Lesson in Leadership: Is Honesty the Best Policy?

Nike just announced it will eliminate 745 jobs at its Oregon headquarters.

And it got me thinking about honesty in business. (No, I have no issue with my favorite shoemaker.) More specifically, honesty in leadership.

For years, I spent time in the ad agency world. Layoffs were part and parcel of that business. Lose an account and lose some employees. Lose another account and lose more employees. And so it went with the bad times of every economic cycle.

Now if you were an employee in one of those agencies, you were always thinking one thing during these times:

Am I next?

Which brings me back to this honesty thing. You see, during those two decades (read: several boom and bust cycles), I never heard directly from the president or creative director of any agency where I worked that "layoffs were coming."

Everything was left up in the air.

As a result, cruel and unnecessary angst permeated the work environment sometimes for hours, sometimes for days. That is, until that ax finally fell.

My thinking was and is now that all that negative fog could have been avoided simply by being honest. Simply by being direct.

In other words, the leader of the agency could have immediately gathered all staff, looked everyone in the eye and said, "we've lost a big chunk of business and we will need to lay some people off."

Think about how much stress and anxiety that would have eliminated. Think about the positive feeling an employee might have had toward the leaders of that agency for "telling it like it is."

No doubt, there will be a grieving process for employees whether it involves a layoff or a restructure. Feelings of denial, anger, depression and acceptance are certain to surface. And from my own personal experience and observation, it takes awhile to get through that. So give employees the time it takes to go through these very human experience. If anything, now is the time to overcommunicate.

Just one caution.  By telling folks up front, they will naturally be stressed and productivity may go down. Great leaders understand and allow this by sharing their employees’ pain and helping them position themselves for their next chapter. 

Many of you know that my business partner and I are getting our new book about the benefit corporation movement ready for publication. In it, we interview 11 enlightened leaders who live by the 3 P's of People, Planet and Profit.

They know about and practice transparency and honesty every day. It's the commitment they've made to their employees, customers and vendors.

And here’s the thing: their stakeholders always know where they are coming from in good times and bad.

Can you imagine how much trust they garner by simply being honest? By speaking the truth in a fake news world? By having respect and compassion for another soul who travels on the same planet you do?

As Frank Sonnenberg says on his most excellent leadership blog, "Honesty means that you respect others enough to tell them the truth and that you value your opinion of yourself enough to never live a lie."

Never live a lie. How refreshing is that.

So here’s to the rise of the benefit corporation. And to the honest communication it fosters.

Without a doubt, it is the best policy.

~hcollaborative.com~

The Powerful Secret Leaders Use To Communicate Effectively

Every leader needs to communicate effectively. Whether it’s with employees, clients, partners or donors, you want to make sure you get your audience’s attention.

But as one of my favorite ad gurus David Ogilvy is known to have said, “You can’t save souls in an empty church.”

So how do you really make sure that does not happen?

Is there a single action you can take to all but guarantee you have open ears and eyes ready for your message?

Yes.

Become empathetic!

Plain and simple, empathy is the cornerstone of emotional intelligence, a powerful trait of the conscientious communicator. All of which starts with the ability to really put yourself into someone else’s shoes.

You feel their aches and pains…

…their stresses…

…their hopes and their desires.

Fact is, research tells us that business success comes with higher levels of emotional intelligence and not just analytical intelligence.

Yet, according to recent studies, it seems to be getting harder and harder to find leaders who exhibit empathy.

According to author Roman Krznaric in his recent book “Empathy: Why It Matters and How To Get It” empathy in the world is rapidly declining.

From the online world to college campuses, the executive suite to wealthy neighborhoods in America, research points to the declining ability to empathetic.

When interviewed by Time magazine in 2014, Krznaric cited the following stats:

• Over 70% of adults experienced online harassment and trolling
• Studies show a long-term decline in empathy levels among college students of nearly 50% in the past three decades
• The wealthier you are the less empathetic you are likely to be and
• Senior executives are four times more likely to resemble psychopaths who are devoid of empathy than the average worker

But any conscientious communicator worth her salt knows the starting point to being empathetic. And that, quite simply, is to get inside those flats or sneakers of the audience. Then walk a mile in them.

Easier said than done, you say?

