ELEPHANT ALERT!

There’s an old saying that if you squeeze an orange you can expect to get orange juice. The pressure for higher performance is significant. Stress, adversity, ambiguity…it can seem to mount every day. Do you feel like you’re getting squeezed?

And when you’re squeezed – what comes out?

Here’s the elephant in the office: You may laugh at the above question. Most likely this is because you’ve worked next to people who, when squeezed, emit some not-so-pleasant material.

Isn’t it ironic? When things become difficult, when the pressure mounts, some people and teams deliver their worst.

STOMP THE ELEPHANT

As you grow older, as your responsibilities and the pressures mount, what are you discovering about yourself? Do you like what you are delivering for your peers, your family – and yourself?

When the numbers aren’t where you want them to be, does your response reflect your deepest values? When you’re tempted to cut corners, do people see your highest level of integrity? When you get home at night and you’re exhausted, does your family see you shine?

At this point in your career, do you appreciate and admire who you have become? And are you excited about who you are you becoming?

Regardless of your answer to the above question you can celebrate – because asking yourself these questions begins to build the awareness that is necessary to create the changes you want to make.

This week pay attention. The next time you feel the pressure mount, the next time you feel the squeeze, ask yourself, “How will I respond in a way that is congruent with who I want to be?”

It is how you respond to pressure that people discover who you really are.

Where will you lead – where will you stomp elephants – today?

ELEPHANT ALERT!

We just left Vail, CO after completing a “flight school” for a special finance company. As you know, the finance world is one big storm now. Yet, every person left this session understanding that THEY can determine the altitude at which their organization flies. Each employee understands that they can choose to be a passenger – or a pilot.

Passengers wait for others to lead; the pilots in this organization choose to lead.

So much in the finance world is out of an employee’s control. Therefore, their focus on how to live the attributes of quality leadership is becoming stronger. And because leadership is something they can control, they are experiencing success.

Here’s the elephant in the office: Most companies have a focus that takes their teams directly into the storm. “It’s scary right now,” many people are saying. “The economy, the pressures in the market, the attitudes…it’s tough to concentrate.”

STOMP THE ELEPHANT

What can you control? Do you know people who are allowing the variables outside of their control to distract them? You can see these “passengers” in life – the stress and worry corrupts their focus. And their results plummet.

You can always control your focus…which allows you to control your behaviors…which determines your results. During this turbulent time it’s wise to remember what the flight attendant told us when we boarded: If things get rough an oxygen mask will drop. Place your mask on your face first before helping anyone around you.

In other words, check your focus before trying to lead someone else.

Be a better pilot this week: Determine a question you’ll ask when life becomes turbulent. And then allow a stronger focus to deliver your leadership best.

Where will you lead – where will you stomp elephants – today?

ELEPHANT ALERT!

Ages ago they didn’t believe the human body had “cells.” They didn’t even know cells existed. Then the microscope was invented – and suddenly cells existed. The microscope didn’t invent cells, it revealed them.

What solutions do you need that don’t exist right now? And what will you do to facilitate the necessary “equipment” to discover the solution?

Here’s the elephant in the office: Some take the approach that if they can’t “see” the solution, then it’s not there. When new ideas are offered these people shoot them down, discredit them, or dismiss them. “It’s not possible!” they claim. This means their organization is doomed, because it is now limited only to “what is possible,” or more accurately, “what’s been done before.”

STOMP THE ELEPHANT

We just left Quebec City, Canada, after addressing the Packaging Association of Canada. They’re in a tight spot: Everything they do to provide you packaging requires energy – and fuel costs have skyrocketed. Plus, they must respond to the growing consumer demand for green products.

No easy solutions are in sight. But the industry isn’t in peril. After meeting these leaders, I’m convinced they’ll pass onto future generations a legacy of quality and innovation, because they have a key understanding.

