Today is the day!

Being the fan of advertising that I am, I thought it might be somewhat poignant to discuss what I believe to be one of today's greatest tag lines... besides ours.. (Helping You Navigate the Future)... namely Monster.com's "Today's the day!".

I find it incredible, how many people I talk to at various companies that hate their job. HATE, that's a strong word... Can you imagine hating something all day, EVERY DAY? If you do, why do you do it?? What are you afraid of? IT'S YOUR LIFE!! Polish up your resume... and CLICK HERE.

Note to Employers: How many of your employees hate their job? How fast can you fix your organization's climate? Ok, do it in half that time. Need help? CLICK HERE.

or...

If you are the employer that EVERYONE wants to work for... why haven't you cut your dead wood... and hired motivated people who would do anything to work for you??? Imagine the organization you could become. Warm up your job postings and CLICK HERE.

You're under arrest...

Vito Rizzuto

Yes, Vito Rizzuto, President and CEO.

What company you ask? The Mob.

Earlier today, Mr. Rizzuto was arrested in Montreal on several counts of murder. The point is... I bet you my last laundered dollar that the mob has not only replaced him, but has mobilized an entire succession plan throughout the 'family'... how quickly could your organization react... do you know the depth of your 'family-tree'? Do you have one? Get one you wiseguy!

My big fat annoying post...

Either I watch far too much television, or... there are too many television shows that have learning lessons for businesses.

So here I go again, another post, another book reference. The other night as I sit, painfully, through FOX's new series, My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiance, and it hits me, this is the Corporate Fool. If you aren't familiar with the concept, a 'girl-next-door' has to convince her parents that she is going to marry an 'obnoxious fiance' whom she believes is just an average guy (it turns out he's an actor, paid to be over the top obnoxious). If she can convince her parents that she is in love with this guy, and go through with a 'wedding' she will win one million dollars. The point being, her family will come to her rescue, and protect her from this guy.

In a business context, what better way to inspire your people, to make the culture electric, to 'rally the troops' then to 'hire' a wild, unrully 'executive' that will be charged with a massive reorganization in 10 days, once he/she has a feel for the organization.

How would your employees react? Would they rise up to protect the company? Or would they roll over and let it happen....

The Problem with Technology

Everything is getting faster... everything.

Right now, among the zillions of other books I'm in the middle of reading, I'm reading Smart Mobs: The Next Social Revolution. In the book (which I've posted about recently) it describes how technology will allow people to communicate faster and faster, and far more effectively. Granted the book talks mainly about the use of cellphones (my cell number is 416-803-9383, if you want to discuss the finer points of the book).

Now, let me get to my point... WHY AREN'T COMPANIES EMBRACING TECHNOLOGY????

In the book Purple Cow, author Seth Godin tells companies to have as many email addresses of their clients as possible... I'm trying to take that one step further... to instant messenger. I am trying to find out how many of my clients I can get on Instant Messenger. That allows me to schedule meetings, phone calls, send files, collaborate on files.. instantly... but here's my problem... companies are forbidding their employees from having messenger (my email address is kyle_couch@hotmail.com add me to your buddy list), or worse yet blocking access to the INTERNET... sure sure sure... viruses, inappropriate web content.. but honestly... if you have FAST-minded employees... why not have them able to have FAST access to resources, and colleagues. We ALL have messenger of one form or another... why not use it as an enabler. If you don't have messenger.. please enjoy this complimentary copy of MSN Messenger provided by the kind folks at Microsoft.

Weight Loss + Leadership

The Holiday Season is now a vague and distant memory and yet it's legacy lives - right around my waist! So, just like every other year, I reluctantly returned last week to the Atkins diet and to the gym in persuit of "fitness".

All of last week, I faithfully stayed away from beer; chocolate bars and those great Starbucks breakfast muffins loaded with the evil carbohydrate.Three times last week I toured the collection of torture devices assembled in the gym in the hope one of them would provide me with the quick and easy secret to shredding those 10 pounds that haunt my mid-section.

I should know better. All of my years of teaching Organisational Effectiveness, Strategic Planning and Leadership should have reminded me the same "fitness" lessons apply in both business and life - especially for the middle aged!

One - your cannot "starve" yourself to better health - and the ideal shape

Two - cutting out the "fat" is only part of the equation - the easy part

Three - total "fitness" requires not just a good diet - but also excercise

So, as I pound the Stairmaster this coming week I will be thinking about you and your organisation. While "right sizing" and "cost control" (the diet) are certainly part of the answer to long term organisational health, I hope that you are also equally focused on the hard part (the fitness) and on making sure your various organisational muscles are in good shape and working.

You see, ultimately, the only answer to ensuring your organisation is truly and legitimately "fit" for the long term is to invest the time, hard work and dedication required to develop leaders with the stamina and endurance required to sustain the victories and overcome the setbacks.

There are no shortcuts to "fitness"!

Shoot For The Moon

The other day I was helping my 13 year old son with something he was finding difficult, trying to be supportive and encouraging (the usual drill) and he said to me, "shoot for the moon - even if you miss you'll land among the stars". I was stunned! Apparently this little phrase is posted all over his school. It was such a refreshingly positive statement and I was very glad that he was taking it to heart.

