“There’s a lesson here, and its the foundation of everything I know and believe about business. People can accomplish almost everything if they have a common purpose, a higher goal, and they all know what it is, and they’re going after it together. Everybody needs to be going somewhere. People need a destination, or they get lost. If they have one, however, and if it’s really their own, there’s no telling what they can do. They can survive the darkest hours, beat the longest odds, scale the greatest heights.”
A Stake in the Outcome: Building a Culture of Ownership for the Long-Term Success of Your Business

What can you do to create an innovative path for everyone in your organization?

Model the Behaviors You Want

“ How can I get a young employee to not send and receive text messages while I’m talking to them? “

“Since I want my employees to ‘step up to the plate’ why would they mock me when I’m lecturing them about what they need to do?”

Michael Goldsmith gives the answer in his book “What Got You Here Won’t Get You There.”

“When you’re not listening you’re sending out an armada of negative messages.

You’re saying:
I don’t care about you.
I don’t understand you.
You’re wrong.
You’re stupid.
You’re wasting my time.
All of the above.

The only time that people actually see that you’re not listening to them is when you’re displaying extreme impatience. You want them to hurry up and get to the point.
People notice that.

In the old days, junior (employees) might not have had a better option for employment. It was a choice between one big company and another.

Today, these junior (employees) have the option of working in small start ups, ( corporations, public sector) or venturing out on their own. They’re not hostages to a bunch of old men in white shirts.

The reality for leaders of the past and leaders in the future is that in the past very bright people would put up with disrespectful behavior but in the future, they will leave.

When you find yourself mentally or literally drumming your fingers while someone else is talking, stop the drumming. Stop demonstrating impatience when listening to someone. Stop saying (or thinking) NEXT! It’s not only rude and annoying, but its sure to inspire your employees to find their next boss. “

Your actions speak as loud as your voice. If you want respect, show respect. If you want people to act, get out of their way. Become a good listener. Become a great leader.

Model the Behaviors You Want.
Happy Summer, Ruth

General Information Meetings for The Alternative Board

Hosted by Citizens Bank

• Tuesday January 27 Breakfast, 7:30 am, NCCA Grass Valley, CA
• Thursday Janury 29 Lunch, Noon, NCCA, Grass Valley, CA

Hosted by The Alternative Board

• Wednesday January 28 Lunch 11:30 am Hampton Inn ,Yuba City CA
• Thursday January 29 Breakfast 7:30 am Hampton Inn, Yuba City, CA

Reservations required.

To reserve your space:  contact Ruth Schwartz.

Non-Profit Resource Center – Sacramento Region Presents:

Empowering Employees: Bridge the Gap Between What You Want and What You Get

Feb. 19,2009  9AM – Noon
Phoenix University, Sacramento
Sign up at: www.nprcenter.org

The Problem: Nobody does the job the way I want them to do it.
What they think: “I don’t understand how you want me to do it.”
The Solution: If I want it done right, I guess I better just do it myself.
What they think: “You are impossible to please!”
The Result: You work too hard. You have too many “hats”. High Turnover. Uncommitted employees. Compliance issues. Frustration.

If you want to start building commitment from employees today, then you can’t afford to miss this workshop.

In this workshop, you’ll learn:

* The difference between commitment and compliance motivation.
* How leadership changes to create commitment.
* The principles and elements that empower people.
* Identify what people need in order to be empowered.
* The tools and skills you can use today to begin to build commitment in your organization.