And…. Also to the over-30 crowd! Allow me to explain. I received an email today from my aunt (thanks Deb!) and it got me to thinking, once again, about why we so desperately need age diversity in the work force. (You can see one of my original posts about this here. 3-22-10 Age Diversity, Part 2)
At any rate, the body of the email follows. And yes, it DID make me smile and laugh out loud. But it also reminded me that all of the things that the original author (who is unknown to me) said about the under-30 crowd are also what makes them so unique and valuable in the workplace. For example, the technology of today fuels their curiosity and creativity. And the technology that they demanded helps us all (where WOULD we be without email or the internet?!). Those are just a couple of examples that come to mind. I’m sure that you can think of many, many more.
So, read, enjoy, laugh…. But most importantly, think about how it changes the way you view your younger colleagues.
Cheers!
Growing up without a cell phone
If you are 30, or older, you might think this is hilarious!
When I was a kid, adults used to bore me to tears with their tedious diatribes about how hard things were. When they were growing up; what with walking twenty-five miles to school every morning.... Uphill... Barefoot.... BOTH ways… yadda, yadda, yadda.
And I remember promising myself that when I grew up, there was no way in hell I was going to lay a bunch of crap like that on my kids about how hard I had it and how easy they've got it!
But now that I'm over the ripe old age of thirty, I can't help but look around and notice the youth of today. You've got it so easy! I mean, compared to my childhood, you live in a damn Utopia!
And I hate to say it, but you kids today, you don't know how good you've got it!
I mean, when I was a kid we didn't have the Internet. If we wanted to know something, we had to go to the damn library and look it up ourselves, in the card catalog!!
There was no email!! We had to actually write somebody a letter - with a pen! Then you had to walk all the way across the street and put it in the mailbox, and it would take like a week to get there! Stamps were 10 cents!
Child Protective Services didn't care if our parents beat us. As a matter of fact, the parents of all my friends also had permission to kick our ass! Nowhere was safe!
There were no MP3's or Napsters or iTunes! If you wanted to steal music, you had to hitchhike to the record store and shoplift it yourself!
Or you had to wait around all day to tape it off the radio, and the DJ would usually talk over the beginning and @#*% it all up! There were no CD players! We had tape decks in our car. We'd play our favorite tape and "eject" it when finished, and then the tape would come undone rendering it useless. Cause, hey, that's how we rolled, Baby! Dig?
We didn't have fancy crap like Call Waiting! If you were on the phone and somebody else called, they got a busy signal, that's it!
There weren't any freakin' cell phones either. If you left the house, you just didn't make a damn call or receive one. You actually had to be out of touch with your "friends." OH MY GOD !!! Think of the horror... not being in touch with someone 24/7!!! And then there's TEXTING. Yeah, right. Please! You kids have no idea how annoying you are.
And we didn't have fancy Caller ID either! When the phone rang, you had no idea who it was! It could be your school, your parents, your boss, your bookie, your drug dealer, the collection agent... you just didn't know!!! You had to pick it up and take your chances, mister!
We didn't have any fancy PlayStation or Xbox video games with high-resolution 3-D graphics! We had the Atari 2600! With games like 'Space Invaders' and 'Asteroids'. Your screen guy was a little square! You actually had to use your imagination!!! And there were no multiple levels or screens, it was just one screen... Forever! And you could never win. The game just kept getting harder and harder and faster and faster until you died! Just like LIFE!
You had to use a little book called a TV Guide to find out what was on! You were screwed when it came to channel surfing! You had to get off your ass and walk over to the TV to change the channel!!! NO REMOTES!!! Oh, no, what's the world coming to?!?!
There was no Cartoon Network either! You could only get cartoons on Saturday Morning. Do you hear what I'm saying? We had to wait ALL WEEK for cartoons, you spoiled little rat bastards!
And not many of us had microwaves. If we wanted to heat something up, we had to use the stove! Imagine that!
And our parents told us to stay outside and play... all day long. Oh, no, no electronics to soothe and comfort. And if you came back inside... you were doing chores!
And car seats and seat belts - oh, please! Mom threw you in the back seat and you hung on. If you were lucky, you got the "safety arm" across the chest at the last moment if she had to stop suddenly, and if your head hit the dashboard, well that was your fault for calling "shot gun" in the first place!
