And the Winner for Most Empowering Washroom Accessory is...

I was at a customer site last week and in their grand headquarters lobby area. Bright, airy, spacious and with an entire wall of patents that company had done. Impressive, and suitably intimidating to those visitors coming into it. I'm certain that was the desired effect.

As usual, there was a set of washrooms on one wall of this great space, and these are the ones primarily used by visitors, being outside of the security perimeter of the organization's inner workings. I had occasion to visit these while waiting there, and upon exit there was a wall size mirror - easily 15 feet high and 10 feet across. Etched into it in very large font across the top was "You Look Great!"

I smiled, and felt the great karmic readjustment take place and appreciated their corporate culture that much more for this small gift.

Honesty - or Not

Are you honest when asked what you think of another's work or style or statements ? Or do you tell them something "nice", not wanting to offend or hurt their feelings. Perhaps you are truthful, brutally so - with the end result that you're resented for the bluntness and insensitivity shown. We've all heard and been part of variations on these discussions before.

Some people are known for their frankness and respected for it, while others are known for their tact and ability to say just the right thing at the right time.

Have you thought about what you're known for ?

I'd bet others have, and it runs through their mind before asking you whether they look good in this outfit, are compelling in this argument, or will have their perspective adopted in this argument.

I might encourage you to become known for the nature of your responses, as you will be able to tell an awful lot about the people asking you things if you have defined yourself.

If for example, you're a 'straight-shooter' known for your no BS responses, being (or not being) asked for your opinion tells you whether the other person is actually looking to be told the truth. If you're a flatterer, then those seeking your words will need re-assurance, but those seeking the truth know they need not ask.

By defining yourself amongst your friends and peers like this, you will move beyond the conversations about weather and last night's TV programs. Instead you're going to start to really connect on the said, and unsaid.

Now be truthful, does this blog make me look fat ?

Coaching Magic

I'm on the path of learning to coach.

Which is interesting as I had thought I had done it for many years, and tried to emulate that kind of behavior for years before that. It turns out coaching is harder than it seems, and is a term often mis-used.

To coach, we have to create an environment where others learn from within, and begin to trust themselves. They become aware and responsible.

Sounds good doesn't it ?

Which makes me want to learn to coach.

Deployed

Someone very close to me was deployed this week - off to war-torn Afghanistan to do his part. I've wondered this Remembrance day week a fair bit about this, and asked myself if I might have done the same.

In that position, it doesn't matter whether you agree with the mission objective - the reason foreign troops are on Afgan soil. In that position it doesn't matter whether you want to go, or whether you will like living in a tent for six months. If you have strong feelings either way about the Taliban, and their style and history of local government - it doesn't matter.

Because you're told to go - you're deployed and it's part of the lifestyle that you've chosen for yourself. Therein lies your level of control, the ability to affect the situations that effect you. Often this is a decision taken long ago, a life choice made before that life opened up it's mysteries, challenges and beauty to you.

When faced with this direction, you can become stoic, understanding the greater duty involved in serving, and resigning yourself to some minor hardships along the way. Or you can happily welcome the chance to do your part - help those you serve with and those you don't and make a difference, knowing that you can make a real difference and assist those people that will need it most in their darkest times.

My friend went to Afghanistan with a little of both of these attitudes , but mostly the latter. He's wise enough to keep his head when things get tough, and positive enough to inspire those around him.

I didn't question his decision to go, even once as I knew he needed to be there to satisfy his desire to do the right thing. That seems ironic and poignant during this week, but next week and the week after and the one after that, I'll still be thinking of him, and I'll always be proud of him. I'm honored to call him my friend and yet embarrassed to have not told him so in as many words.

Keep your head down buddy, and come back safe.

Will it Make the Boat go Faster

A singular focus. A common purpose and an unrelenting attention to that which will help us be ultimately successful. That's what the title refers to.

It was used as a rally-call by Team New Zealand in the America's Cup race some years back. I was so taken with the idea, that I had large signs with the same message printed up, and placed in my office - though I was neither a sailor or in a boat.

The beauty of the message is that it was pervasively used by the organizing teams and administration of Team New Zealand in their preparation leading up the race. It was present in Finance meetings, HR meetings, sourcing and every other discussion as the guiding principle of why they were there. It didn't matter your role on the greater team, from Captain to coffee-boy, all were aimed at the same objective.

Ask yourself if during the last meeting you were in, if that was the case. I suspect not.

It's a unique organization that can so thoroughly and completely get all involved to move in the same direction, in unison, and have all benefit from the momentum created. We think of culture at an organization as being difficult to craft and nurture, but in reality it's the simplest messages, applied with consistency that help the cream rise to the top.

By the way...they won the race...the boat did go faster.