Okay, here are three ways you can do just that:

1. Listen Up: Ask your key stakeholders what is there biggest worry? Focus Groups are great ways to help you uncover what keeps them up at night watching Jimmy Fallon as opposed to dreaming those high REM-dreams. Not sure a structured focus group is where to start. Use social media ( see number 3) or even an email to ask and then LISTEN! Perhaps offer them a simple “kicker” for their participation. Maybe a contribution to their favorite charity…a Starbucks gift card…or just a heart-felt thanks.
2. Take a Trip: Another way to get inside their hearts and minds is to ask them in person about what their thoughts are. Maybe it’s at a conference, workshop or trade show. Or local business event. Nothing will get lost in the translation when you’re doing a face-to-face.
3. Dig Deep: If both options 1 and 2 aren’t so easy for you (say you don’t have a list or don’t have an opportunity to connect face to face)think a bit strategically and go online. Visit blogs or join social media groups (think LinkedIn or Facebook) where your peeps hang out. In several of the LinkedIn groups I belong to, I see these kind of questions posed on a regular basis. Remember: people want to help people. Just be honest and straight with them.

It’s been our experience that once you’ve completed any of these simple yet practical information gathering methods, you’ll be walking away with deep insight about what makes your audience tick.

You’ll understand why they feel the way they feel.

Which will go a long way in helping you engage with those souls in your church.

To get our book, “25 Building Blocks To Create a Conscientious Organization” FREE, go to HCollaborative.com for an instant download.

Lesson from the Cactus: How to Become More Resilient

Growing up in the Northwest, it’s easy to love the outdoors. Hiking, snowshoeing, camping…drop me off in the ‘woods’ and the trees, the green of the forest gifts me with calm. It’s my favorite “zen” place where I can shut off my busy mind.

Then I visited the deserts of Baja.

The stark and quiet beauty created an awe that defined “mindfulness.” A potent experience of stillness and balance between the mountains and sea. 

And the regal cactus reigns over all.  With lessons about survival and resilience.

There are many legends and stories about the cactus plant–often revered within the desert ecosystem. It is a tree that survives with little water in a dry and hot environment, providing sustenance and shelter to many desert animals and insects.  

Like many of Nature's wonders, which teach us about balance and inter-connected-ness, cacti have adapted and thrived over time. Here are a few fun facts from Science and Kids:

• Cactus thorns are highly modified plant leaves. The sharp spines and the thick tough skin of the stem protect the cactus from animals who would otherwise have easy access to the liquid inside.

• The cactus collects water using a large root system. Small thin roots grow near the surface of the soil and collect rainwater as quickly as possible during the few times it rains. A taproot, which grows much deeper, reaches underground water supplies when the top soil is dry.

• Cacti can gather and hold water in their stems. The water is not pure, clear water but viscous. The fluid is drinkable however, and has saved people’s lives in the desert.

The bottom line: the Cactus is Resilient!

“The ability to recover from or adjust easily to change, misfortune, adversity  or stress.” Merriam/Webster .

Here are a few tips to help us become more resilient as Conscientious Leaders:

-          Don’t take things so personally. It’s not always about “me.” That is the ego.

-          Develop a “thicker skin” like the cactus. Throw off negative challenges with positive energy and action.

-          When challenged by major change, think of the long term bigger picture, not just the short-term impact.

-          Find ways to make lemonade out of lemons.

-          Use your energy to be proactive vs spending time being defensive, trying to maintain the status quo.

-          Find an internal space of strength – that you can tap into with confidence and remember that feeling when confronted – a “bank” of positive feelings and successes that you can draw from when faced with negativity.

-          Create an ecosystem of support among your peers and colleagues that creates a buffer against adversity.

-          Counter stress by giving and kindness—an antidote to anxiety- that ultimately makes you stronger.

-          Take accountability and ownership for the situation and mistakes, and then move on with action.

Little things to remember, to build resilience and opportunities to thrive.

Just like my friend, the cactus.

 To get our book, "25 Building Blocks To Create a Conscientious Organization" FREE, go to HCollaborative.com for an instant download.

-           

3 Ways To Measure Your Organization's Soul

As the world moves at warp speed and things change in mere seconds, how do you plan for success?

How do you really know if your organization will survive in the 21st century?

Are there clues?

Metrics?

Trends?

Well as any enlightened leader or marketer will tell you, you start by going to the source. Meaning, of course, looking at your customers and prospects.

Because if you understand their values and motivation, you have your road map.

In our leadership and marketing workshops, clients hear our sermon about how things are clearly changing in the marketplace.  Consumers want and expect more from organizations other than just an excellent product or service.

The good news is that many businesses not only have recognized this but have made critical decisions to keep their organizations alive and well for decades to come.

You see, they've become what is called a  Benefit Company, a new and growing business structure allowed now in more than two-thirds of states. They focus their mission on what consumers are not only seeking but demanding to see in a business today.

It's called the "3 P's."