See! That's exactly what I'm talking about! You kids today have got it too easy. You're spoiled rotten! You guys wouldn't have lasted five minutes back in 1980 or any time before!
Regards,
The Over 30 Crowd
Friday, April 16, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
4-14-10 What's Your Tolerance Level?
I seem to be on a roll with examining survey participant comments. So, continuing that theme…….
One of my survey participants made a comment that utterly surprised me…. At least at first. When asked what other advice he/she had for the new or aspiring executive, this respondent said, “I wish that I had realized early on that there was little or no tolerance for mistakes or for someone who doesn’t think like the majority”.
Good grief. Yep, that was my initial reaction when I read the comment. In this day and age, is there really a work environment where mistakes aren’t tolerated? Or where conformance is the expectation?
Then, of course, I had a “duh” moment. Of course there is that type of work environment. Unfortunately, we all see it most every day.
So what does this mean for the new/aspiring executive? A couple of things come to mind.
For you, the executive, and your career, it means that you have to be aware of the phenomenon. And it means there will be times that you are ready and willing to take a risk, be it on a project, product, person, etc. But you won’t be able to. You have to assess the probable damage that you will do to your career and then, sometimes, decide that taking the risk isn’t worth the potential damage. And there are times when, against your better judgment, you will have to conform with what your boss or your peers require. Not so different from “saluting smartly”, when you think about it (2-1-10 Salute Smartly).
You should know this, for you and your career, you will have to walk a fine line between risk and reward…. Between conformance and the appearance of almost insubordination. Difficult, but doable.
The second thing that comes to mind….. this type of environment affects your staff. As an executive, you can accede to the pressure around you and manage the same way. You can have little tolerance for the risks your people take and you can expect blind conformance. But I don’t recommend it. Instead, work with your people to assess the risks. And when things blow up (they occasionally will!), you have to be the one to run interference between your staff and the people who would want to punish them for taking the risk. And instead of conformity, have the attitude that you welcome disparate attitudes. But be ready to help your people understand that sometimes, conformity to a company view is required. Your job is to help your folks walk that fine line --- and then to protect them when they cross it.
Cheers!
One of my survey participants made a comment that utterly surprised me…. At least at first. When asked what other advice he/she had for the new or aspiring executive, this respondent said, “I wish that I had realized early on that there was little or no tolerance for mistakes or for someone who doesn’t think like the majority”.
Good grief. Yep, that was my initial reaction when I read the comment. In this day and age, is there really a work environment where mistakes aren’t tolerated? Or where conformance is the expectation?
Then, of course, I had a “duh” moment. Of course there is that type of work environment. Unfortunately, we all see it most every day.
So what does this mean for the new/aspiring executive? A couple of things come to mind.
For you, the executive, and your career, it means that you have to be aware of the phenomenon. And it means there will be times that you are ready and willing to take a risk, be it on a project, product, person, etc. But you won’t be able to. You have to assess the probable damage that you will do to your career and then, sometimes, decide that taking the risk isn’t worth the potential damage. And there are times when, against your better judgment, you will have to conform with what your boss or your peers require. Not so different from “saluting smartly”, when you think about it (2-1-10 Salute Smartly).
You should know this, for you and your career, you will have to walk a fine line between risk and reward…. Between conformance and the appearance of almost insubordination. Difficult, but doable.
The second thing that comes to mind….. this type of environment affects your staff. As an executive, you can accede to the pressure around you and manage the same way. You can have little tolerance for the risks your people take and you can expect blind conformance. But I don’t recommend it. Instead, work with your people to assess the risks. And when things blow up (they occasionally will!), you have to be the one to run interference between your staff and the people who would want to punish them for taking the risk. And instead of conformity, have the attitude that you welcome disparate attitudes. But be ready to help your people understand that sometimes, conformity to a company view is required. Your job is to help your folks walk that fine line --- and then to protect them when they cross it.
Cheers!
Monday, April 12, 2010
4-12-10 It's All About Me
It is springtime in the Midwest. That means lawn work. Or for me, that means getting the lawnmower to working order. You know, things like brakes and blades. Just the small stuff.
My encounter with the service technician today produced a nugget of learning that I just have to share.