Names, Labels + The Playround

I hate labels. I hate when people "peg" you with a label. I hate being labelled.

Maybe it was my Mom always warning me not to call people names in the playground but regardless, it is a lesson that has stuck with me for 50 years. So you can imagine how I react when people (clients or otherwise) label me (or us) with the most vicious label of all - the "C" word - CONSULTANT !

It hurts. It's not nice to call people names. My Mom would be mad.

You see, we all know that consultants are "know-it-alls". We all hate them because they think they know it all. We hate them when they think they know it all about our business when, in fact, all they know is what we already know. You know what I mean!

To me it is not about what you know but about what you do with what you know. So we think we are in a different kind of business. We are not in the dirty "C" business. We are in the "KT" business. The Knowledge Transfer business, not that other business that I hate so much. We simply take a piece of "knowledge" (or information, or fact or perspective) from one place and help move it to another place.

When we help a customer with a Climate Survey - we are transferring knowledge

When we conduct 360 feedback on an Executive Team - we are transferring knowledge

When we deliver a Leadership Development Programme - we are transferring knowledge

In short, I guess I hate the "C" word so much because, in fact, we know we know nothing at all! So we are not trying to impress people with how "little" we know. All we know is how to get a piece of knowledge from one place to another and by the way, we know we do that better than anyone else.

Why? Because we know what we know and what we don't know. That's called "meta-knowledge" and when you know what you know and what you don't know you are not a "consultant" you are kind of like us.

So, make my Mom happy - don't use the "C" word!

Have you ever been here before....

There I was on the weekend, family in tow when I stop into one of my favourite family-friendly restaurants for lunch. Upon arriving, we are greeted by the cheery host, "Welcome to Johnny's (the restaurant name has been changed in accordance with the Restaurant Protection Act), have you been here before?" If I were to reply 'no', I would be treated to the very rehearsed script outlining the 'team' approach to the service I was about to receive.

So, here's the situation... a restaurant, better yet an organization telling you to watch how you about to be served. On one hand, brilliant concept, why not dazzle us? Most other organizations would be terrified to ask you to pay attention. However, now that you have us watching... you had better deliver. Don't get me wrong, I am not a restaurant critic, more correctly, I'm a business critic. So, when this particular restaurant didn't deliver, I remembered. Teamwork is about communication, if I order a drink with one 'team member', shouldn't they communicate with the 'team' so I don't have to repeat the type of beverage when I'm asked by a second 'team member' if I want 'another'? They should already know.

I guess to their defense, I had just finished watching a riveting program on the service standards required from staff at five star hotels (most notably the ability to anticipate the customer's needs). It amazes me that in this day and age of customer comment cards, and software like Silverware, that my needs were not anticipated. With all the money poured into restaurants like 'Johnny's' to recreate a 'local pub' feel, why wasn't I recognized? Why not asked if I want 'the usual'?

The point I'm trying to make is that I applaud companies that raise the bar in the name of service, efficiency, and effectiveness. I also say to companies trying to pull this type of thing off - please keep working hard, it's NEVER going to get easy. Never.

Having a team is a great thing. Not communicating with your team members is a fatal error. If you don't believe me, ask Dante Hall, the poor Kansas City Chiefs Player who was leveled on the final play of Sunday's game... tell your blockers you're turning... they will block for you.

I love sports and in particular, I love football. What a great metaphor for Organisational Leadership and Teamwork. Over the weekend I watched (actually no - I suffered) two of my favourite teams going down to losses. The Kansas City Chiefs and The Green Bay Packers. Both teams have great stars; both teams had great seasons: both teams work hard; both teams have great traditions. So why did they fail ? Poor leadership; a poor plan or poor execution ? Maybe all 3 - maybe none of these - maybe just bad luck.

You see, to "win" so many things have to go right at the same time. A great "coach" like Dick Vermeil can get the team ready - but he can not make the winning "Hail Mary" pass. A great QB like Brett Favre can make the pass - but he can also make a big, rookie level mistake that costs the team. So what does this all mean?

Teams need more than just a plan, a group of superstars and a good coach. They need all the little things, the intangibles and the chief intangible? Desire! The willingness to give it all and the willingness to do more than you think you are capable of doing or have ever done in the past. Every team has 3 types of players and the game is usually won (in both sports or business) when your "A" players outplay their "A" players and your "C" players outplay their "C" players but most importantly, victory occurs when you find a way to get your "B" players to play at a new level.

When that happens, the scales "tip"; the "extra boost" drives results and the "team" gains confidence for the next game. That confidence, in turn, drives desire because everyone knows who "won" the game and from that moment on, every "B" and "C" player has developed a new "taste of the possible" and that is what will guarantee a "Superbowl".

Can you believe it!

