I saw a man walking down the street with a bulb of garlic hanging around his neck. He smelled terrible, and looked worried. “Dude. Why are you doing this to us – and yourself?”

 

                                                    

 

“There’s no way I’m going to fall victim to the flu pandemic,” he replied. “This garlic will save me.”

 

As crazy as that seems, do you know people who still lead the way they did prior to the economy becoming afflicted with its version of the flu? As outdated as wearing garlic to save yourself from the pandemic, some leaders are still ‘thinking’ and ‘leading’ like they did before – even though we all know much more effective ways to drive change within organizations.

 

As an example, consider accountability. “You have to hold people accountable,” is uttered in leadership meetings around the globe. Yet, how do you and your peers respond when you know you’re being forced, told or demanded to do things? It smells as much as garlic – and is as ineffective at driving change, too.

 

It’s time to end the misconception, the illusion, that you can force others to be accountable. Lack of accountability in an organization is a consequence, a failure of leadership; blaming others for not being accountable is often a confession that a person isn’t able to foster and create the natural accountability that resides in most employees.

 

Accountability is a mindset – not a task.

 

What strategy is your organization about to launch? Before pressing the “go” button, ask:

• To what extent are WE driving this change – rather than the people who will be doing most of the work?
• What questions can we ask to co-create ownership of this idea?
• How can we better incorporate participants’ ideas and tap into their motivations?

 

Are you changing with the times? Of course, you don’t have to take steps to develop accountability. You can always demand it – and wear garlic around your neck.

 

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

 

Do you feel the Big Mo – Momentum – in your business and life right now? If you don’t, the leaders we’ve been speaking with would say you should be.

 

The response to our latest webinar has been invigorating. We received emails from all over – five continents to be exact – with everyone sharing how they are immediately shaking off fear and moving forward with momentum. (The free webinar is available at www.pathwaystoleadership.com)

 

It is crazy how many office elephants are roaming today: Many companies are actually creating fear – and anger, anxiety, and apathy – just by how they are managing today’s “bad news.”

 

It doesn’t have to be that way.

 

Dan, a top leader within Kellogg’s, shares, “The idea of being ‘on a roll’ is a simple concept, but today it sunk in deeper. Last night I left work feeling really good about how things were going with our team.  When I woke up this morning, that feeling was still there.

 

“While getting ready to go to work I was pondering, ‘Why do I feel so good about things?’  Then a single word hit me: momentum.  Instead of standing still (or moving backward), our team is moving toward clearly defined objectives. 

 

“I do a little cycling and I know that if you stand still with your feet locked in the pedals you fall down. With just a little bit of effort you can get a bike on a roll.  Once you get a bike rolling you gain momentum. And the great thing about momentum is that when you approach a hill (a difficulty in bicycling) your momentum can take you right over small hills and half-way up the big ones.”

 

Momentum is a priceless resource – and it can be generated on demand. Today, when someone hits the brakes by focusing on problems - what’s not working, or who is to blame (all of which kills momentum) - you can respond with leadership: Ask a question that leads focus, energy, people – and results – forward.

 

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

 

 

 

In these challenging economic times we often hear about organizations declaring a War on Waste.  With great acclaim, endless expenses are questioned and cut.   Printing costs, travel, advertising, inventory and shipping are just a few that are under the microscope.     It is good to review these expenses and with most organizations, legitimate and substantial savings can be realized.

 

But there is a huge elephant in the office and almost everyone knows it.   The greatest waste, the tragic waste that is destroying your competitive advantage, driving your best people out the door, and collapsing your bottom line isn’t materials, inventory and fuel costs.   There is a wasted resource that is vastly more expensive…. It is the waste of your “people potential.” 

 

When 72% of the workforce is disengaged, (Gallup 08) it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to calculate the enormous cost in lost ideas, lost discretionary effort, lost time in unproductive meetings, and the inability to move results forward.

 

But there’s some very good news.  With few exceptions, every single one of those 72%ers wants to be great.   They want to leverage their potential as much as you want them to.   In fact, at one time, they were not one of your wasted resources.   They wanted to be part of a great team and make a difference every day, just like you and me.  

 

Alas, we know we’re preaching to the choir here.  Nearly everyone reading this blog knows that Culture - how people work and lead together -  determines whether those 72%ers stay engaged or not.  

 

Culture, the mother of all strategies, determines whether you truly win the war on waste.

 

When you fully engage your enormous “people potential” resource, what is possible?  Our partners who are consistently operating at this level, report that they are able to double their output and results.   Printing, shipping and travel waste pale compared to people potential waste!

 

Here are three ideas to continue to build your culture and people, and engage your 72%ers.

 

·         Ask your team members what kind of environment and culture they would like to work in that would allow them to enjoy their work more and become even more productive.

·         Ask your team members how you can do a better job leading and support them.

·         Then ask them why moving in this direction is so important to them.

 

How will you rocket by your competition today by winning the “real” war on waste?