Faith, Work, and Corporate Culture

I spent many years as a human resources executive separating my faith from my work life. 

That was wrong. 

I fell into the politically correct trap that many HR leaders…and other executives…fall into. In an attempt to never offend anyone for any reason at any time under any circumstances, we’ve eliminated what could transform the cultures of our organizations.

Keep in mind that most world religions are grounded in kindness, humility, support for others, and defending those who need help. Those sound like pretty good leadership values to me.

When we sanitize the workplace in an attempt to ensure everyone feels welcome, we inadvertently alienate just about everyone.

And we wonder why the sense of belonging has shifted away from an organizational focus? 

Perhaps it’s the perfect time of year to consider moving away from a sterile workplace, and moving toward one that actually backs up the phrase so many cling to…”our culture is what makes us different.”

Thanks for being here, and Happy New Year.

Jay

Pic

Whelmed

I’m not a big fan of leaders who do not inspire others. That may not be fair; but candidly, I do not care. Serving as a leader, at least to me, requires some level of connection to the broader team (peers, superiors, subordinates) beyond simple authority.

That connection signals you are not only working hard, but you have something engaging about your leadership style that shows others around you that you are worth paying attention to…and following.

Being knowledgeable is obviously important, but is that the most important part of effective leadership? Maybe not. The best leaders I’ve worked for had a fire inside. They made me want to do more, take on more projects, stretch myself, and think bigger about my future. Imagine if everyone you worked with felt the same way? How would your organization perform?

We’ve all worked with leaders who are decent people, know generally what to do and how to do it, yet there is something missing. They could easily be one of a thousand other nondescript leaders.

They are…whelming.

Don’t be them. Find your voice. Get fired up about your people…your organization…your path forward.

Thanks for being here.

Jay

Pic

Mental Health, Physical Fitness, and Managing it All

The digital world is an interesting place. It has the power to manipulate reality, hide dark truths, or at a minimum embellish our real lives enough to give the impression that all is well, all the time.

That’s not exactly how it goes for me. Sure, I like to share some of the volunteer work I do away from the office, and of course post food pics. Those are fun and well intended.

There are other things I share however that carry much more meaning than simply posting my latest workout or pumped up pic. Yes, physical fitness is important to me; but the pictures I post are not meant to serve as some sort of cheesy ‘look at me’ thirst play.

A few years ago I started working with a trainer to help maximize my time in the gym. What I soon discovered in addition to getting a heck of a lot stronger, was that my mental health seemed to benefit more than my physical health did.

Sharing workout pics has become something different now. They are a reminder…to me…that prioritizing my mental health should come first. 

They come before the never ending task list, meaningless emails, or pressure to “be available for everyone, every minute, of every day.” A few minutes of time for me means I actually do have the strength to handle all of those other parts of my life.

What have you learned about your mental health and how to take care of yourself?

Thanks for being here.

Jay

Pic

Leadership Stuff I’ve Been Thinking About

I’m sharing a collection of random thoughts that seem to be taking up a disproportionate amount of headspace lately. Not sure what it all means…maybe nothing…maybe a deep spiritual puzzle for me to figure out…or maybe just that overachieving self-talk machine hard at work.

• Why don’t organizations invest heavily in their leaders when the link between employee engagement, productivity, profitability and culture are almost exclusively based on leadership impact?
• Why aren’t more senior executives comfortable being vulnerable when we know this demonstrates how human and accessible they can be?

• Why isn’t kindness a required leadership competency when we know the dramatic impact kindness has on all people?
• Why aren’t leaders required to be involved in their communities to demonstrate that their organization is focused on more than just revenue and shareholder value?
• Why don’t we openly talk about faith…all faiths…in the workplace when we know the power of a healthy spiritual life?

Thanks for being here.

Jay

Pic

What Was Once Will Soon Be Once Again

The good old days.

How things used to be.

Everything has changed.

We’re moving too fast.

Things were better ‘back in the day’.

Sometimes it feels we’re all chasing something that was good (or at least we’ve chosen to only recall the good parts) instead of embracing the goodness around us right now.

The good news here is that we can bring forward all those good feelings and experiences and blend them into our world today. No, we can’t go back and re-live what was once; however, we can integrate those experiences, memories, and feelings into what we’re doing now.

Encourage the power of growth and change with your teams. We’ve all tried to stop forward momentum at one time or another, particularly when it’s an unclear path ahead. Instead, let’s pull the good parts from our history forward to make tomorrow even better.

Thanks for being here.

Jay

Pic

Song

The Power of Context

Context may be one of the most powerful leadership tools available. 

Think about it…not only sharing news with your team, but adding significant additional information about what the drivers are, how people reacted, and what forces are at work on a workplace issue can be game-changing. 

Let’s contrast this approach briefly with those who prefer to horde information (and believe, power, over the team). What is their internal brand? 

Controlling.

Insecure.

Zero credibility.

For me, the old-school command and control style of leadership was useless the day it was first used. 

No one will follow that leader.

No one will feel connected to that organization if they are forced to suffer under that manager.

No one will stay.

One of the fastest ways to connect your team to the organization (and you) is to overshare and explain the real reasons behind the ever-changing world of work. 

No one ever complained they were too informed or communicated with too effectively at their job.

No one.

Thanks for being here.

Jay

Pic

Building Your Leader Brand in a Cancel Culture

Are you concerned about speaking your mind, sharing your opinion, or standing up for what you believe in due to the current external environment? 

There has always been criticism and healthy debate when we disagree, but things have changed. It’s easier than ever to hide behind a computer screen and attack. Seems like a pretty cowardly approach to me.

Real leaders have a take. They share their opinions, particularly on the sensitive and complex issues facing their organizations. The best leaders have a vision and share it…with everyone. 

Here’s the rub. When leaders are bold (read here: requirement of the job) they are immediately open to attack. The play-it-safe crowd who long for yesteryear “when things were much better” feel tremendous pressure to change. 

Playing it safe = stagnation = death.

Too harsh? Uh, no.

Think about the bold visionary leaders you’ve worked for. Imagine if you were now viewed as that person? What could you do to transform your organization? New thinking? New services? New ways to deliver value at a truly world-class level?

Don’t let the cowards hiding behind their screens get you down.

Be bold.

Share your vision.

Execute, despite the noise and naysayers.

You’ve got this.

Thanks for being here.

Jay

Pic