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Apr/10

Are Doormen Really Needed?

by Tim Wilson under Makes No Sense To Me

With all that is going on in the world that can be reported on and discussed a recent article in the New York Times caught my attention, “New Yorkers Brace for Doorman Strike.” Since I’ve always had to open my own doors, this article grabbed my attention and as I read it dawned on me that this could only happen in New York.

Don’t get me wrong I have nothing against Doormen. According to the article this all purpose job pays on average about $40,500 and with benefits it escalates up to $70,000. It seems like this a pretty good paying job. Not taking anything away from the Doormen, but is that hard to open doors?

Then it hit me people who live in the buildings that have Doormen, are worried that they may have to take out their own trash. Anyone that is a parent can understand that problem. If you have teenage children, getting them to take out the trash usually results in having to ante up.

According to the article the Doormen handle more than just taking out the trash, it involves sorting mail, greeting children when they come home, helping returning tenants unload their cars and carrying luggage, running of elevators, and sign for packages. Ok, I guess that can be hard. After all signing for that FedEx or UPS package must require some special skill that only Doormen possess.

But if the tenants find out that it’s not that hard to sort mail or take out the trash or sign for their FedEx or UPS packages they might not mind not having someone open the door for them. Hmm, what’s that old saying, I remember now, “be careful what you ask for because you just might get it.”

Maybe the NYC Doormen should think about that before they go out on strike.

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Apr/10

Are You A First Knght?

by Tim Wilson under Leadership

A friend and fellow consultant will be speaking next week in Omaha, his topic is Zen Leadership. An appropriate topic choice since he’s an expert in Jujutsu and Aikido which is a polite way of saying don’t try to sneak up on him. As we talked about his upcoming speech, I noticed that one area he will cover has to do with “don’t care if you live or die”

When I questioned him about this he referred me to the movie First Knight with Richard Gere in which he played Lancelot. In a scene where he had just beaten someone in a joust, the person asked him to teach him to fight the way he did. His response was, first you have to not care if you live or die. When the person heard that he left. He wasn’t willing to go all the way.

As we continued our discussion, it came to me that people who desire to lead, need to understand this concept. No, I don’t mean that they have to behave in a constant reckless manner, but understand what it will take to really lead a team or an organization. Successful leadership encompasses a number of skills and traits. Yes, one can be taught to be a leader, and there are any number of books you can read about leadership skills and how to go about acquiring them. But the willingness to move forward and take the kind of risk that could end your career, is in a way not caring if you live or die, or another way of putting if you succeed or fail. I understand that this may sound a bit radical, but it’s not. Here’s why.

In our collective experience (me and my friend) we understand that those individuals who have the Lancelot philosophy can act that way because of their training and experience. This is no fool-hardy rush to take on risk just for the thrill. Truly successful leaders have learned how to push out the boundaries of their area of moderate risk. For the uninitiated what appears to be a high risk situation has become one of moderate risk for those who have the training and experience of dealing with risky situations over a period of time. They have also learned that having a clear image of what it is they are trying to accomplish helps them immensely to achieve their goals and objectives.

These types of leaders understand power, how to use it, how to administer it, and most importantly that sharing it will not lead to their demise or downfall. They understand that when they give up power, they really become more powerful for a simple reason their team is able to accomplish a great deal because they’ve become empowered and understand fully what they are capable of accomplishing. Through their actions they complete projects on time and within budget, their leader is viewed as someone who can get things done through other people. In essence she becomes the First Knight. She doesn’t’ care if she lives or dies.

My guess is my colleague will give a very good speech because he doesn’t care if he lives or dies.

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Mar/10

Networking

by Tim Wilson under Networking

Last week I attended two networking events. One was put on by the alumni association of my college the other was done by a professional marketing person. Both were free and both had the goal of networking but they were total opposites of each other.

The event put on by my college alumni association could have been a waste of my time had I not had some clear stated goals in mind prior to attending. I fully knew that this would be a staged event for students of the school who will be graduating this year or have recently graduated. The give away was the panel discussion on networking. Professional networking events don’t have panel discussions on networking.

As sat through a presentation that was of little benefit to me I found myself wondering why I had bothered to attend the event. That was quickly doused when I had the opportunity to talk to some of the students that came to my table to talk to me about my business. They were keenly interested in what I did and how I got started. Of course they were pitching me for a job, which I didn’t have as I’m a solo practitioner which I clearly explained to them. It didn’t stop them from trying.

But what I got to see was the energy, drive and passion they had around their chosen field. Unfortunately too many of them were interested in the world of finance and had ideas of making it big on Wall Street. While I couldn’t help any of them with a job, I was able to offer advice and encouragement which I feel several of them appreciated, though I think they would have rather walked out with a salary offer.

The second event, as I said was geared to professionals those of us who were looking to connect with other businesses. This particular event discourages those who are looking for jobs. In fact they explicitly state that job seekers are not welcome. It seems rather harsh, but their stated goal is to connect business people to other business people. It’s safe to say there are some job seekers who slip in and do pitch you for a job. However, for the most part the folks that attend this event were there to talk about their business and wanted find out what you do.

