Posts Tagged ‘Organizational Culture Change’

Creating a Celebration Culture

Wednesday, March 18th, 2009
Credit:  © Monkeybusinessimages| Dreamstime.com

Credit: © Monkeybusinessimages| Dreamstime.com

When’s the last time you heard someone say, “The problem with working here is I’m just appreciated way too much?”  Healthy cultures have appreciation and celebration as their cultural backbone. They create an environment in which everyone oohs and aahs over each other’s successes and contributions.

Notice I said EVERYONE, not just managers.  You might convince yourself that the manager who high-fives the top salespeople is just doing his or her job.  But once you get celebration and congratulation flowing from peer to peer, you know you’ve created a celebration culture.

So how do you get there? By creating rituals of celebration. (more…)

Taking out the Head Trash

Monday, March 16th, 2009

It happens all the time. You are having your best quarter ever. Then comes the drama.  Maybe you get sick. Maybe a big account blows up. Suddenly, the record-setting month is looking average at best. The people around you are surprised, saying, “Gosh, it just seems like Jack(ie) should be a superstar. I wonder what’s wrong?”  You wish you could tell them.

If this has ever happened to you—well, welcome to the human race. But even if it’s common, it ain’t good.  This plight is as disastrous to the success of a salesperson as the lack of skills. For experienced salespeople, it is usually the biggest part of the problem.

So how do you overcome the demon who has your number? By taking out your “head trash” on a regular basis. (more…)

From “The Company” to “Our Company”

Wednesday, March 11th, 2009
Credit:  © Philipdyer | Dreamstime.com

Credit: © Philipdyer | Dreamstime.com

Imagine yourself transported to an unknown city by helicopter.  A stadium comes into view below you.  The chopper descends and lowers you gently into a seat.  You are handed a hot dog and a pennant and given one instruction:  Cheer for the home team.

You glance at the pennant to see what team you’re rooting for, then start cheering halfheartedly: Uh…woohoo.  Go, uh…team!  Beat the visitors.

No matter how many foot-longs they feed you, this is gonna get old fast.  You can’t plop me down in a random stadium in a random town and expect wholehearted, red-in-the-face cheering as if it was MY team!  You’ll go through the motions until you’re full, then all bets are off.

Seems like a wacky scenario, doesn’t it?  But take a look around corporate America and you’ll see much the same approach to employee morale and productivity.  Employees are expected to be productive and loyal to the company that happens to own the chair they’re sitting in just because it keeps them in hot dogs.  And it doesn’t work. (more…)

Five Tips for Dealing with Mistakes

Wednesday, March 4th, 2009
Photo credit:  © Beatrice Killam | Dreamstime.com

Photo credit: © Beatrice Killam | Dreamstime.com

Every once in a while, there’s a dandy—a whopper of a mistake that throws you for a loop. And then there are the little, repeated, and rarely addressed ongoing mistakes that show up all too often.

As a leader, employee mistakes can hurt your reputation for quality and make your footing unsure.

So how do you deal with employee mistakes? (more…)

Three Tips for Taking Back Your Life and Work

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009
Do Not Disturb

Photo credit: © James Insogna | Dreamstime.com

Does this sound like your life? You work from 7:00 in the morning until 7:00 each night and go home exhausted, thinking about all the unfinished work that continues to pile up.

You take work with you on “vacations,” and your ringing cell phone competes with the sound of the surf at the beach.

And despite all this, you STILL feel like you’re falling ever-further behind.

If this feels like you, you’re not alone.  In fact, it’s the norm for American executives.  But it shouldn’t be.  It’s not just insane, it’s counterproductive.  That kind of relentless schedule diminishes the quality of your life AND your work.

So what can you do to build some sanity and results into your life?  (more…)