area there was a display rack of various gift cards.
I selected this gift card and gave it to Rachel. I suggested the gift card message could serve as a reminder back at the corporate offices. She agreed and placed on her desk where she would see it.
Beyond the sound made when we use our vocal organs, voice represents our ability to express our thoughts, to contribute to the conversation.
Recently I have been amazed at how often this matter of being heard has come up. The stories reveal the affect of not being heard by the boss or sometimes, a complete lack of response to ideas.
What’s the affect of a silent voice?
When there is a failure to listen, to hear someone’s voice there is a price to pay. The ramification when leaders fail to lift every voice is significant; for example:
The loss of employee engagement
Doubt regarding one’s value to the organization
The lack of respect diminishes trust
Innovation is limited
Opportunity for improvement, lost
How often does limiting another’s voice become a strategy to suppress their ideas?
How often is limiting another’s voice driven by a need to control.
To silence the voice of others is a leadership limiting behavior.
Whose voice and whose responsibility is it?
There are two sides to this story; it’s not always the boss not listening. Bret Simmons, faculty member of the College of Business, University of Nevada – Reno recently wrote about how beliefs can lead to a self-limiting use of the voice.
Referencing The Academy of Management Journal study by James Detert and Amy Edmondson; he summarizes five beliefs that can misguide employee thoughts towards those in authority causing them to exhibit “self-protective silence”.
1. Negative career consequences of voice: e.g. if you want advancement opportunities in today’s world, you have to be careful about pointing out needs for improvement to those in charge
2. Don’t embarrass the boss in public: e.g. you should always pass your ideas for improvement by the boss in private first, before you speak up publicly at work.
3. Don’t bypass the boss upward: e.g. loyalty to your boss means you don’t speak up about problems in front of his or her boss.
4. Need solid data or solutions (to speak up): e.g. unless you have clear solutions, you shouldn’t speak up about problems.
5. Presumed target identification: e.g. it is not good to question the way things are done because those who have developed the routines are likely to take it personally.
From my executive coaching experience, a silent voice is a shared leadership challenge. Yes, some leaders driven by insecurity, the pace of life, a need to control, or due to poor communication skills silence the voices. However, some employees – misguided by false beliefs – remain in silence.
Bottom line: silence limits leadership effectiveness. Where are you in the story?
THE PEOPLE PROJECT NOW AVAILABLE
If you think this might be a handy guide for you or someone in your circle of influence I would really appreciate it if you would help me offer the coaching support this book provides.
Whether something brings them joy or pain, when people share and engage in communities, they form bonds and relationships with others who acknowledge their situation. – Liana Evans, from post on Search Engine Watch
Last week I shared the story behind co-hosting the #leadfromwithin Tweet Chat with Lolly Daskal and the role of social media.
The theme of our #leadfromwithin Tweet Chat is Your Story: Listen. Learn. Lead. If you have not participated in this social media platform I encourage you to explore.
How does the #leadfromwithin chat room work? Ten questions are tweeted during the hour; the community tweets and interacts. Lolly provides a full transcript (go here for Your Story: Listen. Learn. Lead.) for review.
Here are some of the Tweets others shared on my topic …
Q1: What is the power of “story”?
@scedmonds: Story is the weaving of our past with our potential future.
@emeliasam: Stories are formats that are universally understood…that is power.
@KamKansas: You can’t hate someone once you know their story.
@drbret: Stories are intimate, personal. Good stories connect on an intellectual, emotional, and spiritual level.
@Steve_Sass: Story provides examples of past experience to inspire future success.
@EdwardColozzi: Story is the way we humans strive to express, teach, learn, honor, and remember each other.
@juanortiztweets: Stories allow us to examine what we do with what has been done, and learn from the good and bad on both sides.
@CareerSpan: The narrator is the main character experiencing every emotion and thought.
@KateNasser: The power of story – it ignites more thoughts than the information delivered.
@gracinginginity: If you listen you may discover someone else’s nugget of gold.
@JesseLynStoner: Stories are how the ancient bards transmitted our culture.
@grit08: It lives and breathes your truth.
@LollyDaskal: Wherever I go, I find that my story has been there before me.
@StrategicMonk: Story is narrative; it is how we understand how our experiences fit together and shape who we have become up to now.
@OlliesLounge: Stories engage you, show you a new world.
@ThinDifference: Story is what people will say about you after the dust settles.
@John_Paul: Story has the power to capture our imagination and take us on adventures into new domains.
@LynnFishman: Stories speak to the dreamer in all of us.
@scedmonds: Stories connect the HEART with the HEAD and can inspire marvelous success.
