Tough Love

I hate to be the one to break it to you, but if your kids are still living at home at the age of 40 – it is likely not their fault. It's yours! Neither is it the fault of your employees in business, if they are completely incapable of making a decision without you! In parenting we call it tough love; in business it is called empowerment, but they are quite similar.

I overheard an executive making a call to one of her subordinates. She was communicating that a CEO, apparently important to their business, was going to be in town. This executive wanted the subordinate to be present during the meet with the CEO. The executive provided the usual details regarding time and location, but then she instructed this person on what to wear!

Sure, there is a chance they will show up wearing a wife-beater and rubber boots, or their prom dress from the 80s – but that isn't that how we learn?

Tough Love

How a popular business theme is taken out of context

In their book "Good to Great," Jim Collins and Jerry Porras talk about "the tyranny of the 'or', the genius of the 'and,'" and found that companies that make the leap from good to great refuse to believe that they can't have it all.

Low prices and high quality

Fast and cheap

Quality and quantity

Excellence and cost effective

This profound, easy to understand theme, has unlimited application in life and business. And, because its' meaning is so logical, easy to pick up on and . . . so noble sounding, some have taken this idea out of context. Great companies find a way to have both. Conversely, people in leadership positions that only stumble across this great phrase - with no understanding of the foundation of the principle – simply start demanding the and; they seem to be thinking, if the way you become great is do it all – I want it all, and, tell me all your great ideas and I will demand they be done. Massive difference between "find a way," and "demand."

One must actually read Collin's & Porras's entire book to understand how these companies successfully employ ""the tyranny of the 'or', the genius of the 'and'." These special companies - the Great ones - have unique leaders who approach their people and business in a much different way than the ones that never made the leap.

The word genius in "the genius of the 'and'" implies a brilliance in the approach. To some, it is nearly impossible to understand and the reason why many do not successfully apply it.

In reality, it is only a determined individual or group of people, approaching a problem with unwavering determination, as well as an attitude of cooperation and modesty, prepared to accomplish their desire regardless of ego, precedence or culture. In other words, it has more to do with the people applying the principle, than the principle itself.

You don't have to be a genius, either.

How a popular business theme is taken out of context

How I discovered GM’s Planned Obsolescence

I have just encountered firsthand experience of GM's planned obsolescence. It seems there is a bulb burned out in behind my speedometer in my instrument cluster creating an area of darkness in the dashboard while driving at night. I can't see how fast I am going, which I have found, completely eliminates all conviction when I seem to be going really fast. Ignorance really is bliss.

In my attempt to solve this problem, I discover that it cannot be fixed. I have to replace the entire instrument cluster. What used to be a $2 bulb and minimal amount of time will now cost me around $600.00, not including labour . . . for a burned out light bulb. The old one? Garbage. One would think that environmentalists would be all over this and have had speedometers tattooed on their foreheads by now. I haven't noticed a picture of my Instrument cluster on the list of returnable / recyclable items.

Planned Obsolescence is the practice of intentionally making a product obsolete after a relatively short period of time so that the consumer is obliged to buy yet another product at the end of the original product's lifespan. It did work. Consumers were obliged to buy another vehicle. However, for obvious reasons, they decided to buy from a different manufacturer.

If the plan of obsolescence is to replace a product with a must-have better product with more features and advanced technology – great idea. But, how does a group of talented people come up with the idea to build stuff with limited life, that breaks and cannot be fixed, so that people will have to replace in a short period of time?

I didn't have to work at or with GM to know the answer to that question. They have certainly not cornered the market with this phenomenon that conceives and births really dumb ideas.

I know that there were people within GM advising against this idea, suggesting to the senior leaders that this was a bad idea and bad business, predicting and forecasting the potential problems with a plan of this nature. I know this because that is what good leaders do – they stand by their convictions – they do the right thing.

Unfortunately, I also know that there were leaders inside GM who allowed their title and the power that comes with running a large corporation, to go to their head. I know that they didn't listen to what people inside and outside their organization were warning them about.

. . . and, we think is was the recession that brought GM to bankruptcy.

If you don't agree with me on this, then you are either one of those former, close minded leaders in GM, or you don't have a burned out bulb in your instrument cluster that is going to cost you $600.00.

