ccsboardroom blog

Over recent months I’ve observed more and more organisations struggling to cope with change. Change of various types …. organisational, structural, market shifts, cultural … and more. The biggest and most common challenge for these organisations is the fact that very few Managers have ever developed the neccessary skills for ‘managing change’. Rather, change has been imposed on them as Managers, and they have been expected to ‘make the change happen’.

The question we should be asking is: “How do we develop change skills?” … for myself as a Manager, and “how do I assist my people manage change?”

Would you ever as a ‘Surgeon’ to perform an operation without training? or a ‘pilot’ to fly without some instruction? Then why do we ask Managers to perform organisational ’surgery’ and ‘piloting’ without appropriate experience?

Food for thought …. perhaps I’ll share some reasons why when we meet next?

In a recent workshop with CEO’s from various companies, I was challenged regarding the relevancy of current management models highlighting the essential need for ‘people engagment’, as a key success factor. The real question, I believe, is ‘Have management models changed at all?’ In the 1930’s Dale Cargnegie published “How to win and influence people”. Many of his fantastic concepts involve ‘people’ and ‘people enagement’!

Mr Carnegie’s book should be mandatory reading for every modern day Manager. If you can get your hands on one of the original publications, not only is the reading enlightening, but the examples and case studies set in the 1930’s are amusing to read.
The exciting aspect of these principals demonstrate the value of building relationships. Relationships within and outside the business. Relationships between colleagues, peers and customers. Essentially all of the messages refer to ‘engagement’ under a different name.

The world has changed …. but basic human needs, I believe, have not. Similarly, management jargon may have changed, but true successful management techniques are still based on the same principals.

Enjoy the journey …. make it fun.

All too often we are unaware of the impact our behaviour has on others around us. A recent study published in a psychology journal illustrated the affect a single person can have on those around them. One group of ‘Team leaders’ were shown an upbeat movie (Sat nite Live’), the other group of Team Leaders were asked to watch a ‘dark, scary & black’ movie. After the screening, the Team Leaders and their teams were challenged with the task of erecting tents. Guess which teams performed better. The teams where the Leaders were upbeat and in ‘good moods’! Moods are transferable and manager’s moods impact the ‘bottom line’!

How often have you heard people comment “Don’t go near the boss today .. she / he’s in a foul mood”. Have people considered the impact on the bottom line? Most Managers I meet seldom spend enough time being ’self aware’. Surely it would pay business handsomely to develop the emotional and social intelligence skills of every Manager in the company. Can you imagine the potential impact on personal relationships at home …. wow! Just think how the family, especially kids would benefit. If you are interested .. a great read is ‘Social Intelligence’ by Daniel Goleman. (Click www.CCSBoardroom.com and follow the links to Management Books and Stuff, and the Amazon link)

It was my birthday recently … my son sent me an SMS. “Happy Birthday Da, Hope u have a good day, Love you!” My reaction was initially mixed ….. firstly, delighted that he remembered it was my birthday, secondly, impressed that he had taken the inititiave to acknowledge it by sending me an sms. However, the next set of emotions reflected sadness, that he had not called me. Yes I was at work, but surely a message with his voice would have made ‘me’ feel better.

After stewing on these mixed emotions I began to explore, probably for the umpteenth time this week the ‘Challenges of change’. The world of teenagers today is vastly different to our past experience. Our emotional repsonses are driven by our expectations from ‘yester year’. The digital world of communication is his world. For my 17 yo son, sending an SMS was proper and correct communication. The real challenge is for us as (slightly) older people to embrace the new technology and associated behaviours. It is our responsibility to create awareness and share with our children and the people we can influence, that not withstanding the technology in use, it is the impact of the words and gestures, that communicate the values we uphold!

On reflection, I appreicated his message, valued his thoughts and know that I’m loved. Who have you ‘touched’ today using your sms, to make them feel special?