I read an article in the Gallup Management Journal recently on engaging disengaged employees. One quote truly piqued my interest. Fraser Longden, head of talent and engagement for Kingfisher PLC, said: “When our employees saw that as a company we were facing up to the real problems and communicating them, then they came with us.”
I have been a part of “Corporate America” for over 20 years and I have alw always amazed at the amount of time, money, and resources that are put into “spinning” a positive message. I understand the value of good external PR, but I’m speaking of internal spinning.
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I present in front of groups for a living and, as you can imagine, in order to be successful, among other things, I have to like talking. My father must have witnessed my love for talking when I was a kid because, one day he pulled me aside and said, “Jay, the Lord gave you two ears and only one mouth. Try to use them in the correct proportion.” I have heard this a few times since but never more clearly than at a recent seminar. The presenter’s topic was listening and she shared a technique that worked for her, and I now practice the same thing.
When we send kids out to play in the yard we don’t tend to think about it as time for them to be productive. It’s a time for them to let down their guard, have some friends over, and have fun. The neat thing is, when they do that, they end up creating some pretty great things.
I have never claimed to be a “cat person,” but curiosity is just something cats seem to naturally posses, and it doesn’t seem fair for it to lead to their untimely demise. They are cute, after all, and part of what makes them cute is their interest in everything around them.
Rob Gregory, owner of Rochester Ford Toyota, tells of a mentor of his who told him, “When things go incorrectly, do you know where you should start? There’s a nice big mirror in the men’s room. Go down and take a look there first.” Rob continues, “Oh, he used to make me angry! I would say, ‘That’s not the problem, it’s them!’” He realized, though, that he didn’t really have any control over anyone, “but at least sometimes, I stand a chance with me. And that’s where it starts.”
Let’s face it, we have all worked for, or currently work for, a company who at the top of their Mission, Vision, and Values statement claim, “We put people first,” or “Our people are our greatest asset.” I have no problem with organizations making this statement because, if you really think about it, it’s true. Without the people in the organization, there wouldn’t be an organization. 
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