@Josepf: Stories can also be FALSE, and when we tell them others can listen and help guide/point-out to then allow for renewal.
@Natasha_D_G: Story is powerful as it connects the dots transforming specks into a valuable picture.
@KateNasser: Stories used in teaching allow students to discover the truth vs. hear the truth.
@TerriKlass: Stories help us to define ourselves and understand where we need to go.
@emmakuhlpitts: People love hearing stories because it makes it personal.
@Versalytics: Stories provide a means to connect and paint pictures.
@JFeskorn: Our Story: where we’ve been, who we are becoming, and who we want to be.
@KamKansas: We are hard-wired for stories. We don’t put our kids to bed with PowerPoints of the Three Little Pigs.
@Cybuhr: A book must be open for the story to be read. We must be open to share our story.
@LollyDaskal: Tell your story, change the world.
@growinggold: Just off the phone w/my mother…today’s been an emotional day…hoping #leadfromwithin lifts my spirits; reminds me why I am here!
@soniafarace: Stories give us inspiration to move forward and believe that he impossible IS POSSIBLE
@scedmonds: The most inspired speakers connect us with ideas through stories. They make sense and provide meaning.
Q2: What happens when we pay attention to our story?
Q3: What are the benefits of embracing our story?
Q4: Why do we resist our story?
Q5: How does listening to our story accelerate personal growth?
Q6: How does story guide our future?
Q7: How do we use story telling in leadership?
Q8: How do we engage story to develop leaders?
Q9: What happens when you know someone’s story?
Q10: What have you learned from your own story?
How would you answer these questions? Which answers resonate with you?
When will you slip in the Tweet Chat room?
I hope you enjoy this story behind a Tweet Chat – Your Story: Listen. Learn. Lead. For more background you can read my post here.
Part of this story, for me, is the potential of social media.
A connection is made through LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, etc.
Then deepened…cultivated using the phone or in person
Lolly, please accept my gratitude for our new connection. Yes, for the privilege of being a part of your #leadfromwithin community of reflective, caring people.
Guess what? You may find a party…a fun place where you give more than you get. But what you get in return are lasting friendships.
So go ahead and join the party (social media). But think of it as just that – a fun place where you give more than you get. But what you get in return are lasting friendships, many which lead to business opportunities. – David Meerman Scott
So go ahead and join the party (social media). But think of it as just that – a fun place where you give more than you get. But what you get in return are lasting friendships, many which lead to business opportunities. – David Meerman Scott
Social Media creates opportunities to connect with others like never before. David Meerman Scott likes to think of the Web as a city. For him social media – LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, etc. are the “cocktail parties”.
That’s how Lolly Daskal and I connected March 22; she sent this message through LinkedIn:
Steve,
I was wondering if you would be interested in being a guest on my #leadfromwithin leadership chat.
Let me know.
Thanks
Lolly
The next day we connected by phone and enjoyed a twenty, “New York Minute” call. (Yes, we covered a lot of ground quickly). Our phone call allowed us to connect at a deeper level as we shared our passion for people development and supporting one another to achieve our best.
And with that, Lolly invited me to co-host her significant #leadfromwithin Tweet Chat. I still remember hanging up and wondering “What did I just agree to?” You see, at that time I was a newbie on Twitter and slow to embrace it.
As Lolly laid out her goal for the one hour Tweet Chat, it captured my heart as an executive coach. Each week she her co-host is to Teach, Inspire, and Empower. When you visit her leadership chat room you’ll see how #leadfromwithin has a heart-centered, inside/out theme associated with personal growth and leadership – the people.
The moment arrived Tuesday, May 17. My theme – Your Story: Listen. Learn. Lead.
Here are the 10 questions tweeted during the hour. Yes, there were a lot of great thoughts, but for now, here are mine.
Q1: What is the power of “story”?
A1: Story allows objectivity and context so we can see what we missed in real time
A1: Story gives us freedom to edit, but not re-write
A1: Story invites us to engage the process of change & personal development
Q2: What happens when we pay attention to our story?
A2: We become more receptive to feedback, experience, success & failure found in the Story
A2: We can escape deception, whether self-imposed or coming from others
Q3: What are the benefits of embracing our story?
A3: Embracing our story can free us from hiding; now, the past is just part of the story, not who I am
A3: Embracing our story can free us from what holds us back as we seek transformation
Q4: Why do we resist our story?
A4: It can be passive resistance since it takes time to reflect; we must create space for consistent reflection
A4: Fear…what might I hear or see or have to “deal with” IF I give careful thought to my story?
A4: To avoid personal responsibility; we’re stuck blaming, complaining, living w/victim mentality or a critical spirit
Q5: How does listening to our story accelerate personal growth?
