Category: culture

Drama

FabrizioLeave a comment

Organizations are perfect sets for dramas.

The problem is that drama is a great way to keep people busy and a poor way to keep people engaged, motivated, creative, purposeful.

While everyone is waiting for the next big reveal, no one will commit to a new idea.

While everyone is betting on which of the two executives will win the next argument, no one is listening to what customers are saying or grasping the emerging trend in the market.

While everyone is invested in wowing their managers, no one will buy into the vision and values that would make employees, shareholders, customers, and community better off.

That feeling of overwhelm, of tiredness, of pointlessness is not due to the job. It’s due to drama.

When you get rid of the spaces where drama flourishes – the hidden information, the decisions behind closed doors, the selected circles, the executive approvals, the vertical silos -, you can repurpose the resources to allow your people and your business to grow.

The questions right

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When you start something new, having the questions right is more important than having the right answers.

Who is going to be impacted by your work?

Who are you serving?

What are their expectations?

Answers can only be found by asking. The fact that they lie somewhere in your previous experience and your knowledge of the world is just a myth.

Ready to guide

FabrizioLeave a comment

A father expects their kids to do what the father think it is best for them.

A mentor expects mentees to take and embrace the advice the mentor is giving.

A manager expects direct reports to be happy with the new project the manager is about to assign.

And until we can’t let go of the expectations that others will do as we please, we can’t say we are ready to guide.

Toxicity

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The most interesting finding in this new research by MIT Sloan is the fact that failing to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion is considered a signal of a toxic culture.

Our analysis found that the leading elements contributing to toxic cultures include failure to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion; workers feeling disrespected; and unethical behavior.

It’a no longer just a matter of being fair to others who don’t look like us, don’t think like us, don’t see the world like us.

It’s a matter of business continuity.

Wake up.

Practice praising

FabrizioLeave a comment

We often found ourselves wanting to express appreciation for a colleague, our partner, our kids. Yet it seems to be so difficult to go beyond some generic remarks.

Practice praising and you will be rewarded with happiness and emotion all around you.

Start with someone you feel safe with and expand.

Start with just a few genuine words and expand.

Start doing it once a week and expand.

Soon you will realize that it is much softer to live in a world where praise is common.