The microscope was needed to prove cells existed. Discovering business solutions requires creating a mechanism where solutions reveal themselves. That mechanism is your culture. Here are three actions to better do this:

1. Establish a focus on what’s already working;
2. Ensure people feel good (read: creativity);
3. And develop a “let’s-determine-how-that-idea-will-work” mentality vs. a “here’s- why-it-won’t-work” approach.

Do you believe your solutions are out there?

Where will you lead – where will you stomp elephants – today?

ELEPHANT ALERT!

What evidence do you have that you’re taking the right action?

Everyone has good intentions. Most organizations claim, “Our people are our greatest asset.” Yet, what investments do they make to leverage their competitive strategic advantage?

Here’s the elephant in the office: No one gets married and then says, “I’m going to let this marriage fall apart.” Still, few couples use effective tools and build into their weekly routine actions that ensure their marriage thrives. The same thing happens in the workplace: Everyone has the intentions of “building trust,” but few take deliberate, weekly actions to ensure they’re getting stronger.

The results don’t lie: The “best of intentions” approach doesn’t work.

STOMP THE ELEPHANT

Most subscribers to this blog are using a systemic, tool-based approach that consistently builds individuals, teams and results. The culture of engagement created by this approach pays dividends.

When you say “Quality is a priority” you’re not just talking about what is delivered to your customers. You take it a step further than your competitors and make the quality of your leadership and culture a CONSISTENT priority as well.

Because you experience it every day, you probably don’t need more proof that you’re doing the right thing. So here’s more evidence you can share with the nay-sayers who claim the “soft stuff” doesn’t matter: A recent Towers-Perrin global survey (page 4), with over 40 companies participating, revealed those organizations with the highest percentage of engaged employees increased their operating income by 19% and their profit per share by 28% year to year. Those companies with a disengaged workforce? They saw a 33% decline in operating income and a drop of 11% in earnings per share.

You’re rare: You have good intentions AND you lead with an action plan to deliver on those intentions. You’re taking the right action.

Where will you lead – where will you stomp elephants – today?

ELEPHANT ALERT!

Imagine you are the coach for the defending Super Bowl champions, New York Giants. Because you won last year, you tell the team, “It’s obvious we have the best talent, so we’re not going to practice together. Just show up on game day ready to play.”

This insane approach would result in a 0-16 record and the end of your career. Shockingly, guess what the predominant approach is in business?

Here’s the elephant in the office: Despite the best of intentions, the traditional “training mentality” is costing companies billions of dollars. Giving people a “once-in-a-while” chance to improve how well they work together backfires; people become cynical and skeptical and an attitude of “the company values rhetoric” emerges as employees are exposed to a daily dose of dysfunctional teamwork.

“Once in a while” must be replaced with “all the time.”

STOMP THE ELEPHANT

An event-based, build-the-team-once-in-a-while mentality is the predominant approach in business. Most of the people reading this blog are a part of a company that has achieved a paradigm shift: It is in EVERY interaction you have with others that defines and determines your effectiveness as a team. This is the essence of culture.

Therefore, successful organizations equip team members with leadership tools they can apply in daily interactions. These companies understand that it is in every conversation you have with a colleague that you are either destroying your culture – or making it stronger.

Professionals understand that “game day” only reflects the efforts and effectiveness delivered in the previous six days. Instead of building a team “once in a while,” they know that the only way to win is via a systemic, moment-by-moment approach.

Results never lie: this is the only way to win. What will you do in your interactions today to bring your team one step closer to victory?

Where will you lead – where will you stomp elephants – today?

ELEPHANT ALERT!

How much do you budget to maintain your company’s copying machines? Those machines are expensive buggers! Yet of course, without them it would be tough to do business, wouldn’t it?

How expensive is it to do business with a team that is not aligned and communicating well?

As you consider your budget for 2009, where and how you decide to spend your money will say a lot. And what some companies tell the world is shocking.