How I discovered GM’s Planned Obsolescence

Agoraphobia

You could call it Agoraphobia - a condition which develops when a person begins to avoid spaces or situations associated with anxiety. Complexity, rules, policies, and procedures grow as organizations grow. Of course, this is necessary. The problem is the barriers and limitations this unremitting proliferation of rules creates.

Real walls

We have a cat that does not know she is a cat . . . at least not aware of the abilities of a cat. We let the cat out into our back yard, surrounded by a six-foot high fence. She never leaves the yard. She does not realize that she, if desired, could jump the fence with ease. Occasionally, other cats will jump into the yard and leave at will. She watches them come and go, but never realizes that she too could leave and explore the world beyond the big wall.

My cat is content with this. The wall is real and creates an element of safety. She is not aware of her ability. It would take risk to attempt to jump that wall. Many people look at rules in their company in a similar way.

Artificial walls

Apparently, dogs can be "boundary trained," or trained to stay within a perimeter that only has a piece of string or line of some sort on the ground. The walls are entirely imagined – there is nothing physically stopping to dog from leaving.

It is equally problematic when people are afraid to step out despite an organization's ability to limit its' rules.

Unutilized potential in any person is detrimental. The enterprise experiences unrealized capacity; the unfulfilled individual will eventually leave.

The challenge is to create balance between the amount of rules and freedom for individuals, encouraging the use of their ingenuity, and be flexible enough to get people with widely varying levels of risk to either step out, or in the case of the "cowboy," to keep him / her restrained adequately enough to protect the organization.

Most tend to lean to the side of caution – this means you will have to push them over the wall – real or imagined.

Agoraphobia

Poppies

"I don't wear poppies because I don't believe in war," was the response from one of my employees when I handed out poppies on Remembrance Day. I was both stunned and speechless. This ignorant declaration was not from a teenager, but from a middle-aged woman. How is it possible for someone to grow up in this country and not understand the meaning of a poppy?

Perhaps one day of remembering per year is not enough. I can only imagine the anguish that a veteran, or the family of one who lost their life, feels when encountering this kind of ignorance and ungratefulness. We, those of us that have never fought for country and freedom, could never comprehend what these men and women of courage have gone, and go, through. Today's generations take for granted the freedom and liberty that they enjoy. Our freedom to choose where we want to live, who to marry, where to work, how many kids to have, what god we want to worship, the people that we want to legislate our laws and social policy was paid for by the sacrifice and blood of men and women.

The freedom to choose to wear a poppy, or not, was paid for.

If we do not keep history real and fresh in our minds, we will be forced to repeat the lessons of the past.

To: Veterans; men and women serving in the military; and their families; I remember, I appreciate, I am grateful, for what you do and have done for my country and me.

Poppies

What is your purpose?

Executing that "thing," or doing that "activity" for the "initiative" is great – but what if "it" has nothing to do with your purpose, mission or vision. Everything and everyone was created for a purpose – a desired end result. More often than not, that purpose is not very clear. This is why many engage in "busy work" - unproductive activities that have nothing to do with getting you to where you should be going.

The way to minimize this problem is to clearly define your purpose – that reason that you exist.

The enterprise that has a clear vision and mission easily avoids or eliminates distractions, initiatives and activities that do not lead to their vision. The individual with a clear sense of purpose does the same.

How do you know if there is a clear purpose? You could ask. However, the most effective way is to look at the activities performed. They (activities, initiatives) are the symptoms – the telltale signs.

A question that is often uncomfortable, for individuals and organizations alike, is: What is your purpose?

A clear answer to that question is the beginning of success.

Photo by: Daniel Morris

What is your purpose?

Sometimes – it’s ok to steal

Within an organization, it is good and healthy to steal (adopt) the good ideas from others in that organization. It should be encouraged. Some have also figured out that it is good to adopt (steal) ideas from outside of the organization – your competitors. (I am not talking about breaking laws, stealing patents, trademarks or copyrighted material).

Why only some? Why wouldn't everyone want to take advantage of something the competition is doing that gives them an advantage over you? Honestly, I think it is pride.

