Grow your own...

In 1987, I launched a college recruitment program to develop my company’s future leaders. Great idea. Lots of hard work. And great success.

 

·      Known as MAP, short for 

·      Management Associate Program.

·      We hired 300 graduates in over 12 years.

·      All but 20 stayed and grew with the company.

·      And most are leaders throughout the industry today.

 

So, it was interesting to read in the news yesterday that Wal Mart is starting a college recruitment program and offering the graduates it hires a starting salary of $65,000 to begin training to become future store managers. It’s a way to develop their own future leaders, and in these difficult recruiting times, smart companies everywhere are doing just that. Our MAP recruits went through 1 year of formal training, were then assigned a mid-level management position, and began working their way up through the leadership ranks. They were smart dreamers and became great doers. Like other recruiters, we had spent most of our time searching for management candidates from other companies. With the MAP program, we learned that if we developed future leaders from within our company and culture they would be inspired to stay and help grow themselves and our company. And they did just that. If you haven’t recruited graduates from technical schools, community colleges, and universities, you’re missing a great opportunity to develop leaders that are loyal dreamers and doers. Start a school recruitment program and begin developing your future leaders today.

 

Sarah Ban Breathnach (born 1947): American best-selling author, philanthropist, and public speaker. 

Be an inspirational leader...

People need a certain kind of workplace culture to flourish. One that’s complete with support, trust, respect, openness, and psychological safety. And no fear.

 

·      This can be challenging,

·      And challenging means change.

·      With no fear of possible recriminations,

·      Or finger pointing when things aren’t right.

·      Doing great things means letting great minds work.

 

It’s one thing to do the same things day after day well, but another to add creativity to the mix. One thing we learned during Covid is that the same old way of doing things probably isn’t going to work anymore. The business world was shut down and everyone was laid off in March of 2020, but when it reopened, most found the reset back to what existed before awkward and ineffective. Business leaders had to be creative. Meaning they needed to adopt emotional intelligence strategies to prove to a frightened workforce they really cared about them. And adopting new policies – especially those related to attendance and time off. We used to encourage people to come to work even if they didn’t feel well; now we want them to stay home. Should they be penalized for that?  If you are having problems with staffing to meet customer needs, they might assume it’s because you’re not really taking care of your employees. Which impacts customer service. Find creative ways to inspire your employees (and customers) today.

 

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882): American Philosopher, Poet, Author, and Essayist

Everybody matters or nobody matters...

Most of my career was spent working at a 24/7 business. Day and night. Knowing that face time was important, I regularly spent time on every shift. 

 

·      Employees want to be recognized.

·      Leaders must make time to see them.

·      Talking, listening, and understanding,

·      Building relationships of trust and respect.

·      Because everyone matters, or nobody matters.

 

During my 25 years in the hospitality business, offices were open and worked mostly during the day shift (days), HR included. But nearly 2/3 of the employees in a casino hotel worked on the evening (swing) and overnight (grave) shifts, and they too needed to be seen and be recognized by HR. In that business, most of the action with customers was during swing and grave shifts so it was important to let those employees know that cared about them. When those employees had questions, needed to see someone, or attended events, etc., they needed the same kind of access without waiting that those on the day shift enjoyed. So, we had to keep the lights on all of the offices during the day while making sure we spent time on those other shifts too.  Companies tend to overlook these kinds of issues because they don’t want to inconvenience their management team and other office workers. But if servant leadership is going to be more than a set of policies and practices, it must be embedded equally in the things we do. Equity is not just about pay; it has a lot to do with how we serve each other. Don’t miss the chance to dance with all of your employees today.

 

Margaret Atwood (born 1939): Canadian poet, novelist, literary critic, essayist, teacher, environmental activist, and inventor.

Be curious about what you don't know...

I suspect many professionals feel terrified when starting a new job or project, needing to learn about and grow into their positions. It helps to have curiosity and courage.

 

·      Curiosity means

·      Asking good questions.

·      Courage then helps you to

·      Learn what you need to know.

·      Don’t be afraid of what you don’t know.