Here’s the elephant in the office: “More and more I realize how insane the old approach is,” shared an executive. “Some companies have training budgets smaller than the budgets for maintaining their copiers!”

What does it say about a company that spends their money on the equipment people use, but not the people who use the equipment? Imagine a new semi-truck barreling down the highway at 70 mph…with a bunch of five-years-olds fighting over the wheel.

STOMP THE ELEPHANT

Focusing on how effectively people work together is the mother of all strategies.

A growing company in Colorado has a leadership team that tells the organization: “Watch where the money goes.” Do you suppose there’s a connection between the fact that this company has invested in the tools people can use to communicate and work together (culture) and that they are no longer in the red, but now on healthy financial ground?

“It is our people which separate us from our competition. It’d be crazy not to invest in our strategic competitive advantage.”

Any organization that rises to the upper tier has its moment in history when it realizes the statement “it’s not in our budget” really means “it’s not our priority.” So they set new priorities – and live their values even more.

Where will you lead – where will you stomp elephants – today?

ELEPHANT ALERT!

Effective leaders know their company must be better than the competition. But how many leaders add this twist: they think they must also be better than the people around them?

Are you putting pressure on yourself to be the best – and a version of “best” that means better than everyone else?

Here’s the elephant in the office: Too many think “leadership” means being better than those around them. They make sure others are good at what they do…but not too good; they claim the credit; they ensure they speak last; and they keep people from running with their greatest strengths, lest those strengths claim too much attention.

This approach incurs many costs, including:

1. whenever the “leader” is out of the room results suffer, and
2. tomorrow’s success is left to chance as eventually the “leader” will depart.

STOMP THE ELEPHANT

Want to create magic? Over the next fourteen days make a commitment to operate with a rare and effective mindset. Commit to lead in a way that makes everyone around you better than you. Take steps in your communications and actions to ensure that every single time they leave you they are better than when they came to you.

Then observe what happens to the level of trust and respect around you. Watch how people solicit your feedback and guidance. Measure how your influence – and results – grows.

The old adage is true: the more you give, the more you get back. Are you leading so you can be great – or using an approach that focuses on making those around you great first? Your answer determines your success. And only one answer guarantees that tomorrow will be better than today.

Where will you lead – where will you stomp elephants – today?

ELEPHANT ALERT!

In the U.S. we just celebrated Labor Day, a chance to unwind with the family and take a break. But can you relax? 

“It never ends,” laments a friend. “I’d do anything for some balance.” 

Balance: the holy grail for millions of workers. Yet, have you noticed the choices people make? Even when with family some make mental choices that sabotage their experience. 

This past weekend was your body sitting at a picnic table…while your mind was in the office?

Here’s the elephant in the office: A lot of people blame technology for the breakdowns in quality family time. But in the end pushing the “power” button is a choice – your choice.

Consider there’s a hidden reason why some people feel lost and naked without their Blackberry.

STOMP THE ELEPHANT

If you’re professionally successful you have demonstrated the ability to deliver results. This means that regardless of the circumstances you’ve been able to control the variables and deliver.

It’s not that easy at home. Over the weekend perhaps you interfaced with – among other things – pooping, crying, money-consuming children; in-laws from Mars; siblings who just don’t “get it”; a spouse who’s improving their nagging score; and a neighbor’s dog that leaves urine-burns on your lawn.

How do you control those variables? How do you create better results in an environment where there are no promotions, no pay increases, and no recognition? 

And without realizing it, you pick up the blackberry. You clean up a few emails. You make a few productivity decisions…and you breathe a sigh of relief: you just got your “control” fix.

Consider balance is achieved when you can float in a sea of variables you can’t control – and still be “on a roll” anyway. Consider that success at home looks different than it does at work. Perhaps with family it’s not how much you get done, but how much love you can experience. 

What constitutes success with your family? Deliver that and enjoy balance.

Where will you lead – where will you stomp elephants – today?