The Simplest Thing That Works

Asia, then Europe, then America

FT.com / Comment & analysis / Comment - We must break the male cartel in the workplace.

I found this article really insightful and clearly thought-out.  And very embarrassing. As I was reading, the author's premise became clear - that Asia is way out ahead of Europe in terms of recognizing the importance of having women in senior positions in the workplace, and putting them in those positions.  And as I continued to read, it became increasingly clear that what she considers "behind" was still better than we in America have done and are doing.

But I put aside my chagrin: there are wonderful facts in this article.  Here's my favorite:

According to a recent study by McKinsey, the management consultancy, companies with a higher proportion of women in senior management are on average 48 per cent more profitable than rivals. Diversified management means better management. Including more women in top positions, both in public and private sectors, changes decision-making processes fundamentally, as women tend to play down formalities and communicate directly, overcoming organisational blockages.

I'm pretty sure her proposed solution - introducing legislation for gender balance on company boards, at universities and in government - won't work in the US. But I can keep throwing stuff like this into the conversation...

Hear Hear!

Link: MANAGEMENT MATTERS: Managers should be coaches too - Waltham, MA - The Daily News Tribune.

Just for fun, I Googled "management" in the news category tonight, and got this. I really like this article: it's a good, solid, thoughtful reflection on why skillful people management implies coaching - and why that's important. I especially like and agree with this line:

My grandfather knew this when he wrote in the 1930s: "People like to progress. They like to feel that each day, week, month or year they are taking a step ahead. If you can make someone feel that you can show them the way or help them, you can influence them.''

I really think that's right - most people DO like to progress. They may talk themselves out of it, through fear of failure or a need for security and control, but still -- that urge to grow and improve, I think, is hardwired in. And as Stuart Danforth, the writer of the article, says - when people feel you truly support them in their efforts to grow, they'll support you in return.

That's certainly true of most of the people I deal with...how about you?

Learning that Sticks

Link: Learning that Sticks.

Here's a link to a brand shiny new blog, from my buddy Beverly Feldt at Workplace Productions. They do some very interesting things in training, using professional actors to involve learners in interactive learning situations (they even call them "interactors.")

I first connected with Beverly (and will be forever indebted to her) because she wrote a wonderful review of Growing Great Employees in Perdido magazine.

Welcome to the wonderful world of blogging, Beverly!

Friendship Is Golden

I've been thinking a lot about friendship lately. As I noted here last week, I've been going through some very difficult circumstances in my own life, and I've been overwhelmed by the love and support I've received: from my children, my siblings, my business partner, my colleagues, my friends.

For someone like me, who tends to err on the side of over-self-sufficiency, it's been humbling and healing. And it reinforces my faith in humanity: my faith that most people are essentially well-intentioned, and will help you if they can, especially if you are kind to them.

There are times when I wish I was more of a cynic -- I had to smile when one book reviewer called me "relentlessly optimistic" -- but this isn't one of them.

I give thanks.

A Mixed Bouquet

I was sitting in a meeting this afternoon, one being conducted by other people, so I had the opportunity to put my attention fully on listening and watching, vs. managing or facilitating. I learned a tremendous amount, and I had a chance to observe a leader for whom I have a great deal of respect, as she navigated through this very complicated and delicate meeting.

Not only did she do a truly fine job, I was struck by her style of leading. She's much more patient than I am, and tends to bring people around to her point of view gradually and on their own terms, by listening very deeply and then responding calmly and objectively. It was a pleasure to watch almost everyone in the room (myself included) eventually have his or her own "ah-ha" about the validity of her insight.

Now, in order to be effective, her style requires a strong team: because she gives people so much credit, leeway and authority -- they have to be capable of dealing with it well! Fortunately, she also has a great eye for talent and is an excellent people manager. So it works for her.

It's not always the best way to approach a situation -- but it often is. And her particular brand of extremely inclusive leadership, I find, is in short supply. If more leaders had some of those tools in their toolkit, work would definitely work better.

But the main thing I saw - yet again - was, as my mother used to say, that there is more than one way to skin a cat. Horrible saying, but you get the jist: there's usually not just one "right" way to do things. Another leader might have dealt with the same situation in a more directive way and been equally effective; someone else might have used humor; yet another person might have gotten good results by (respectfully) requiring people to make their case. I've seen it all, and I've seen it work.