He was a friendly and clearly knowledgeable technician. After spending a couple of hours getting the mower into tiptop condition, he sat down with me to go over the bill. I was impressed by how he made sure that I understood everything that he had done, along with why he had done it.
At the very end of the ticket was an internet link to a survey. He said, “this is the part of the service call where I tell you that it is all about me”. He said it with a smile, but you could tell that it was important to him. I told him that I would definitely fill out the survey. He went on to say “excellent on all questions would really be appreciated”. And I had to smile.
When I reflected on the conversation later, I realized a couple of things. First, friendly customer service goes a very long way. Because I felt that he had done a good job and I felt that he dealt honestly with me, well, let’s just say it was a positive customer experience from this end. And as a result, I’m much more likely to go back to this company for service.
And second, sometimes it “IS all about me”. And you know what? That is okay. I’ve learned that sometimes you have to be selfish. It was clear that the results of this survey were important to the technician. Perhaps his performance review was based on it or perhaps his next raise was dependant upon it. In any case, it was entirely appropriate for him to ask me for a good review. And it was smart of him to ask. Because, as I’ve told my people in the past, I don’t read minds and you usually can’t get agreement unless you ask. So ASK for what you want.
Cheers!
My encounter with the service technician today produced a nugget of learning that I just have to share.
He was a friendly and clearly knowledgeable technician. After spending a couple of hours getting the mower into tiptop condition, he sat down with me to go over the bill. I was impressed by how he made sure that I understood everything that he had done, along with why he had done it.
At the very end of the ticket was an internet link to a survey. He said, “this is the part of the service call where I tell you that it is all about me”. He said it with a smile, but you could tell that it was important to him. I told him that I would definitely fill out the survey. He went on to say “excellent on all questions would really be appreciated”. And I had to smile.
When I reflected on the conversation later, I realized a couple of things. First, friendly customer service goes a very long way. Because I felt that he had done a good job and I felt that he dealt honestly with me, well, let’s just say it was a positive customer experience from this end. And as a result, I’m much more likely to go back to this company for service.
And second, sometimes it “IS all about me”. And you know what? That is okay. I’ve learned that sometimes you have to be selfish. It was clear that the results of this survey were important to the technician. Perhaps his performance review was based on it or perhaps his next raise was dependant upon it. In any case, it was entirely appropriate for him to ask me for a good review. And it was smart of him to ask. Because, as I’ve told my people in the past, I don’t read minds and you usually can’t get agreement unless you ask. So ASK for what you want.
Cheers!
Friday, April 9, 2010
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!
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!
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
4-7-10 Open Door
In continuing to re-read the comments provided by my survey participants, I came across another interesting one……
In talking about the Communication Executive Skills, this participant said that the executive should “maintain an open door to all levels within the business”. Okay, I get that. You have to be open to communication with your staff, your peers, and your bosses. But my train of thought actually took off on a completely different direction when I pondered that input from my survey. Here’s where I went……
What does your office or your work space say about you? Specifically, does your office or work space give off the “vibes” that you are open and willing to talk. Or more importantly, listen?
You may think I’m a real dork for asking these types of questions, but if you really think about it, you will know what I mean. I’m sure that you have been into one of those offices where you didn’t feel comfortable and didn’t feel welcome. Wasn’t it difficult to communicate with that kind of feeling hanging over you?
Now, I’m not a designer and I’m not a feng shui expert. But I do know what makes me feel comfortable in an office. And I believe that if I am comfortable in my own workspace, my guests will be comfortable as well.
No matter the location of my workspace (be it factory or office building), I always tried to make it feel like home. How? The next time you are sitting in your living room, look around. What makes it comfortable? Once you have identified that, then think about how you can take that element to your office.
Some of the things I incorporated? Table lamps. Yep, I always had one on my credenza (and end table, if I had one). And I always had it on. The ambient light that it added warmed up the space.
And if at all possible, my desk was always set on a slant. No right angles. Why? It made me seem more approachable when I was sitting behind the desk.
Oh, and a couch. Huh? Yep, I really mean a couch. And if I didn’t have much space, the obligatory table and chairs always gave way to the couch and an end table. Why? Because, a couch is way more comfortable than an office chair. I always had a fair amount of reading to do in most of my jobs. Why not be comfortable while I was at it? But more importantly, sitting on a couch for a conversation or a meeting made my guests more comfortable.