At this second event, it seems the majority of the people were desperately pressing to get their elevator speeches completed. It was a race to see who could be the first to ask, “So what is that you do?”

However, something interesting happened. I was standing with a friend and as I listen to how he responded to the question, he followed up with this, “so tell me how I can help you, is there anyone here I can help you meet or introduce you to?” Two great questions, I’m going to try it at the next networking event I attend. It was clear he was there to see if he could help someone not necessarily walk away with business. My guess is that one of two things will happen. He will get some business from the people who call him, or he will get some good referrals to people he can help.

I’m going to take a queue from my friend and try it at the next networking event I attend. I think it will make the next event very interesting.

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Mar/10

What Does Accountability Really Mean?

by Tim Wilson under Accountability

Lately there has been a great deal of talk about accountability but does anyone really know what it means? The word accountable means to render an account. It surely seems that’s how the majority of people view accountability, – rendering an accounting for one’s actions.

But it seems so reactive. It’s after the fact it comes about, after the damage has been done. It implies that one should have known or anticipated the potential for failure and because you didn’t you will be held accountable and punish for your lack of foresight. It’s as if accountability = punishment. Is there any wonder why people shy away from taking a leadership position?

Developing an environment where people are encouraged to act in a proactive manner where accountability is viewed the way the authors of The Oz Principle define it, “A personal choice to rise above one’s circumstances and demonstrate the ownership for achieving desired results.” Will provide the encouragement people need to view accountability as something not to fear but rather embrace. (http://tawilsonassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Ten-Steps-to-Convincing-Your-Team-That-Accountability-Isnt-a-Bad-Word.pdf)

When Messrs Connors, Smith & Hickman laid out this definition they provided us with the means to view accountability in a proactive manner, that would – hopefully – lead to people taking the initiative to move forward because they were empowered and did not have to wait to be told what to do. It’s this type of accountability that gives us the stories about Nordstrom employees, who wrap Christmas gifts for customers, bought at other stores, or how a Ritz Carlton hotel manager flew to a customer’s house to deliver a reimbursement check because their hotel laundry failed to remove a stain from the customer’s suit before he left.

To invoke this level of accountability requires a management team that encourages individuals to take ownership of the situation. To be willing to move proactively and not fall back on the common refrain, “it’s not my job.” It means that the management team must clearly lay out what they mean by accountability. It means that they demonstrate – by example – the type of accountability they expect from their direct reports.

By being exemplars of the proactive accountability they are showing they indeed know what accountability means.

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Feb/10

For The Love of Coffee

by Tim Wilson under Uncategorized

My wife left me a note this morning that simply said, “Coffee maker died???” I’m guessing the question marks at the end are intended for me to provide an explanation, of which I have none. Perhaps it might have been more reflective of her mood, since she was deprived of her morning cup of coffee. Something I learned a long time ago never to get in the way of, but I’m more inclined to believe it has to do with the relative newness of this coffee maker. We’ve had this one less than six months.

I honestly don’t know what it is about the short lives of coffee makers in our house. We seem to be on the path of having to purchase one every six months. It’s not that we’re making coffee for throngs of people, we’re empty nesters. I will admit that I drink my fair share of the magic elixir. I’m reminded of a boss I had who admitted he had a coffee addiction. He once told me that he when he couldn’t sleep, he would make a pot of coffee and drink it all himself. Seem to be a bit counter productive, if your objective was to get to sleep, but I found myself understanding what he was going through.

However, I still don’t understand why we go through so many coffee makers. After all they are a relatively simple machine. You put your drip coffee in a filter place the filter in a basket, fill it with water and turn it on and wait for the magic to start, and the kitchen to be filled with the aroma of a freshly brewed pot of the elixir of the gods. To have a coffee maker die in less than six months only tells me that it was shoddy workmanship. For us it doesn’t matter what model of coffee maker we purchase, they all seem to punk out after a short period of use. There was this time when our first coffee maker crapped out, I told my wife we were having the problem because we were buying cheap coffee makers. So I took upon myself to find the one coffee maker that would be right for us and I wasn’t going to let price get in my way.

I came home with a coffee maker that not only brewed coffee it would grow and grind the beans, tell the time in five countries and whistle Dixie when the coffee was done. It was my pride and joy. I fussed and preened over this machine even though I was never able to figure out how to get it to do half the things it was capable of and was thoroughly disappointed to see it replaced by a much simpler machine. When I asked my wife why, she simply said, it sprung a leak. I didn’t believe her after all I paid good money for my top of the line coffee maker. She was prepared for my protest, she handed me a pot of water, and pointed to the machine on the counter and said pour. Knowing to argue with her never boded well for me, I meekly acquiesced and began pouring water into my coffee maker, only to see it come out at the base. My machine was relegated to the basement and subsequently the junk pile. Like the ban on my having tools, my coffee maker purchasing privileges have been revoked.

