In This Edition
Keeping CEOs Awake
What Ticks Me Off
Kids put Aussie PM in the Hot Seat
Trivia Quiz
How Dumb Can You Get?
Best Boss Story
Announcements
Manna for the Mind
Quiz Answer
Keeping CEOs Awake
Mr. Vincent Gauthier, Regional Manager, Hewitt and Associates, recently stated that these were the main issues facing CEOs in its Best Employers Survey.
Factors most impacting the organisation's ability to succeed:
• Employee Motivation/Engagement/Commitment
• Acquisition/Retention of Talent
• Increased Competition
• Economic Conditions
• Talented Management and Management Skills Development
Three highest priorities for CEOs are:
• Providing a vision for the organisation's future
• Building leadership quality for the future
• Maintaining a highly engaged and motivated workforce
With what you get from others,
You make a living for yourself.
With what you give to others,
You make a life for yourself.
- Author : Hindu maxim
In six of these issues trust is critical to success. Any recognition and reward needs to be established and fostered in a culture of mutual trust. Sadly, in many instances that culture does not exist in anything other than name or rhetoric. People need to feel you mean what you say and that you will walk the walk, not just talk the talk. Recognition and trust go hand in hand. They speak to people about being their best, about doing well, about making a contribution and for most people that resonates not just at a logical level but also in their heart.
Conventional wisdom sometimes has us believing that leadership is about being tough, being strong and being courageous. I have witnessed time and time again the qualities of courage, caring, nurturing, empathy, compassion, honesty and a willingness to make hard choices in Good Boss leaders. But overwhelmingly, I have witnessed their trust and confidence in themselves (self awareness) and in the people who work with them and for them.
• Trust is the basis of all good working relationships
• Trust is a benchmark for integrity
• Organisations cannot exist without trust
• Trust maximizes contributions
• Trust allows for risk
• Trust helps people devote themselves to your cause
• Trust removes fear
The opportunity to develop a flexible, highly motivated workforce as a competitive advantage is open to all, but implemented effectively by so few. It is not a walk in the park but it does offer substantial rewards for leaders, shareholders and very importantly, employees.
________________________________________
If you want to know more about this area of Kerry's work or how to measure trust in your senior team simply email Kerry: Kerry@KerryLarkan.com.au
________________________________________
What Ticks Me Off
People who change lanes and don't signal.
Managers who allege you have to be "tough" to be effective. Tough is often confused or equated with determination and strength and used as an excuse to bully people.
Playing telephone tango and the failure to be able to talk to a real person without hanging on for twenty minutes, or more if you're unlucky. The old dial 1 for accounts, 2 for product information, 3 for bookings, 4 service dep't, 5 to pay accounts, 6 for sales, 8 to return to main menu, and so the list goes.
________________________________________
Kids put Aussie PM in the Hot Seat
Whether by intent or accident, the students of Patterson Lakes Primary School's radio station left their toughest question for Prime Minister John Howard to last.
Having grilled Mr Howard on his preference for Coco Pops or Froot Loops (Froot Loops), The Simpsons or The Flintstones (Flintstones) and Bob Dylan or Elvis (Dylan by far) in a radio interview at the school yesterday, the question seemed to come from nowhere.
"Are you ready for this question?" Mitchell, one of the "Patto PS 104.7 FM School of Rock" comperes asked Mr Howard.
"I recently heard that a plane crashed. Are you ready to fly on Garuda Airlines?"
The press gallery, crowded around the door of the radio studio, let out a collective gasp and dropped their gazes to the floor. Buying time, the Prime Minister repeated the question only to have it asked more forcefully: "Yes, would you ever fly on Garuda Airlines?"
He summoned his thoughts.
"When I travel overseas I tend to go on a VIP airline," Mr Howard explained.
"I wouldn't put a total prohibition on any airline, it depends on the circumstances. I think it is fair to say though that the safety record of our airline Qantas is a wonderful safety record."
Speaking at an outdoor school assembly before the school radio interview, the Prime Minister admitted to the students he was nervous about the questioning.