What else? Just some of the little touches. Like nice artwork. Like meaningful tchotchkes scattered around. And finally, something that makes the place smell nice (but NOT overwhelming -- unless you work in a perfume factory).
So now you think I’m completely nuts. Perhaps you are right. But hopefully you might have noticed that I subscribe to the theory that the more comfortable a guest is, the more likely we are to have a fruitful conversation.
And once you realize that….. the next time you walk into your office, or one of your peers offices, or your boss’ office, think about how it feels. And more importantly, think about how it makes a guest feel.
Cheers!
In talking about the Communication Executive Skills, this participant said that the executive should “maintain an open door to all levels within the business”. Okay, I get that. You have to be open to communication with your staff, your peers, and your bosses. But my train of thought actually took off on a completely different direction when I pondered that input from my survey. Here’s where I went……
What does your office or your work space say about you? Specifically, does your office or work space give off the “vibes” that you are open and willing to talk. Or more importantly, listen?
You may think I’m a real dork for asking these types of questions, but if you really think about it, you will know what I mean. I’m sure that you have been into one of those offices where you didn’t feel comfortable and didn’t feel welcome. Wasn’t it difficult to communicate with that kind of feeling hanging over you?
Now, I’m not a designer and I’m not a feng shui expert. But I do know what makes me feel comfortable in an office. And I believe that if I am comfortable in my own workspace, my guests will be comfortable as well.
No matter the location of my workspace (be it factory or office building), I always tried to make it feel like home. How? The next time you are sitting in your living room, look around. What makes it comfortable? Once you have identified that, then think about how you can take that element to your office.
Some of the things I incorporated? Table lamps. Yep, I always had one on my credenza (and end table, if I had one). And I always had it on. The ambient light that it added warmed up the space.
And if at all possible, my desk was always set on a slant. No right angles. Why? It made me seem more approachable when I was sitting behind the desk.
Oh, and a couch. Huh? Yep, I really mean a couch. And if I didn’t have much space, the obligatory table and chairs always gave way to the couch and an end table. Why? Because, a couch is way more comfortable than an office chair. I always had a fair amount of reading to do in most of my jobs. Why not be comfortable while I was at it? But more importantly, sitting on a couch for a conversation or a meeting made my guests more comfortable.
What else? Just some of the little touches. Like nice artwork. Like meaningful tchotchkes scattered around. And finally, something that makes the place smell nice (but NOT overwhelming -- unless you work in a perfume factory).
So now you think I’m completely nuts. Perhaps you are right. But hopefully you might have noticed that I subscribe to the theory that the more comfortable a guest is, the more likely we are to have a fruitful conversation.
And once you realize that….. the next time you walk into your office, or one of your peers offices, or your boss’ office, think about how it feels. And more importantly, think about how it makes a guest feel.
Cheers!
Monday, April 5, 2010
4-5-10 Never Let 'Em See You Sweat
Well, not exactly.
But first, I digress.
One of the great things about research, specifically research via surveys, is that you get a wealth of information. One of the downsides of the structured PhD thesis is that you don’t always get to use or share every shred of this most valuable information.
In going back through the original survey responses, I was reminded that there is some very interesting information, from very experienced executives, that hadn’t yet found an outlet.
Well, tada! Here is the outlet……
So what did I mean by the title? It is actually an outgrowth of one of the survey responses. Which was, “never show you think something is impossible”. And why do you suppose that my survey participant said that? Well, of course, I can’t know for sure, but I’m thinking it is a pretty good bet that the reason is because you are the executive!
Think about it this way. You are in the aerospace industry and your company is in the process of designing a brand new material that will revolutionize air transport. Instead of metal, you will be designing and building planes out of composites. Don’t you imagine that oh, twenty or so years ago, someone was thinking (if not saying) that it would be impossible? And yet, we have just seen the first mostly-composite airplane start its test cycles.
In all likelihood, during the last twenty years, there have been executives that thought a composite airplane was impossible, but charged ahead anyway. And in doing so, what was deemed impossible became a “maybe” and then became a possible and then finally, became a reality.
The point here is that when your team (or your boss, for that matter) comes to you with an idea or an assignment that you believe is impossible…. Don’t just blurt out your view. Let it simmer. Let it develop. Work from angles that you’ve never used. After all, this is how innovation begins --- with the impossible.