What bothers me is the short life of this recent purchase. There was a time when things would last. I remember when I was growing my mother had a Pyrex coffee percolator. She and other people claimed it made great coffee. You can find them on eBay as collector items. There is a company called Modelco that makes glass percolators, and I found a place that sells them. I know my purchasing privileges have been revoked, but I think I still can advise and recommend. I think I’ll give it a try.

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Dec/09

Remember Those Who Can’t Be Home For Christmas

by Tim Wilson under Holiday Greetings

In a little over 72 hours it will be Christmas. As I sit at one of my favorite coffee houses it struck me that another year will soon pass and what a difficult one it has been. What’s funny is people seem to be spending what they don’t have on things to give to people that they don’t like.

All of this out of some sense of obligation, to tradition of gift giving, at Christmas time. I’ve always wondered why people have to wait till the end of the year to give family and friends gifts. I mean are the children really going to be any better, if they’re told Santa is checking the list twice?

Please don’t get me wrong, I’m not being Scrooge here, I’ve always thought about what makes this time of year more special than say the 25^th of March. As an observer of people it’s really interesting watching people go through a ceremonious frenzy during the month of December. The lists, the concerns, and last minute planning that takes place, is indeed something to behold. I realize for many both Thanksgiving and Christmas are major family holidays. It’s supposed to be a time for family to come together and celebrate. But for so many getting together for the holidays are filled with trepidation, and disappointment despite what we see on the TV commercials.

However, for every family member dreading the family gathering, there is a family who wish desperately that they could be with their families. These are the children, husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, aunts and uncles who have people in the military who are in foreign lands or at sea. For these families who have loved ones so far from them wondering if they are out of harm’s way and hoping and praying that they will get to spend another holiday season with them, this time of year is extremely special for them.

At this time of year we should say a prayer of thanks that people such as these are wiling to volunteer to enter military service to stand on the wall and protect our freedom. I can’t help but believe these individuals would give anything to be home among the bickering and infighting, as it would be much safer than going out on patrol or standing guard in some remote location with only their thoughts of home to keep them comfortable.

So for those who are scrambling to get to the mall for that last minute gift, if you happen to come upon someone in uniform, walk up to them and just say “thank you.” Just two little words will go a long way in making their day.

Happy Holidays to you and yours.

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Sep/09

Getting Organizational Clarity – Do You Know How?

by Tim Wilson under Communication

Getting To Organizational Clarity – Do You Know How?

Recently the president spoke on Wall Street today about reforms. He spoke, they listened. He talked about need for reforms and that there would be no going back to what caused the problem the country is trying to dig itself out of. Consider the following:

“It was a collective failure of responsibility in Washington, on Wall Street and across America that led to the near-collapse of our financial system one year ago,” the president said. Several audience members vigorously nodded in agreement, warming to the notion that blame was being shared on the unofficial anniversary of the financial meltdown.”

The president got what I call the Wall Street nod something that is common practice in corporate and business settings.

It’s when a company leader, is talking with his staff outlining some new initiative he is excited about and wants to happen. As he is speaking everyone in attendance is nodding in agreement.

At the end of the meeting staff members walk out talking among themselves saying, “I’m not doing that, or how does he think I can get my staff to agree to that?” Yet they all nodded giving the impression they were in agreement. The company nod.

As a leader, how do you ensure that members of your team – after indicating agreement by nodding– will actually follow through? How do you prevent them from giving you the company nod?

Consultant and author Patrick Lencioni points out leaders should make sure that they have what he calls organizational clarity. This happens when it aligns has alignment around concepts, values, definitions, goals and strategies. When these are in alignment organizational clarity is achieved. It’s then followed by a continuous level of communication, which Lencioni, calls “over communicating organizational clarity.”

How the president will obtain this, remains to be seen. But, the question here is as leaders in your company how good are you in at getting organizational clarity and communicating with your staff and employees. Or are you settling for your company’s version of the company nod?

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Sep/09

Musical Chairs at the Top of Intel and EMC

by Tim Wilson under Leadership

I recently read in the Wall Street Journal about a three way race about to take place at Intel for the position of CEO. It seems that Sean Maloney, David Perlmutter and Andy Bryant are in a three legged race for the top spot.

The safe bet is Mr. Maloney, as the article put it, “The job is “Sean Maloney’s to lose,”” said Doug Freedman, an analyst at Broadpoint AmTech. There is no time table for when Intel’s CEO Paul Otellini will retire. Unlike Joe Tucci who plans to retire in 2012. There is strong speculation with the recent announcement of Pat Gelsinger leaving Intel and going to EMC he is seen as a potential successor to Tucci.

So there is a three way race for the top spot at Intel, and clearly some upheaval brewing at EMC. While the elephants dance in the corner offices, people throughout both of these organizations are going to be the recipients of the potential fall out from these organizational changes.

For some it may work out, for others it may not. Regardless there is an additional level of stress being place on the employees of both these companies because the senior management has a desire to rearrange the deck chairs on the ships Intel and EMC.

It’s like tossing a stone into the still waters of a pond, the ripples keep on going for a very long time each one just a little bit bigger than then last. Is it no wonder why people further down the organization think senior management is just plain nuts?

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Are You A First Knght?

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