But as soon as the "On Air" light went on in the school corridor, Mr Howard warmed to the budding year 6 disc jockeys across the microphone.
He answered questions on his childhood inspirations and who he would invite to a hypothetical dinner party if he were to hold one this weekend.
Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his own wife Janette, the Prime Minister decided.
"You wouldn't want to leave her out," came the compere's response.
________________________________________
If you wish to manage your subscription or update your details click here
You are encouraged to share the contents of this newsletter with others with appropriate attribution to the author © 2006.
Please use the ® whenever the phrase "Good Boss ~ Bad Boss" is used.
________________________________________
Trivia Quiz
Coast to Coast: Train A and Train B are crossing the country, from coast to coast, over 3,000 miles of railroad track. Train A is going from east to west at 80 miles per hour, and Train B is going from west to east at 90 miles per hour. Which train will be closer to the west coast when they meet? (Hint: You don't have to do any math to get the answer. Just use your head!)
________________________________________
How Dumb Can You Get?
Idaho resident Kathy Evans brought humiliation to her friends and family recently when she set a new standard for stupidity with her appearance on the popular TV show, "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?"
It seems that Evans, a 32-year-old wife and mother of two, got stuck on the first question, and proceeded to make what fans of the show are dubbing "the absolute worst use of lifelines ever."
After being introduced to the show's host Meredith Vieira, Evans assured her that she was ready to play, whereupon she was posed with an easy question - for a hundred bucks.
The question was:
"Which of the following is the largest?"
A) A Peanut
B) An Elephant
C) The Moon
D) Hey, who you calling large?
Immediately Mrs. Evans was struck with an all-consuming panic as she realized that this was a question to which she did not readily know the answer.
"Hmm, oh boy, that's a toughie," said Evans, as Vieira did her level best to hide her disbelief. "I mean, I'm sure I've heard of some of these things before, but I have no idea how large they would be."
Evans made the decision to use the first of her three lifelines, the 50/50. Answers A and D were removed, leaving her to decide which was bigger, an elephant or the moon. However, faced with an incredibly easy question, Evans still remained unsure.
"Oh! It removed the two I was leaning towards!" exclaimed Evans. "Darn. I think I better phone a friend."
Using the second of her two lifelines on the first question, Mrs. Evans asked to be connected with her friend Betsy, who is an office assistant.
"Hi Betsy! How are you? This is Kathy! I'm on TV!" said Evans, wasting the first seven seconds of her call. "Ok, I got an important question. Which of the following is the largest? B, an elephant, or C, the moon. Fifteen seconds, honey."
Betsy quickly replied that the answer was C, the moon. Evans proceeded to argue with her friend for the remaining ten seconds.
"Come on Betsy, are you sure?" said Evans. "How sure are you? Puh, that can't be it."
To everyone's astonishment, the woman declined to take her friend's advice and pick ‘The Moon.'
"I just don't know if I can trust Betsy. She's not all that bright. So I think I'd like to ask the audience," said Evans.
Asked to vote on the correct answer, the audience returned 98 percent in favour of answer C, ‘The Moon.' Having used up all her lifelines, Evans then made the dumbest choice of her life.
"Wow, seems like everybody is against what I'm thinking." Can you believe it? Then she says, "But you know, sometimes you just got to go with your gut. So, let's see. For which is larger, an elephant or the moon, I'm going to have to go with B, an elephant. Final answer."
Evans sat before the dumbfounded audience, the only one waiting with bated breath, and was told that she was wrong, and that the answer was in fact, C, ‘The Moon.'
________________________________________
Kerry Larkan is a consultant assisting senior management to improve productivity and profits through their people. He is also an international speaker and author of the Good Boss ~ Bad Boss® concept.
He is widely quoted in the Asian and Australian press and writes for a variety of magazines and online publications. His latest book, The Talent War, was released in 2006.
________________________________________
Best Boss Story
Re-printed with the kind permission of Doug Kurtis of Detroit Free Press
The inventor of my favourite energy bar, the Clif Bar, was living in a garage in Berkeley, California, when the idea of the product began to germinate.