People: The First "P"

Companies with souls have always invested in their people, but today the faces within our workforce look very different and think and act different. They no longer reflect the “traditional” American values of “mom, God and apple pie." These companies believe in a much more inclusive workplace, allowing for more freedom and choice and busting stereotypes.  This is something to celebrate as it means we are developing a more creative society.  Yet, this means investing in people with a whole new understanding, sensitivity and empathy --- different cultures, different generations, different lifestyles and abilities.

Planet: The Second "P"

Another way to measure a company's soul is its impact on the planet. Future generations depend on the ability of businesses to practice sustainability and put into place policies that save our natural resources.  The planet must not be sacrificed solely for profit. Conscientious organizations incorporate this philosophy into their mission, vision and operating principles. And then practice them diligently.

Profit:  The Third "P"

Finally, profit is the last way to measure your organization's soul as we believe that if you follow the first two P’s, profit will be a natural result.

So does your company have a soul? If so, congratulations. If not, do not despair. Our new book coming out in the summer of 2017 goes deeper into the how's of making your company anything but endangered in the 21st century.

 To get our book, "25 Building Blocks To Create a Conscientious Organization" FREE, go to HCollaborative.com for an instant download.

The Curse of Immobilization: How Leaders Break Free

No leader worth her salt likes it.

It renders one feeling frustrated, angry and completely stuck.

As in first gear. As in glued to the ground. As in no movement forward.

I'm talking about being "immobilized."

The problem is that it occurs with a great deal of regularity in all organizations, no matter how good the service, how creative the strategy, how powerful the team.

Funding declines. Employees leave. Negative PR spreads.

Whatever the case, feeling stuck and helpless is in my honest opinion the worst feeling of all. After all, I'm a doer not a dreamer.

And for me there is only one tried-and-true way to get out of that quicksand.

Take action.

Sounds so simple doesn't it?

But it's anything but easy as Amazon attests to. Currently, you will find 2,313 books with "take action" in their title or sub-title. That is a lot of writing about moving past stuck-ness. A lot of advice about battling lack of movement.

I realize though that wasting time feeling that way does not do me or my work any good.

Even as that empty Word page and blinking cursor stare back at me.

Which brings me to some simple advice a kindred spirit offered some time ago:

"Start by doing what's necessary, then what's possible

and suddenly you are doing the impossible."

- St. Francis of Assisi

So that's what I do.

In my own case, I force myself to write anything even if it stinks. I make the necessary phone call. I meet with the client as soon as possible.

As soon as I do it, I feel an immediate sense of relief, as I ask myself "why did I wait so long?"

I get a surge in confidence.

I become more of value to both my team and my clients.

And I continue to move in the direction every Conscientious Leader loves.

Onward.

 To get our book, "25 Building Blocks To Create a Conscientious Organization" FREE, go to HCollaborative.com for an instant download.

One of the Simplest Ways to Make a Difference...

It was a rainy evening and there weren’t many people at the shop.  I busied myself, straightening the shelves where we sold our journals, which is one of my favorite places in the store.  The candle’s scent of citrus and vanilla, along with the mellow tunes of  Alina Baraz from our sound system, lulled me into a place of contentment. 

A modestly dressed woman in her sixties walked into the store and began to browse.   Now I love browsers, because I am one.   Often it is more about the experience of shopping than buying -- the creativity and imagination of colors, fashion, function.  

And I’m curious about people – knowing there is often a place for a connection.

I smiled and asked her if she was looking for anything and mentioned today was the last day of our home goods sale with linens, candles, and ceramics 20% off.  She returned my smile, and shared she had just randomly come into the store.  “I thought I would treat myself to something special,” she said. “I just need a little pick-up.”

Of course, my job is to sell, but “poof” that went out the window in a heartbeat, and I stopped to listen.  

We walked through the store together, as she told me about her life, her loneliness, her estrangement with her daughter living across country.  So, we talked about daughters for a while, and before too long we were in deeper discussions about letting go and flirted with topics of spirituality.

I’m a talker, but I listened and listened some more, and a few tears fell from her eyes.  Soon we were at the perfume counter and she asked me which one was my favorite.  I told her – an old-world scent of jasmine and blood oranges, that reminded me of Sicily, and her tears dried as she tested the scent.  Soon we were laughing, talking about silly things and she touched my arm and said, “Thank you,I just needed to talk with someone who would listen. “

I was humbled.

I left her side when another customer asked for my help.  But I watched ‘my friend’ who continued to shop the store.  Soon I saw her at the check-out counter, her hands full and I waved to her as she held up the bottle of my favorite cologne.  Then she stepped aside and walked to me and said, “Every time I wear it, I will feel better, knowing you care.”

Sometimes it’s the little things, of connecting by listening from our hearts when we can make the most difference to someone. It’s what Conscientious Leaders do.

 To get our book, "25 Building Blocks To Create a Conscientious Organization" FREE, go to HCollaborative.com for an instant download.