There are some core qualities I think all good leaders need (I intend to talk about that in my next post), but beyond that, good leaders come in many flavors....

And don't let anyone tell you otherwise!

Generosity

Link: Book Publicist Nettie Hartsock -Publicist, Editor and Copywriter..

Generosity is one of my favorite human qualities. I love it in all its forms: generosity with resources, time, money, information, knowledge, power, credit. Most of all I love generosity of spirit. I really appreciate it when people give freely of who they are, trusting that the universe will somehow replenish what's depleted.

Nettie Hartsock, who I've just had the pleasure to meet online, seems to be this kind of person. For instance, in her blog -- that's the link, above -- she has lots of ideas for authors regarding how to publicize their books. Now, publicist is part of what she does for a living, and she could have decided to hoard her knowledge, only sharing it with paying customers.

But she's made a different choice. And you know what? I suspect her generosity draws people to want to work with her and benefit even more from her wisdom.

How I Got There

I feel remiss! I was just rereading yesterday's post, and I realized I forgot to thank Judy McLeish. She's a lovely, smart person, the main force behind McDaniel Partners, a consultancy out of Toronto that helps companies focus on creating a more positive customer experience and achieving great results by "capturing the hearts and minds" of their employees. AND she's the person responsible for my day in paradise: FirstCaribbean is her client, and she suggested me to them as a speaker.

Let me publicly espress my gratitude, Judy. You rock. As do Jennifer and Andrea. May we always meet in nice places, with great clients.

Gen Y: We're Here and We're...Different

Link: USATODAY.com - Generation Y: They've arrived at work with a new attitude.

My daughter, who recently finished college, has just begun her first "real" job. She's working as the support person in a real estate office while she studies for her real estate license. My son is looking for a job he can work full-time this summer, and then part-time when he goes back to school in the fall. I've noticed their expectations about and approach to work are different from mine (especially from mine at their ages); some of the differences are good, I think. A few strike me as odd and potentially problematic. But definitely different.

And I notice that they're not only different from me (a boomer), they're also different from my business partner and some of our Proteus consultants (gen xers). So I found this article about Generation Y (both my kids fit into this generation) very interesting.

Here's my favorite quote from the article: "Generation Y is much less likely to respond to the traditional command-and-control type of management still popular in much of today's workforce." I've really observed that to be true in my kids and the other young working people I know. I even talk about it in the introduction to Growing Great Employees -- the idea that the covenant of work has changed, and that younger employees especially (I think gens x and y are similar in this way) think of work as a fairly egalitarian exchange of value. In other words: "You, manager, treat me with respect and consideration, and provide clear direction and opportunities to do the things I like and am excited about, and I'll do my job and help to build the business."

So, for as long as we baby boomers are around and working - if we want to be successful in leading, managing and keeping these talented younger employees, we're going to have to challenge some of our deeply held assumptions about what it means to be a boss.

Assuming Positive Intent

Link: The Denver Post - Bank robber? Try a little tenderness.

I love the story in this link. It's a about a system developed by an FBI agent for reducing bank robberies by dealing with every customer - even the odd or sketchy ones - with "excessive friendliness." The FBI agent, whose name is Carr, credits the approach with a 45% drop in bank robberies in Seattle over the past year.

This has, in my mind, all kinds of wonderful implications for the workplace....

8CR Redux

A few weeks ago I sang the glories of 800CEOREAD. Today I got to spend the whole day with them, and now I think they're even cooler. The entire staff decided to do a Social Style workshop with me (you can find out more about what that means in Chapter 6 of my book, if you're interested), and a wonderful time was had by all.

The guy on their staff (you notice I'm keeping your secret identity secret, RS) who does InBubbleWrap put up a post about our day together, so I'm returning the favor.

Everyone who's reading this should do business with this curious, smart, funny, unique crew...they are the new connecting point between authors, publishers, and the people who read business books. If you want the real story on what's happening in the world of business books, and/or if you need to buy lots of books and want it to be a personalized and customer-focused experience: go there!