 

I remember being both excited and scared to be part of the Mirage pre-opening team – I was willing to work hard but realized there was much I didn’t know. Everyone on that team openly discussed these concerns and supported each other: we were curious about what we didn’t know and wanted to learn more. We were given the time to find and talk to companies that had opened projects both large and small to learn (1) what worked or didn’t and (3) what, in hindsight, they wished they hadn’t done or, if given another chance, would do differently. But the most important thing we learned was the value of seeking out people that knew more than we did, asking good question, and listening to what they told us. We then had the courage to put our egos aside and use what we learned. Being scared is good – it focuses you on what’s important; if you ignore or don’t deal with your fears, it will hold you back from achieving your full potential. Don’t let your fear of the unknown keep you from doing what you want to do today.

 

Georgia O'Keeffe (1887-1986): American modernist artist who has been called the “Mother of American modernism”.

Get your head around change...

Strategic planning is hard work. It’s not something you do every day, and it requires stretching your mind to include new perspectives, skills, and processes. 

 

·      New concepts

·      Different jargon

·      Unique strategies

·      Distinct approaches

·      Enhanced performance

 

In helping companies conduct strategic planning, I’ve watched leaders learn a whole new way of looking at their mission, vision, values, purpose, and objectives. This usually requires changing your mindset, being curious about things you don’t know, accepting new ideas, taking a step into the unknown, and letting go of your ego. Your mind will be stretched by a new experience like this, and it will likely never go back to its old dimensions. That’s what learning does to you. It’s what it takes to stay sharp, be on the leading edge, and remain competitive. It’s different from and most likely in addition to what you regularly do at work – but it’s worth it. People often say they want to improve, do more, grow, and be challenged: but that kind of request for more authority and responsibility comes with additional accountability as well.  So, be careful what you ask for. But if you’re serious, get involved in learning more about and participating in strategic planning. And do some stretching of your mind today.

 

Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (1841-1935): American jurist and legal scholar who served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1902 to 1932

Teach your children well...

Left to their own devices, this is how most people (children and employees alike) learn about new things like new ideas, new skills, and new jobs. But it’s so much better to provide new employees with a structured learning experience.

 

·      Orientation

·      On-boarding

·      Skills training

·      Coaching to improve

·      Mentoring from a role model

 

These are the strategies and techniques that prepare people for anything new. They help them overcome uncertainty and give them the confidence, competence, and chance to succeed. And that should be your objective with new employees. So - look at your orientation program: is it only about the rules and enrolling in benefits or do you talk about company history, culture, values, and objectives? Or your onboarding practices: do you show them only where to clock in, or do you introduce them around, give them the grand tour, and have lunch to get to know each other better? And skills training: do you buddy new employees up with someone too busy to teach, or are there trained instructors that really show them how and why before releasing them to work? And coaching: is it in response to something they did wrong or do you catch them doing things right – help employees discover what they need to learn and know? And (finally), there’s mentoring – is it a lecture or an opportunity to learn? These strategies and techniques help your employees discover and learn what they need. Don’t waste time by letting them fumble around to find what they need to learn and know today.

 

Sigmund Freud (1856 – 1939): Austrian neurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis

Be ever hopeful...

A lot of people are changing jobs these days. Record numbers, in fact. Meaning lots of people are stepping into uncertain times.

 

·      Starting new is full of uncertainty:

·      New job, people, and circumstances.

·      Uncertain environment and expectations,

·      Can be full of opportunities to be a new you.

·      Don’t be afraid to step out and embrace all that’s new.

 

I’ve always felt that the first day of something new – like a new job, is full of big opportunities to make good impressions. Both of you. The new employee is hopeful they made the right choice and trying hard to put her/his best foot forward. The new supervisor and company are also hopeful that they too made a good choice, and that the chemistry is right. Both want and are motivated to start off on the right foot (continuing the metaphor), and before the end of that first day both will be faced with the same 3-word question: “How was it?” Remember how you felt on the first day of something and make sure you do what it takes to make the answers to those questions positive. Make good first impressions today.

 

Bob Goff (born 1959): American Lawyer, Speaker, Author, and Diplomat