9-6-10 Labor of Love

They say that raising children is a labor of love. While I can’t attest to that, I can vouch for a similar idea….. That you should love what you do. Yes, it is called labor, but why do it (whatever your chosen profession is) if you don’t at least occasionally enjoy it?

Yes, I realize that in today’s job market, we should probably be happy that we have a job. Or if we are out of work, happy with whatever is offered to us. But the job market won’t always be that way.

And whether or not the job market comes back, the executive has a couple of responsibilities. The first is to him or herself. Have you done some analysis of your job lately? What makes you look forward to going to work? What makes you dread getting out of bed in the morning? And how can you modify your existing job to get more of the former and less of the latter? And if you can’t make the necessary modifications, are there other jobs within your company that would be less labor and more love for you? Despite the job market condition, it is always a good idea to move around in your current company than hopping from company to company.

The second responsibility of the executive is to his/her employees. It is never too late to sit down with each direct report and understand what makes them love to come to work. No, they probably won’t tell you what makes them dread coming to work. But you can certainly read between the lines and figure it out. Then it is your responsibility to work with them in creating opportunities that puts the love back into their labor. And if you can’t get rid of the things that create the dread, at least be up front with them and say so. We can all do the drudgery for a while --- if we know our bosses understand and appreciate it.

So on this Labor Day, first kick back and relax. Then when you get back to the office tomorrow, it is time to start working on how to turn labor into love.

Cheers!

4-9-10 Celebrate the Journey

Continuing this week’s theme of exploring comments from my survey participants…….

One survey participant wrote in response to my question as to whether he/she had any additional advice or information for the new executive….. “don’t forget to celebrate the journey”.

That advice can actually be taken several ways.

For instance, one view is the journey through management. If you are an aspiring executive, you understand that very few people (if any) make the leap from entry-level analyst (or job) to executive management. You have a journey in front of you -- first-level manager, mid-manager, staff management, line management, etc -- before you get to the executive ranks. This survey participant’s advice is just a reminder to enjoy the steps along the way.

Another way to view this advice is via a project. Each task, project, or job that you undertake is also a journey. Again, pay attention to the flow of the project and learn from each step of the journey.

And finally, another way to view this advice is via the lens of your life away from work. It, too, is a journey. I’m sure that this survey participant and many, many other executives would tell you, yes, strive hard for your goal of becoming an executive. But don’t forget your family and friends along the way. After all, they are making the journey with you.

Cheers!

Don't Assume Intelligence is Related to the Job

Early in my career, I worked exclusively in a staff function. But I worked for a manufacturing firm. Like most people in a staff function, I never actually went out into the factory to see what we built and how we built it.

Oh sure, I would see those factory folks in the company cafeteria. And when I thought of them at all, it was to think something along the lines of “those poor saps, stuck in the factory, doing the same thing over and over, not having/using any skills or imagination”. Man was I wrong!!

Like many, I made the assumption that their manual labor jobs were a reflection of their intelligence and capabilities. Once I had the opportunity to move to manufacturing, I realized my error.

I grew to admire the mechanics around me. They had knowledge and expertise that I will never measure up to. Let’s put this in perspective. Imagine building a 737 every 6 hours or so. Now imagine what it takes to build that airplane. Mind boggling, eh?

These mechanics are able to take a drawing, a flat piece of paper with a one-dimensional drawing on it, in one hand…… and a flat piece of metal in the other hand….. And somehow create an airplane part out of all it. They run complex machines that are the size of an apartment building. They operate overhead cranes, moving airplane pieces and chunks such that it looks like a ballet in the air. They can take all the thousands of pieces and parts, put them together, and create a half-barrel chunk of an airplane. They can take those chunks, assembly them together, and create the body of an airplane. And then do it again, and again, and again. Reliably and exactly. Whew. They can see the spatial relationships that are just so much mumbo-jumbo to me. They can “see” how the parts are to look, how the sections are to go together. Sure, these things are designed by an engineer, but they are built and assembled by a skilled mechanic. They use their hands and their minds to do some pretty cool work.

I am certain, that even with all my education, I would never be able to accomplish what they do.

Yea, their work isn’t glamorous and it certainly isn’t for everyone (including me). And yes, there is a certain amount of repetition, that would quite honestly drive me nuts. It is often dirty and back-breaking work. Imagine you are a machine operator and metal chips are flying all around you, machine coolant on the slick floor. Yes, the machine is programmed by some NC programmers, and the part is engineered by someone else. But….. The mechanic is the one that is responsible for creating the magic. These guys are smart and intelligent!

So, as an executive (or potential executive), don’t underestimate the people out on the shop floor. After all, they are the ones that make you successful, right?