Q5: We must slow down to speed up the process of development
Q5: Growth comes when we connect our ability and willingness to learn and change to our story
Q5: By paying attention…noticing is usually the first step to learning
Q6: How does story guide our future?
A6: When we’re listening, Story will show us how a different response will move us in the right direction
A6: With freedom comes the ability to act without fear; to embrace my story means I CAN write a new chapter, my future
Q7: How do we use story telling in leadership?
A7: Leaders persuade; facts tell, stories sell
A7: Leaders understand the place of story in leading, guiding, and influencing people
A7: Leaders pay attention to the organization’s story and keep telling it
Q8: How do we engage story to develop leaders?
A8: Development reaches outside oneself to help another change, become stronger, or more successful
A8: By example: Listen. Learn. Lead. It really is your story, my story, OUR story
Q9: What happens when you know someone’s story?
A9: We will begin to SEE the people, not just the problem
A9: We extend grace: everyone has a story
A9: We can begin to appreciate who they are and maybe why they show up ‘that way’
Q10: What have you learned from your own story?
A10: I am responsible, grace is available, and God is faithful; the business of life is people…we need each other.
If you enjoyed this story behindYour Story: Listen. Learn. Lead. you can read my post here.
For me, this story is the story behind social media.
A connection is made.
The connection is deepened and cultivated by time over the phone and in person. When we listen to and learn from the Story (yes, listen to and learn from others) we will lead better lives.
Lolly, accept my gratitude for our new connection. Yes, for the privilege of being a part of your #leadfromwithin community of reflective, caring people.
This past weekend provided me a lot of opportunity to remember.
Memory is vital to personal growth … memory isour ability to retain information or knowledge from past events or experiences; that capacity to recollect and retrieve information.
Last Friday, Rita and I returned to my hometown of Neodesha, Kansas. (Don’t worry, very few have heard of Neodesha.)
Some things have changed: the grade school and high school I attended have been replaced; there’s a new $2.1 million dollar swimming pool and a new ball park covers the old public swimming pool. There are vacant lots where small frame houses once stood; demolished after the last flood or just because it was time.
By mid-afternoon we loaded up to explore familiar stories and paths…
…the Mill Creek Street Bridge, where my friend Rick Elkins and I slid into the icy cold river when the ice gave way
…North on 8th Street past the brick-lined ditch, the scene where I was thrown from a horse; after a trip to emergency room and no broken bones, I came out with a “Zorro” mark on my left arm, then the
…the neighborhoods where we played and rode our bikes, back in the day when we were free to explore and roam.
What an entertaining excursion down memory lane.
My parents, James and Vivian Laswell, live in what was once my grandparent’s home. My dad’s birthday is March 26; we were able to convince him to go out for dinner to celebrate #82. Dad believes a home cooked meal is the best meal AND the best value!
Yes, the trip provided me plenty of evidence, time is slipping away.
The next day we headed north for Wichita, Kansas. Pam is a member of our extended family, it was her special day. We gave the gift of our presence and enjoyed re-connecting with family and friends at her wedding and reception.
(Things sure have changed since our three daughter’s weddings. Note: future Father of the Bride – here’s some good news: it appears expectations are becoming more “reasonable” regarding what makes a great wedding day.)
Participating in their wedding sparked my recollection of Sunday, September 12, 1976. To this day, my gratitude for God’s gift of Rita and our story of 35+ years remains; “…for better, for worse; for richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health, so long as we both shall live.”
My weekend trip down memory lane has me continue the conversation of my past two blogs…may I invite you to reflect on life and how you think about time?
To summarize the key points -
Live today: we don’t know what will happen tomorrow
Lighten up: we’re not really in control
Value the moment: life vanishes quickly
Slow down: time doesn’t fly, we do
Learn to say “No”: we’re responsible
Now, let’s add one more thought to this matter of life and time.
What’s your posthumous impression?
Have you noticed how much time and energy can go into managing one’s image? In fact, the bigger the stage or ego the greater the effort required … or so it seems.
There is an impression retained by others after our earthly life is over; the “posthumous impression”.
How do we make a great posthumous impression when by definition, we’re no longer present to manage it? Let me state the obvious: our posthumous impression is predetermined by how we live today.
When we live in the present… lighten up… value the moment… slow the pace… and learn to say “no”, our ability to remember and our memories may improve.
Live well this day then how you’ll be remember will take care of itself.
Mother Teresa reminds us of time’s reality, may we choose wisely…
Calling on the Quill Pig I pointed out the negative emotional affect of telling in communication. Telling usually shuts down dialog, discovery,and personal contribution. Effective leaders avoid this communication approach with their team. Why?