"Be the Change"

“Be the Change You Want to See in the World." 
- Mahatma Gandhi

Our Path as a Catalyst for Change: Profound and deep commentary, wisdom, and guidance -- the voices of friends and families and within our communities are helping us understand the reality of the election. Many of us with tears have gone through the classic mourning process:  denial, anger, bargaining and depression.  But we have stopped and paused at the last step of acceptance and said NO!  We do not accept this vision of our country. We do not accept bigoty or misogyny- from whatever source.    We do not accept hatred towards others.   WE do not accept that others are less than ourselves. We can say NO.

As I retreat to ponder and meditate, in addition to LOVE, the one concept that keeps pushing into my thinkingis the word “Catalyst.”   According to Webster Dictionary:

“The word “Catalyst” is a fairly new word, which appeared at the start of the 20th century . It was formed from the word catalysis, a chemistry term which is an increase in the rate of a chemical reaction.  In the 1940s, the figurative sense of catalyst was: someone or something that quickly causes change or action.”

The events over the past couple of weeks can serve as a catalyst; a potent wake-up call to reinvigorate our efforts to further social justice and create a culture from a place of the conscious rather than from power. This may be the spark- the lightening needed to energize ourselves and others -- reaching out to change the minds and hearts of others, one by one.  There is a place for peaceful protest.

A fellow traveler on our journey toward equity, the NW brilliant poet and activist, Alberto Moreno, posted an old saying: "Hope had two daughters: Anger and Courage. Anger at the way things were and the Courage to change them. Together, we can make it so!  We can despair. Or we can repair.” (Thank you Alberto!)

"There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice. But
there must never be a time when we fail to protest."- Elie Wiesel (Holocaust Survivor)

How To Obliterate Fear: My Personal Mantra

It's a nasty four-letter word I detest.

But one I've learned not only to confront but actually move past. Although getting here was anything but easy.

While I always considered myself a confident person, I found myself freezing up in epic fashion at various stages in my life. Big presentations...personal relationship challenges...parenting challenges all come to mind.

So it's been both the personal and professional sides of my life.

And then one day, I came across this quote from the Dalai Lama:

"The more you are motivated by love, the more fearless and free your action will be."

A light bulb went on.

And I asked myself these questions: Do I not love this client organization and all it stands for?

Do I not love my partner in life?

Do I not love my children?

Suddenly this fear thing all made sense to me.

And that the only way to deal with it was to bring my heart into the equation.

Which I now do on a regular basis. (In fact, for a presentation I'm giving to about 50 people in 7 hours.)

So next time you find yourself paralyzed by fear, or rattled by anxiety, look at what you're facing and see if you can't be motivated a bit by love.

Love of the situation.

Love of the individual.

Love of life.

Because as His Holiness the Dalai Lama says, you will discover the more fearless and free your action will be.

And that fear thing will just go "poof" and be gone with the wind.

To get our book, "25 Building Blocks To Create a Conscientious Organization" FREE, go to HCollaborative.com for an instant download.

Dangers of Isolation: Lesson from a Habitat Build Day

If you've ever doubted the idea of one being a lonely number, you most likely have never worked on a Habitat for Humanity build site.

Last week, I spent my Saturday with a dozen other volunteers finishing up two new and affordable homes in Portland's Cully district. In fact, the house I helped paint was to be occupied by its new owner and family three days later.

Everywhere you looked on the site, the Habitat staff teamed up with the volunteers to see to it that the necessary tasks were performed with excellence. No one-man-bands in sight. Just the teams of painters, sawers,  and cleaners as they went about their business being accompanied by Brazilian music on one boom-box and old Steve Miller tunes on another.

Yes, there was the occasional volunteer doing a little rumba step thanks to the music tickling his backbone.

From time to time, one of the Habitat leaders would remind us of the need for hydration. "Take a break...get some water in you," we would hear on occasion. After all, these passionate folks were out on this site known as "Helensview" 5 days a week, week-after-week.  

Clearly the work completed during those six hours could not have been done without that strong esprit de corps.

What I mean by that is that isolationist thinking serves no one. No community, no organization and no country. Certainly, not in this day and age.

Practicing teamwork builds more than houses. It builds satisfaction and esteem.

And it truly is how things will always get better as every Conscientious Leader knows.

Which means, of course, better product, better marketing and better(happier) employees or team members.

It's clearly what Millard Fuller saw when he and his wife started Habitat for Humanity in 1976. And I think it embodies what Helen Keller wrote when she penned the words, "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much."

To get our book, "25 Building Blocks To Create a Conscientious Organization" FREE, go to HCollaborative.com for an instant download.