I recently flew on Delta airlines – first time. While sitting in the coral waiting from my flight, I noticed that they scroll useful information on one of the monitors behind the shepardess. Information included: weather in destination city, availability of business class seats, standby list, cleared standby list (if you name is on the list come get your boarding pass), and other information. It is obvious that they have answered as many of those questions that travellers want or need to know, without making them come up to the counter and ask. Great idea!

Perhaps Delta stole this idea from another airline – I don't know. I wondered how many other airlines have adopted (stolen) this idea. It is obvious that some have not.

If I ran an airline, I would travel on other airlines for the only reason to find out what they are doing and seek out ideas that they may be using to gain an edge over my company.

But perhaps that is just me – my thinking is weird.

Probably why I am not running an airline.

Sometimes – it’s ok to steal

Letting go of Weaknesses

Throughout life we are encouraged to work on our weaknesses in order to improve them – get better. Visualize a cat being slowly lowered into a tub full of water. With great time and effort, we may get to the point of tolerance, possibly even mediocrity.

However, a weakness will never become a strength!

That fact may be utterly abhorrent to some . . . like those who always advise to work on weaknesses. The reality is that we are all created with specific talents that we are naturally good at, and since it is impossible to be good at everything, there are areas that we are "not so good" at. Research by organizations such as Gallup, have discovered that when you work on those areas, or talents, where you have natural strengths, you will see exponential growth. The reason is because of the potential: natural talent = high potential, limited talent = low potential.

The result of the worlds programming is that we have become acutely aware of our weaknesses, but ignorant of our strengths. Take a minute and mentally list your strengths. Now do the same for your weaknesses. Which came easier? I find most people have trouble coming up with even one strength – and this is not because they are modest.

Now, visualize a cat discovering that there is a mouse in the room.

Spending time trying to improve your weakness is unproductive, frustrating and wearisome.

Energy directed at your natural talents and strengths is constructive, inspiring and exhilarating.

Photo by: kia storm

Letting go of Weaknesses

Bullies

I was in grade 5, and one of the school bullies, out of the blue, challenged me to a fight after school for no apparent reason. I did what any young boy would do to save face – I said, "ok – what time." The arrangements were made for later that day and we walked away. "Stupid, stupid, what have you done?" "You can't win this fight – why would you agree to it?" screamed the voice in my head. I couldn't win. I was among the smallest in stature in the school and he was three times my size. Of course that is why he picked me. That is what disempowered scared people (a.k.a. bullies) do – they pick on and demean others in order to elevate themselves. The size mismatch guarantees success in their goal.

I had to get out of this – there is no way that I am going to let some big guy with a low self-esteem beat on me. Not showing up is certainly an option, but it makes me look bad and the problem will never go away – we still go to the same school – he is going to get me eventually.

It is has been said, "Necessity is the mother of all invention." I had an idea. I went to the office and asked to speak to the principle. I explained my problem to him from my grade 5 level of understanding. I didn't have work very hard at explaining my idea – he caught on right away and began to reason aloud, "What if I called both of you to the office, and explained to you that I found out about your planned fight after school today?" He paused and then continued, "and what if I was to say that if you went ahead with the fight, there would be big trouble, the strap, suspension or even expulsion – do you think that would end it?" Of course, I agreed with his plan and went back to class.

Within the hour, we were both called to the office. I remember playing the role as we walked to the office, "What do you think this is about?" I asked. "I have no idea," the bully responds and finishes with, "Do you think they know about the fight?"

The principle went through the scenario exactly as planned – even pulled out his strap during the conversation for effect. The shock and awe on the way back from the office included questions and statements by both of us such as, "who do you think told," and "I have no idea." The fight never transpired and the issue was dead.

Whats the point?

The bullies (problems) of life and business will always come at us and you can't always solve them on your own. Sometimes you will need help. In fact, you are almost always better off to collaborate with others when dealing with problems. We often get ourselves into problems and do not have the ability to see our way out of them. There is always more than one solution to a problem, leaning on others helps us to see them.

Don't try to be a hero solving all your own problems – reach out to others. That is why we call it a team.

A final word of advice: Try not to let your pride get in the way of logic when someone or something, three times your size, challenges you to a battle.

To my bully friend, Darcy B. – now you know the rest of the story.

Image by: Mandreww

Bullies