That's where Gary Erickson was living in 1990. "I lived with my dog, skis, climbing gear and two trumpets," he told an audience gathered at this year's Running USA conference in La Jolla, California.
During a one-day, 175-mile bike ride, his epiphany to create a better energy bar popped into his head.
"Clif Bar exists because I wanted to make a better product for myself and for my friends," Erickson said. "Two years later, after countless hours in my mom's kitchen, I had a recipe that worked."
Clif Bar is named after Gary's father, Clifford Erickson. The company makes six types of energy bars, including the Luna bar, formulated especially for women. The Luna line includes an elixir and tea cakes.
The 100% organic Nectar bars are my favourite.
According to Inc.com, Clif Bar eliminated shrink wrap, which "saved 90,000 pounds of plastic and $400,000 annually." Company trucks changed to biodiesel, creating about 75% fewer greenhouse gas emissions.
Company officials employ an in-house environmentalist to help them purchase alternative, renewable energy such as wind and solar power to run their bakeries. The boxes that hold the bars are made with 100% recycled cardboard.
In 2000, Erickson and a business partner were offered $120 million by Mars. Clif Bar was No. 2 in a $1.2 billion health bar industry.
In his book, "Raising the Bar: Integrity and Passion in Life and Business: The Story of Clif Bar & Co.," Erickson explained: "Instead of feeling excited about the offer, I felt nauseated constantly and couldn't sleep. I was about to sign papers that would give me more money than Carter has pills. Out of nowhere I started to shake and couldn't breathe. I was having my first anxiety attack, and I told my partner that I needed to take a walk around the block. In the parking lot I was overwhelmed and started to cry."
He asked himself, "Why am I doing this? I felt in my gut that I'm not done, and I don't have to sell the company."
Instead of selling out, he bought out his partner for $80 million.
In 2003, Health magazine named Clif Bar Inc. the healthiest company for women to work at. Fortune Small Business selected Erickson as one of the best bosses in America. More than 150 employees have a fully equipped gym, with a personal trainer available. Employees are eligible for a six-month sabbatical every seven years.
Not bad for an energy bar that got its start in a mom's kitchen.
© Doug Kurtis 2007
________________________________________
Announcements
The Talent War was recently listed as one of four essential business books by Woman's Weekly in Singapore. Rather apt for a guy named Kerry.
In May, Kerry spoke twice in Singapore. He also spoke in Bangkok at a regional conference for 700 managers and business owners of a French Multi National Company. In July he's due to present twice in Malaysia. September will see him in Ho Chi Minh City speaking to another conference audience.
We'll shortly have a new white paper for you; An Employment Guide to Mature Employees on the website or you can request it now via email at Kerry@KerryLarkan.com.au
Kerry now has a half-day and a one-day Talent War seminar so for more information or an outline of the program please email Kerry at Kerry@KerryLarkan.com.au
________________________________________
Manna for the Mind
While travelling with a friend to an appointment which was about as far out of the Hong Kong CBD as you can go without leaving Hong Kong completely, I mentioned that I'd confirmed our appointment the day before. Now given the distance and the cost in terms of time and the train fare it seemed important enough to confirm the meeting for all concerned.
This discussion led us to talk about the lack of courtesy when it comes to meetings and events and people simply not RSVPing these days. Worse still is the lack of courtesy when it comes to meetings and not even turning up. My friend had fronted up three times for a meeting only to have the other party not turn up……or even have the decency to phone.
Sorry, but by any standards - eastern, western or whatever - that is just RUDE!
All this says (screams) is my time is more important than yours. How arrogant. As a private practitioner I have the choice to not work with people like that and frankly I wouldn't want to. Do you know why? Put simply, if they treat me and other service providers like that, imagine how they treat their staff.
Intangibles make up just under or just over 50% of a business's value, and as a manager or leader if you don't display courtesy then you simply don't appreciate the value of intangibles to your business.
Quiz Answer:
When the trains meet, they will be at exactly the same point. Therefore, they will each be the same distance from the west coast.
________________________________________
