June 2009

Stimulus Thoughts for Your Enterprise

The Stimulus & You

Stimulus defined is something that acts as a spur to mental processes. So how is the current economy shaping thinking in your organization? Challenging economies bring anxiety and change that is often motivated only by fear. People, including you and me, get protective. We are inclined to throw our arms around what we have and hold on. This reassures us that we are in charge of something. We are reluctant to let go because we feel more threat than opportunity in the change that surrounds us. Can you relate? Are you:

* Approaching your daily work with survival in mind?

* Making sure actions look good and finding yourself reducing the risks you take?

* Less tolerant of failure and more protective of your turf?

So, how can this challenging time benefit you and your organization? Now is the perfect time to reshape our work priorities. As we find our organization pressured to provide greater value, there are several success strategies we’ve been assisting client partners with. How are you doing? Have you…

…been a part of focused, facilitated discussions about where the entire organization is going and actively redesigned work to support only that direction?

…linked your work to client and community results? Have your internal customers (employees) identified what they especially need in order to deliver those services?

The underlying theme of the above options and those we employ is to focus not just on polishing, or trimming back, or modifying, but truly on rethinking the work from the ground up given new priorities due to the realities of today’s economy. The good news, we garner greater control and support when we’re proactive, NOW.

Your Choice -- The Highest Position

It’s amazing during times of change, and for some of the most monumental decisions we will make, results seem to be left to chance. Or, just as damning, decisions are made around politics and personalities rather than greatest benefit to the organization and those we serve.

As a doctor of human behavior, it’s been interesting to observe the recent news around the confirmation process of Sonia Sotomayor for the Supreme Court. Political pundits, on both sides of the aisle, launch attacks at one another. Invasive tentacles and narcissistic rants of high-falutin' folk reduce the process to a cockamamie circus sideshow. The question for you – Does succession planning within your organization mimic Supreme Court confirmation hearings?

Have you ensured buy-in of those your hire and promote by succinctly providing to all stakeholders a clear picture of the evaluation criteria? Have you clearly articulated ‘musts’ and ‘wants’ skill sets for succession planning (& placements)? Have you quantified the process? Are you confident in the process your organization has adopted to address the multitude of baby boomer leaders readying to exit the workplace?

Value Creating

During challenging times those who lack an understanding of value focus on dollars alone. Value encompasses the total experience – dollars, time, and psychology. Time: How much time will it cost me or save me to work with you? Psychology: How much of a hassle (or delight) are you to work with? Dollars: Am I getting more than it’s costing me – taking into account dollars, time, and the hassle factor? Research shows these are the criteria we use to evaluate our interactions. Are you creating value for those around you?