Achieved Strategies

The New York Times published a news story about the pending turnover storm in American businesses.  If you’ve not read it, click the hyperlink to the left.  It’s an important read for executives.  I’ll simplify a key message in the article: If your company has lost its humanity in responding to the economic crisis, be prepared for a mass exodus.  I’ve written about the circumstances surrounding this pending problem.  And I’ve offered suggestions to course correct the direction of the organization.

I argue, however, it’s not too late for some companies in the less-than-humane group.  Managers in these companies need less management tactics and lean mightily on leadership actions.  It’s not that complicated.  So, for those companies who need to course correct, I offer a few more suggestions on how to bring humanity back to work.

This list is not arranged in a sequential order.  I merely present to you actions and beliefs that need to be considered within the context of your purpose.  And because I believe in going big, it’s leadership that leaves people touched, valued, and inspired that will break through the apathy settling in so many organizations.

1.     Get out and make contact Someone said leadership is a contact sport. If the mood in your organization is depressed and things aren’t getting done, it’s time to motivate management to start interacting with employees.  Repair relationships with employees.  Find out what their reality is and how the company’s decisions have impacted them. It’s a bold step for leaders.  Relationships are at the heart of business. Repair the relationship between management and employees.

2.     Stand by your word We create our world through the words we use.  Be prepared to have the “corporate line” repeated back to you as a form of resistance. It won’t be pretty. But don’t be discouraged.  Recreate the world through words and action that demonstrate your conviction to restore value in people and relationships.

3.     Refocus on possibility, not current reality At the risk of sounding overly idealistic, I include this third action. The reality is that many managers find themselves managing and leading in a time that is foreign. Trust in senior executives is very low. The economic situation is dire and squirrelly.  People are yearning for a picture of what could be.

Our world is balanced by duality: good and bad, male and female, right and wrong. Many organizations are experiencing dark times right now. To create balance, leaders need to believe and act in ways to lighten their company’s mood.  They need to inspire employees so they can more deeply engage to strengthen the organization, to keep employees from leaving.

As the New York Times article aptly observed, people are not pieces of machinery. It is time managers lead their employees recognizing they want to make a difference and be a contribution.  By working on this, in part, companies can keep the talent within their organization.