It seems obvious that you should hire managers that want to make the organization better. Yet, few organizations evaluate people based on their desire to serve the organizationâs purpose.Â
This often results in a broken leadership system that is about self-promotion rather than the betterment of the organization and everyone the organization affects.
Trust is the glue of life. It's the most essential ingredient in effective communication. It's the foundational principle that holds all relationships. Stephen Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective PeopleTaking a sociological perspective, Barbara Misztal explains in her book Trust in Modern Societies that trust has three social implications: 1) it makes social life more predictable; 2) it creates a sense of community; and, 3) it allows people to work together. Without trust, social interactions are unpredictable, community building is thwarted, and people are unable to collaborate effectively. Businesses aggressively strive to establish trust with their customers but frequently neglect the need to cultivate trust in their workplaces. In their myopia, they create hostile work environments with a âme versus youâ mentality, where employees feel the constant need to watch their backs. In this space, loyalty, creativity, and innovation are sure to die.
Close your eyes. Picture Steve Jobs.
Black mock turtleneck? Jeans? Sneakers?
Jobs designed his outfit to convey both his personal brand and the Apple brand of simplicity. But, it also had a second benefit: it simplified his life to focus on tasks that matter. Organizations continue to works towards flatter and self-managed systems where each individual is a self-actualized person. But for some reason, some known and some unknown the persona of the CEO continues to maintain a certain power. People hold the CEO to a super-human standard.
As people, we place high expectations on roles and the CEO is no exception.
Unfortunately, this makes the CEO positions susceptible to fear. Â Fear can be perceived as weaknesses by others so, in response, many leaders hold on to the mantra of, âDonât admit to it. Donât dwell on it. I am the boss and everyone relies on me.â
Here are four strategies for infusing your organization with greater optimism: Be Aware of Negativity: Take action when you see negativity start to spread: When you notice your people harping on negative situations, help them change their state to break the rumination cycle. Consciously foster positive...
Focusing primarily on short-term goals can hinder long-term motivation because achieving short-term goals without an overarching purpose doesn't result in lasting feelings of fulfillment. When companies focus primarily on short-term goals, itâs usually because they donât have a strong company vision. For them, what has to...
Leadership qualities go beyond simply having followers or giving orders. If you are a leader of a ten-person team and only two of them follow you, you are not leading. Influence is a key marker of a leader. How do you recognize a leader? Itâs not by their prominence....
If youâre like most businesspeople, youâve entered problem-solving meetings excited to devise a solution, but then left feeling like you wasted valuable time. Often, the solution is similar to something already in place or it was brought up early in the meeting. It feels like the...
A company is stronger if it is bound by love rather than fear. Herb Kelleher The passing this week of Herb Kelleherâthe man who filled the skies with flying heartsâmade me reflect on compassion and the way we treat ourselves and each other. At the beginning of each...