Comments on: 3 Ways to Restore Optimism at Work

By: Shawn Murphy

Shawn Murphy — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 02:31:40 +0000

Luke,
Well said. My gut says that it’s the leaders who have the biggest change curve. The type of leadership required to help people self actualize challenges commonly held leadership beliefs that are now only starting to erode. It’s slow, though. In my interactions with thousands of employees, I’ve heard and seen that they are eager and waiting for their managers to engage them in a new conversation. Managers and leaders (they aren’t the same always) are slow to show up in the ways listed in this post.

I like the way you look at the issues, Luke. It’s realistic. We need that if we’re going to make movement in restoring optimism in our workplaces.

Shawn

By: Luke

Luke — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 00:34:55 +0000

Shawn,
Great words and well spoken. It is almost like we haven’t progressed since Henry Ford was making Black model T Fords, as he is quoted saying, “Why is it I get a whole body when alls I want is a pair of hands?”
We are always looking for cutting edge technology to make the difference in the work place, but the reality is if we do not have an engaged workforce then the new technology often just becomes another white elephant. When managers become leaders and start engaging people to capture their minds (rational) & hearts (emotional) we start to get discretionary effort and when we do self actualisation becomes infectious and part of the way we work. The question is, what mindsets ,behaviours and values do we really have to fundamentally change as leaders to get the best out of our people? To truely be successful & sustainable, Who has the biggest change curve ahead, employees or leaders?

By: Bring Humanity Back to Work

Bring Humanity Back to Work — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 07:00:20 +0000

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By: Reflexiones para el Desarrollo Personal y Organizacional » Tres Formas de Restaurar el Optimismo en el Trabajo

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 21:23:43 +0000

[...] artículo apareció por primera vez en el blog de Shawn Murphy llamado Achieved Strategies, como parte de su serie sobre liderazgo: “Wake up and Shake it Up”. Me gustó tanto [...]

By: Three Ways To Restore Optimism at Work | Reflections for Personal and Business Development

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 03:22:31 +0000

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By: Shawn Murphy

Shawn Murphy — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 03:09:41 +0000

Hi Louise,
Delighted to have you join us here. Your point is exactly why we wanted to start the Wake Up & Shake It Up blog series. Given the compelling recent events of poor leadership, managers need to wake up to the “business of people” (BTW love this quote) and work on shifting their mental maps so they can connect with their people. As an optimist, it can be done. For some, it will be an easier shift…

Great response. I’d like to quote you in the ebook for the blog series. You okay with that?

By: Louise Altman

Louise Altman — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 20:21:19 +0000

Hi Shawn,
New to your blog and wanted to comment on this one. First, I think you are right in thinking that these attitudes are based on “traditonal views” and are often generational. The thing is that they are pervasive. In our experience, much of organizational practice today is mired in the mental habits of yesterday. And that is especially true when it comes to people. You know the quote from W. Edwards Deming – “the problem with business is that its afraid of the business of people.” I think its at the heart of this. Its the old personal/work life false split. What managers like this don’t realize is that the “outside” or other interests an employee has, is where the passion is parked. So, instead of finding a way to engage and apply that passion to their jobs, they discourage it.
Really liked this post Shawn, thx
Louise