Personal Note from the “Captain of the Ship”

“The Best way to predict the future is to invent it.”

Alan Kay
Former Xerox Researcher

My clients expect me to know what is happening in the business world and advise them accordingly. As my normal routine, I read dozens of magazines, newspapers, books and reliable sources of information on the Internet. As a side note, the least dependable source of factual content and reliable information is cable television news.

In the May 4 edition of Fortune, I enjoyed reading an article by Anne Mulcahy, the CEO of Xerox. For me, she hits the nail on the head regarding what business should be doing during this economic downturn.

She said, “I know from experience one of the biggest mistakes that can be made right now is to slash investments in innovation. And by innovation, I don’t just mean product research and development. It can also be innovating in new markets, launching new businesses, and even disruptive innovation in work processes.” Then she adds, “I remind my team that the next generation of technology and services will be born out of decisions we make at this unique moment in time. With that, we’re banking on the advice of Alan Kay, a former Xerox researcher, who said, “The best way to predict the future is to invent it.”

As a management consultant, I have had an interesting seat watching business after business, cut back, terminate talented people, eliminate training and development, and curtail important projects. These businesses are just creeping along the highway, hoping they don’t become road kill, instead of taking a proactive approach. Many of them have laid off their most experienced people, virtually wiping out their talent pool and future leadership.

Yes, survival is paramount and all my clients have had to make difficult decisions. However, by making the wrong choices, many of these businesses have only put a noose around their neck. They have placed themselves in a precarious position where they won’t be prepared when the economy starts improving.

Studies show layoffs end up being far more costly and damaging than the short term money they end up saving. As Anne Mulcahy alludes in her article — businesses can’t stop innovating. As an example, some companies have cut back on customer service. So instead of increasing customer loyalty, they have only alienated them. In my book, that is the kiss of death. If you work in that kind of place, you might as well box up your stuff because it won’t be long until the business collapses and you’re the next out the door.

The turbulent economy has placed businesses and business leaders under pressure to improve and restructure their organizations. A survey by the Conference Board showed the executives’ major concern was about “speed, flexibility, and adaptability to change.” Businesses need to implement a “transformational” style of leadership along with an effective strategy that will enhance productivity and position their business or organization for increased efficiency.

Last week I was in Longview, Texas speaking to the Economic Development Council. Here is a community of about 80,000 people who are still focused on a bright future. Despite the economy, they are still growing, dynamic and interested to learn new techniques in keeping their employees motivated and working effectively. Several of the people that attended my session work at the Neiman Marcus distribution center. They are responsible for distributing merchandise to stores all across the U.S. It was encouraging to me to see this organization still cares for its people and wants to stay vital, innovative, and competitive and be an employer of choice for their region. More businesses should have that same goal.

Here are seven strategies organizations should put in place.

• Institute transformational leadership techniques in your organization
• Communicate more and provide direction
• Manage the talent of your people
• Identify and exterminate “organizational pathologies”
• Innovate and manage the ideas of your workforce
• Keep your people engaged and energized
• Emotionally connect with your customers

We invite you to sign up for next week’s free teleseminar to hear how to implement these seven strategies in your business. This teleseminar is limited to the first 100 people who sign up. Since this is a free teleconference, we ask you to sign up online only. Please do not call to register. You will be responsible for your own phone charges.

Click on this link to register.

Best regards,

Greg Smith

CEO and “Captain of the Ship”

770-860-9464

Engaged on the Job?

“Last year a survey conducted of 90,000 employees by Towers Perrin showed only 21% of them were highly engaged in their work. The other 79% may be physically on the job, but they’ve left their enthusiasm and ingenuity at home.”

Source: WSJ April 28, 2009

Supporting Change Training Course

Supporting Change is a Vital Learning program that provides the tools managers need to understand and interpret change and to prepare them to more successfully manage their team through it. By working to support change and at the same time addressing the team’s comfort level with that change, the manager can more effectively facilitate acceptance of a new way of doing things. You can purchase the materials to teach the course, or take the online version.

https://www.chartcourse.com/supervisory_training.html

Hire the Right Person for the Right Job

Believe it or not, there are businesses still recruiting and hiring people. This is a great time to capture some outstanding talent. So, if you are hiring, how do you know when the right person walks through the door? As you know, you can’t always trust resumes, experience, or the person’s ability to answer interview questions to determine if they are the best fit for a job.

Experience is not necessarily an indicator for future success. Jim Collins, in his best-selling book, “From Good to Great” said, “People are not your most important asset, the right people are.” We have a suite of over 30 different assessments and reports that can predict success on the job. These reports measure personality, 360 feedback, honesty, motivations, sales ability and key attributes that help organizations achieve the goals they need and want. In this economy, you can’t afford the mistake of hiring the wrong person for the right job. For more information call us at 770-860-9464 or visit our website.

https://www.chartcourse.com/Assessment_Center.html

Will They Lie, Cheat, or Abuse the Computer?

The Counterproductive Behavior Index (CBI) is a valid, contemporary integrity test—a cost-effective screening procedure for identifying job applicants whose behavior, attitudes, and work-related values are likely to interfere with their success as employees. The CBI consists of an objective questionnaire with 140 true/false questions that can be completed by the job applicant in about 15 minutes. Online and paper versions available. The CBI will identify these high risk work-related attitudes and behaviors:

• Substance Abuse

• Dishonesty

• Computer Abuse

• Lack of Dependability

• Workplace Aggression

• Sexual Harassment

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Daily Cartoon

For those of you needing a little laugh, we invite you to visit the Daily Cartoon page on our website. The cartoons are provided by Ted Goff.

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