There lives within every individual a power, an energy, an incandescence of spirit that is being constantly held in check, like a dimmer switch turned way down.
A lifetime of being told: "we are nothing special; to stand out is egotistic and wrong; to conform is necessary; to be different is bad; the collective good must be served even to the determent of our own being; we must support; we must never defy; to question authority is inherently evil; the majority is always right; don't rock the boat;" -- creates an habitual thought pattern of lassitude, often leaving us without any sense of our ability to make a substantial difference and therefore with no real sense of urgency.
Surely it is in the best interest of every organization, every corporation to instill in it's employees a sense of pride, in the organization, in the work force and in themselves. People who are encouraged to take a long hard look at what their company is all about, at what it does to make a difference in the community, the country and the world, will begin to develop a sense of being a valuable part of something important, something worthwhile.
Creating this attitude goes beyond the publication of an idealized mission statement as so often proudly displayed in the lobby for the enlightenment of visitors. The organization must walk its talk to create employee buy in. Pride and loyalty are founded on belief and trust.
When the people at the top believe in the organization and it's people, demonstrating confidence in and respect for every employee, this attitude is emulated all down the line. This is the starting point for taking leadership from the top floor to the shop floor.
Pride in the organization is a starting point. When people are coached and mentored to look objectively at the roles they play within their company and the roles played by their fellow workers, they will learn to recognize that no company can achieve success or make a substantial difference without the effort and contribution of every employee -- including themselves.
When people are proud of their company and of the difference it makes, when they are proud of the accomplishments of their fellow workers, when they are proud of their personal input to the process or product, they must automatically become happier, better, more productive, engaged, workers and they will in turn encourage each other to be even more proud, happy and productive.
When such people are given the freedom to seek out and implement meaningful change, to work together to make a better world, to grow personally and professionally, to sometimes make mistakes and to learn from them, people power becomes an almost limitless force for growth. The incandescent spirit becomes a burning passion for achievement.
What do you suppose happens to the bottom line?
Len McNally is President and founder (in 1996) of The Leadership Centre, dedicated to leadership development, management team building and change management through executive and corporate coaching - from the top floor to the shop floor. With more than thirty years experience in sales, marketing and business development Len has for many years been an avid student of psychology, behavior and motivation. He still reads three to four books a month and has writen several book reviews for Amazon.com. He can be reached at (519) 759-1127 or email: the.leadership.centre@sympatico.ca. Other articles may be seen at: http://www.tlc-leadership.com
How do you get your people on your side? And... Read More
Last week, as I was standing in the checkout line... Read More
He grew up in Brooklyn, the son of an ex-con... Read More
Leadership skills training programs empower you to influence, persuade or... Read More
Lee (L.B.) Weiss (Sept. 21/25 ? April 30/82)My dad has... Read More
"How you think determines how you act. How you... Read More
People don't leave jobs; they leave bosses. -- AnonymousCongratulations. You're... Read More
Why didn't I get an Owner's ManualAfter a little while... Read More
"What do you want to be when you grow up?"Remember... Read More
Chances are if you're interested in this post, you're looking... Read More
We have all experienced walls or challenges in our work... Read More
If you gather 100 experienced leaders together to share with... Read More
This article was published in the Nov. 2003 edition of... Read More
What exactly is Charisma? Most would agree that it is... Read More
Although a meeting is a vehicle for resolving differences, it... Read More
1. The Law of Authoritarian StyleAuthoritarian leaders lead by control... Read More
The date was Saturday, April 11, 1970, the time 13:13... Read More
A Leader is not a certain type of person or... Read More
Some people mistakenly associate supervisory positions, or seats of power,... Read More
How many times have you seen the E = MC2... Read More
Doesn't make too much sense does it? Am I really... Read More
Although new ideas lead to creative solutions, they can be... Read More
The United Nations Conference on Law of the Sea was... Read More
Everyone knows that great leaders are made, not born. However... Read More
I have been looking for answers to what it takes... Read More
In today's fast moving, ever changing, and highly competitive world... Read More
Decades ago, as a rifle platoon commander in the Marines,... Read More
Right about now, you've made the discovery that... Read More
Did you ever think that all of the great heroes... Read More
Smart leaders understand that they don't "make" a change happen.... Read More
"Show me someone who has done something worthwhile, and I'll... Read More
Charlotte decides to do good. Charlotte is a highly motivated... Read More
Did you know that people who lead strategically resemble fine-tuned... Read More
Today I stood up to a guy right in front... Read More
... Read More
Abraham Lincoln Is Still Alive President Jimmy Carter tells in... Read More
There are many reasons why someone would decline to participate... Read More
Who needs a mentor. . .everyone who is truly serious... Read More
There can be no doubt that the ancient author of... Read More
"The miracle power that elevates the few is to be... Read More
You are a leader. Everyone is a leader. It doesn't... Read More
If you gather 100 experienced leaders together to share with... Read More
Studies have shown that companies that have acquired competencies to... Read More
It's been said many times that true leadership is measured... Read More
A poem hangs on the wall at Mother Theresa's orphanage... Read More
A good strong example of a family leader would be... Read More
J. Paul Getty planned to enter the U.S. Diplomatic Service,... Read More
Which one is a goal? I will lose 15... Read More
Side conversations ruin meetings by destroying focus and fragmenting participation.Approach... Read More
Leadership is not about winning a popularity contest, it's about... Read More
Leadership Leadership |