A "reality" TV show featuring Donald Trump and 16 so-called "entrepreneurs". I confess to watching it and I must say - even enjoying it. The concept is brilliant - Survivor Wall Street - and for someone in the business of Leadership Development I could see all of the classic issues raise their head that we see in our work with clients. Things like;

(i) poor framing of the challenge

(ii) missed and confused signals

(iii) lack of long-term thinking

(iv) poor execution of the plan and

(v) communication breakdowns

I won't even talk about lack of teamwork; run away egos and the like. The sad fact of the matter is, these are not rocket science observations and yet team after team, company after company keeping making the same mistakes. Only good news - it's great for our business!

It's amazing how things fall in a row more often than not.

The other day I called our printer to check the status of one of our print jobs. Usually, the receptionist answers, but in this case our account manager picked up the phone. Being the inquiring type I jokingly asked if the receptionist had been let go... wouldn't you know it.. she had.

Not that this is any revelation, this type of thing happens all the time. What struck me as odd, was that our account manager told me that the receptionist just didn't know when to keep her mouth shut. Yikes... as you will find out on Monday (cat's out of the bag I guess... alas) this month's newsletter is on Knowledge Transfer, and the importance of open communication. Needless to say, the news of her departure, and the circumstances surrounding it obviously hit home to me... this was a communication issue. If she was upset, find out why. When you find out, change it. Fast.

I will urge you, as an employer, as an employee, as anyone.. talk more, not less. If your employees are talking, your business will be better off. It keeps them engaged, and ultimately that's what you want in your workplace.

Read the newsletter - don't lose good employees. Hey.. when the newsletter comes a) forward it to everyone you know b) print it off and read it aloud.

If for some crazy reason you didn't get the newsletter, email me iwantthenewsletter@thebeacongroup.ca

Some people look forward to the Holiday Season for the rest, relaxation and maybe even the gifts. However, as an avid reader, I look forward to the luxury of time to do some heavy duty "power reading". This season was no different than in the past, with 8 great books read and quite frankly gobbled-up.

On the Biography side of things, let me recommend a book I recently picked up at the airport in Sydney, Australia "The Boy in the Boat" by Brian O'Raleigh. This is an absolute cracker jack that keeps you entranced by the story of his life in Ireland, England then Australia as he struggles to find sanity in an insane world.

On the Business Books side of things try "The Rise of the Creative Class" by Richard Florida. What an interesting insight, with lots of great supporting data, on how the "class structure" in North America has been changing over time and how the fastest growing segment of the economy is the creative class, while the traditional working class and the even the more popular service class as in a free fall. A great book for anyone who has done any kind of thinking about the importance of innovation and creativity inside organisations and how to foster the kind of culture that can produce the big wins.

I can't believe I'm posting about Dr. Phil...

In the middle of writing our January newsletter, I was reminded of an episode of Dr. Phil. No, I did not watch it, it was paraphrased to me...

Anyway, the show was dealing with how husbands' behaviour was interpreted by their wives. I know.. I'll wait while you get a tissue...

The women on the show made the following correlation: if their husbands failed to perform various household chores, it was seen as a lack of respect for thier wives, and ultimately meant that they didn't love their wives.

I know.. between sobbs you're wondering what does this have to do with business and human capital? Bottom line.. if you ask your employees to tell you what is on their mind through venues such as employees surveys and focus groups (which you should do if you don't already) you must act on the issues that arise, or ultimately, your employees will feel that you do not respect them... worse yet... they will stop coming to you with their thoughts and issues...

What are you thinking about?
Yes, right now.
Is it work related?
Does your employer ask you to think?

Yesterday afternoon I had a great chat with the President of The Beacon Group, Doug Williamson, yesterday regarding his new favourite book (yes, I know, we read TONS of books) The Rise of the Creative Class by Richard Florida. In the book he talks of the 'Creative Class' within the workforce, essentially, people who's employers ask them to think. He feels that this is the fastest growing employee segment in today's economy. You're a smart person, I will ask again... does your employer ask/want you to think?

If not demand it.

If they refuse... what do you think you should do?

First of all, Happy New Year!

Over the holidays, I started reading 'Smart Mobs: The Next Social Revolution' by Howard Rheingold. The book discusses the rise of functionality of cellphones, and how they will move to the forefront of society as a 'remote control' for our lives. As I got into the book (which deals with innovations in Tokyo and Helsinki) I couldn't help but believe that Rheingolds theories would certainly become reality. The problem I felt was that my enthusiasm would wain by the time that the 'revolution' made its way to North America.

Upon arriving into the office this morning, I began my customary 'rounds' of my research websites as usual, and then I realized... it was already here... the revolution has arrived in North America. There it was in the middle of my google search a site that immediately posts pictures sent by owners of camera enabled cell phones! "Send pics directly from your camera-phone"

As per the site description, camera phone owners email pictures taken with their phones directly to the site, at which point they are uploaded to the homepage instantly, unedited, unfiltered, real time. The fact of the matter however is that if this site evolves correctly, even I can't imagine the possibilites... CNN couldn't compete, anyone with a camera phone will be able to take pictures of current events, crimes in progress, or wonderful sunsets in Tuscany... again, uploaded real time..

How can this help with your business... Your customers could send pictures of messy stores, filthy washrooms, or poor employee behaviour directly to senior management which could be used in training, or worse yet dismissal... talk about accountability... I could go on.. a picture is worth a thousand words...