Have you ever noticed someone just going through the motions? A colleague at the office, a client going about their day or the cashier on line at the grocery store - or even yourself? Look at the last 3-6 months of your daily performance - what percentage of the time do you feel you've been done more than get the job done? I've found, and you know it to be true, that some of the greatest impact a leader can have is not in what he or she is doing but how they go about it.
There is a story of an executive who took over operations following purchase of a smaller firm. He'd come from the home office of the acquirer and was getting about seeing how things were done in the office. One peculiar thing he noticed was a certain woman had a large colorful parrot perched above her desk - a real one. No cage and no place for it's, uh, droppings to fall but on the floor of the office. I'd have hated to have the desk next over. Now this manager had not been used to such things given he's grown up in a large corporate setting - he was appalled. He went to the person's manager and told him that the bird had to go. It was unsanitary and had to be disruptive in the office.
The lady's manager, who'd been with the company many years before being purchased, slowly looked up from the work on his desk, peering around his boss to see the bird on it's perch. Then looking back at his boss said, "Jerry, the best work in my department comes from that desk." Pointing that direction he added, "I've not been able to tell whether it's coming from Marge or the bird...the bird stays."
You may or may not find that situation untenable, but that's not the point so don't get too worked up at me if you're a bird lover. I like 'em, just not pooping on my desk at work. We put up with certain behaviors and oddities with people, at times, based on what they get done. I believe it's a mistake to ignore the manner in which people actually go about getting things done. We ought to be about developing people in a way that helps them get results in a way that is also beneficial to others. Today's three Scout Law Tenets, I believe, begin pointing in the right direction. But, much like oxygen masks in an airplane emergency, it's important to be sure you've got it working right for you before helping another.
A Scout is Obedient. This is not mindless following of silly orders from above nor sitting around waiting like a dog with slippers in its mouth. It is a clear understanding of the direction of the business, my role in it and a determination to get the job done. How many times have you had to explain something 3 times before getting people moving, and graciously assumed you hadn't communicated well enough. Well, one time is fine, but the 2nd and 3rd times it happens it could be people's way of delaying execution of your instructions. If you want to be running an excellent organization you'd better learn the difference and quickly. And another thing just struck me. If you are a leader, or want to be one, you do yourself no favors by huffing and puffing about direction you receive privately, but then ramming your nose in the boss's kiester if they stop too quickly in public (that was the most pleasant way I had of putting that one). Get about figuring out what you're going to do to help. Period.
A Scout is Cheerful. I didn't used to think it mattered whether you smiled at people or were pleasantly effective at chit chat with people. If you're one of those 'heavy' people (no not physically, personality-y) that carries an air that the world is on their shoulders and slowly sliding off, I guarantee you you're like walking people repellent. Lighten up - you might actually get somebody to help you lift 'earth' off your shoulders. Oh yeah, and nobody likes a snotty, backbiting whiner who uses crude humor to make a point or just try to be funny. If you happen to fit that category - ever - you need to stop right away. Don't mistake crude jokes for good humor. Smile, look people in the eye, say 'Good morning' and actually act like it is. Your mood will change, your performance will improve and you will impact every person you meet.
A Scout is Thrifty. Ahhh, the one the CFOs love. I wonder whether much of the cutting that has to go on in companies is the result of shoddy spending / investment habits and culture over long periods of time. I know that's a broad brush, but must of us don't look for daily opportunities to use less resources to get a job done. Now, this is different than cutting costs and affecting your customers negatively - that's not thrifty it's stupid. Do you have a way for good ideas - from anyone - to reduce costs to get vetted and implemented without a ton of bureaucracy? Do you push in assumptions about what it takes to do something or the best use of scarce resources?
Ultimately the bird did stay at Marge's desk, but she had to get him a cage and an ergonomic keyboard.
