Goal of the Day – January 7th
Constantly Look in the Mirror
These are tough economic times, and business leaders across this country are making decisions (and in some cases having decisions made for them) that not only affect their businesses but also affect each and every team member within those businesses. We hear stories constantly of business leaders still getting big bonuses in times of economic collapse and huge severance if they indeed lose their jobs, while we see huge numbers of team members being let go without any real economic support or sustainment and maybe a thank you. When I read these stories, I wonder how those who reap such huge gains in times of such great loss can look at themselves in the mirror and smile. I hope they can’t, but I bet many are immune to feeling bad about such egregious actions.
In tough times like these, everyone is worried in some fashion about jobs, but business leaders can tackle those worries and any anxiety through open and candid conversations. The business leaders and the team members should be united in understanding the current situation (financial and otherwise) and unified in commitment to do those things necessary to either succeed or survive depending on that current state. Together they should be crafting and executing plans for survival and success, as well as planning for contingencies if those plans don’t work out as projected.
As we plan forward with the teams I now lead, I want to be able to look in the mirror at the end of the day and know that everything I did was in full collaboration with those very team members who would be impacted by my decisions and actions. When looking in that mirror, I want to feel good in knowing that I focused on what was right, but not what was right in just my own eyes, but what was right in the eyes of the team as well.   And I want to make sure that everyone possible feels like they have a voice in the dialogue and debate and they have an advocate for them during any decision making cycle.
In tough times, every single decision and action is closely watched and often times then whispered about. I can do my part to amplify those whispers through my own interactions and my own openness. I can also use those whispers (if I listen closely) to broaden the voice at the table and to include many others in the decision making process.Â
At the end of the day, I need to look in the mirror and smile just like Audrey above. And those smiles will only occur if I’ve done the right things throughout the day to allow others to have their voices heard and to be part of the decision making process within the business.
January 6th – Assessment
I confirmed my theory that listening isn’t my strong suit. I found myself cutting people off mid sentence to spout something of my own and also inserting myself at times when I hadn’t really listened to the previous discussions or questions that were asked.
This will be a work in progress!