Of course, you have to balance that nurturing of the idea with the reality of your current business. You can’t pour all of your money and time into something that won’t pay off for 30 years. But you can keep feeding the idea with small amounts in order to see where it will take you and your company in the future.
Cheers!
But first, I digress.
One of the great things about research, specifically research via surveys, is that you get a wealth of information. One of the downsides of the structured PhD thesis is that you don’t always get to use or share every shred of this most valuable information.
In going back through the original survey responses, I was reminded that there is some very interesting information, from very experienced executives, that hadn’t yet found an outlet.
Well, tada! Here is the outlet……
So what did I mean by the title? It is actually an outgrowth of one of the survey responses. Which was, “never show you think something is impossible”. And why do you suppose that my survey participant said that? Well, of course, I can’t know for sure, but I’m thinking it is a pretty good bet that the reason is because you are the executive!
Think about it this way. You are in the aerospace industry and your company is in the process of designing a brand new material that will revolutionize air transport. Instead of metal, you will be designing and building planes out of composites. Don’t you imagine that oh, twenty or so years ago, someone was thinking (if not saying) that it would be impossible? And yet, we have just seen the first mostly-composite airplane start its test cycles.
In all likelihood, during the last twenty years, there have been executives that thought a composite airplane was impossible, but charged ahead anyway. And in doing so, what was deemed impossible became a “maybe” and then became a possible and then finally, became a reality.
The point here is that when your team (or your boss, for that matter) comes to you with an idea or an assignment that you believe is impossible…. Don’t just blurt out your view. Let it simmer. Let it develop. Work from angles that you’ve never used. After all, this is how innovation begins --- with the impossible.
Of course, you have to balance that nurturing of the idea with the reality of your current business. You can’t pour all of your money and time into something that won’t pay off for 30 years. But you can keep feeding the idea with small amounts in order to see where it will take you and your company in the future.
Cheers!
Friday, April 2, 2010
4-2-10 Should Told Me #9
I keep up with my friends and family on Facebook. Specifically, I keep up with my younger family members on Facebook. Have to admit that it is a wonderful tool to see what is going on in their world. Some of the comments I see there got me to thinking about parents. And that sent me down the “someone shoulda told me” bunny trail again.
Now this post isn’t strictly for the executive, although you could extrapolate this information to an executive’s situation. Instead, this is geared towards the younger, non-executive readers out there.
Remember when you were very young? Say, age 12 and under? During that time of your life, it is likely that your parents were the most amazing people in the world. They knew everything. You could go to them with any question or problem and get just the right answer or solution.
And then, you hit the teenage years. During that time your parents were, at best, a source of embarrassment and at worst, the bane of your life. You went to great lengths to conceal every aspect of your life from them because, really, they couldn’t possibly understand what you were going through. Questions and problems were solved by consulting with friends and the internet. Parents and home was just something that you desperately wanted to get away from.
And then you hit about 25 or so. You find that you are going back to your parents more and more for information and support. They are (and have always been) your biggest cheerleaders. They become (once again) a reliable source of information. They are the best mentors available.
Someone shoulda told me, way back then, that my parents weren’t as dumb or irrelevant as I thought they were.
Thanks Mom and Dad!
Cheers!
Now this post isn’t strictly for the executive, although you could extrapolate this information to an executive’s situation. Instead, this is geared towards the younger, non-executive readers out there.
Remember when you were very young? Say, age 12 and under? During that time of your life, it is likely that your parents were the most amazing people in the world. They knew everything. You could go to them with any question or problem and get just the right answer or solution.
And then, you hit the teenage years. During that time your parents were, at best, a source of embarrassment and at worst, the bane of your life. You went to great lengths to conceal every aspect of your life from them because, really, they couldn’t possibly understand what you were going through. Questions and problems were solved by consulting with friends and the internet. Parents and home was just something that you desperately wanted to get away from.
And then you hit about 25 or so. You find that you are going back to your parents more and more for information and support. They are (and have always been) your biggest cheerleaders. They become (once again) a reliable source of information. They are the best mentors available.
Someone shoulda told me, way back then, that my parents weren’t as dumb or irrelevant as I thought they were.
Thanks Mom and Dad!
Cheers!
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