Telling pushes people away.
The Human Connection
Paul Meyer correctly identifies communication as “the human connection”. If you believe, as I do, that the business of business is people then making the human connection makes sense.
It is a key to personal and business success.
There is nothing quite like open-ended questions and the power of asking. Remember how…
Asking encourages an exchange of ideas, discussion, dialogue
Asking sends a message of value, respect, and honor
Asking shows a level of trust and appreciation
Asking flows from a place of freedom
Asking indicates areleasedneed to control
What’s your communication goal as a leader?
Whereas telling pushes people away, asking invites people to stay. The ability to have a positive influence is enhanced when others stay engaged in the conversation, the project, problem solving or decision making.
Of course there is a time to provide direction or to set expectations: teach when you can.
Why don’t we ask more?
Effective communication involves exchanging information in order to accomplish something; so why push others away by telling?
If telling is a self-defeating behavior…why so much telling?
Here are a couple of my thoughts, what do you think?
Control – What happens when there is a desire to control (limit or restrict) who does what on a project? What drives the need to be in control? What is the outcome? This driver limits the opportunity for others to contribute, to grow, to develop their skills.
Fear – Anxiety can push us into telling; doesn’t that minimize the risk?
Defensiveness – Telling usually prevents communication. As Abraham Maslow points out:
“Behavior in the human being is sometimes a defense, a way of concealing motives and thoughts, as language (telling?)can be a way of hiding your thoughts and preventing communication.” (Emphasis added)
Pace – How does the speed of life make us think telling saves time?
Habit – Whether you think telling is poor communication or not it is often a regularly repeated behavior pattern.
Do you want the power?
Chief Justice of the United States, John Marshall writes, “To listen well is as powerful a means of communication and influence as to talk well.”
To summarize,
Most of us preferthe respect and honor given when we are invited to use our voice…when asked to contribute
Talented, thinking, skilled people resist being told what to do
Asking invites people to stay; telling pushes them away
To develop the skillful leadership habit of asking well-framed questions will take your influence to the next level. What do you want?
Whether you believe the CBS series Undercover Boss is over-produced, brings value, or is cheesy the stories are often compelling. A recent episode features Belfor Restoration; what a message!
Who wants some feedback?
The show clearly illustrates a core leadership practice: listen to the story and you will hear helpful feedback.
Some CEO’s are going undercover?Who would be on your short list for such an experience?
The CBS series, UNDERCOVER BOSS follows a different executive as they leave the comfort of their corner office for an undercover mission to examine the inner workings of their companies. While working alongside their employees, they see the effects that their decisions have on others, where the problems lie within their organizations and get an up-close look at both the good and the bad while discovering the unsung heroes who make their companies run.
What if…?
What if hearing someone’s story becomes feedback? And, what if the feedback is received? Can you imagine the impact on employee engagement and business growth if leaders are free to see:
How their decisions impact others
What hinders their employees
What life on the “front line” is really like
The people
A powerful messagecomes from Jen, water technician for Belfor Restoration. Her day comes to an emotional end with Sheldon Yellen, CEO of the disaster recovery company. Yellen is so moved by his experience and his day working alongside Jen that he blows his cover to make a promise; unfreeze her pay grade raise.
Listen to her words in this 2-minute video.
What is the lesson to remember?
It’s the people. Whether you are the boss, a boss, or a front-line contributor remember - the business of business is people. In Jen’s words:
If not for me and for the other people that give a damn, he wouldn’t be anywhere and he needs to keep it real with the people like me; I’m the one that makes him money. Ultimately I don’t cash in on these jobs; I get paid by the hour, I don’t get anything but what I work for with this job.
She gets it and is willing to play her role in the story.
It’s the people. Whether you are the boss, a boss, or a front line contributor, remember - the business of business is people. In Jen’s words:
You know and I could never ever say again I feel invisible, never ever and I don’t’ want to feel invisible; and I don’t. And I believe in him and I believe he won’t let me feel that way…and that’s nice, it’s real nice.
See me, respect me, appreciate me, and my contribution.
It’s the people. Whether you are the boss, a boss, or a frontline contributor remember - the business of business is people. In Jen’s words:
I feel like I’m going to wake up any second now, and not have had this happen. Somewhere I’m going to wake up and just be like, “Ah crap.” But I’d still get up and go to work, so I guess that’s all that matters.”
Her character and commitment are inspiring.
Who do you see?
How many people feel invisible? How do you feel in your work place?
message could serve as a reminder back at the corporate offices. She agreed and placed on her desk where she would see it.
Who wants some feedback?