It is too easy to become jaundiced about the possibility of organizations as places to thrive, to be appreciated, to grow and make a contribution. The media jumps on every example of wrong-doing, greed and irresponsibility. It would be easy to be left with the impression that working in organizations is a soul destroying experience of being taken advantage of by greedy and exploiting leaders.
As a student of organizations and consulting in them for over twenty-five years, after having worked as an executive in them that reality is very unlike the one I know. So it is particularly refreshing to see PBS's special on Leading With Kindness.
Congratulations to Bill Baker, Michael O’Malley and the inspiring group of executives and employees the gathered to tell this story.
Friday, February 6, 2009
On The Subject of Kindness
It not too late to make a New Year resolution. I want to pass this possibility on from Dr Mardy and his inspiring Quotes of the Week. It is simple yet effective:
"If you're in need of a New Year's Resolution, you might want to try an idea that has worked well for me over the years. Every morning, put five pennies in a coat or pants pocket. As the day progresses, each time you pay someone a compliment or engage in a deliberate act of kindness, take one penny and move it to another pocket. Don't consider your day done until you've transferred all of the coins (for extra credit--and extra respect from me--try it with ten pennies)."
"If you're in need of a New Year's Resolution, you might want to try an idea that has worked well for me over the years. Every morning, put five pennies in a coat or pants pocket. As the day progresses, each time you pay someone a compliment or engage in a deliberate act of kindness, take one penny and move it to another pocket. Don't consider your day done until you've transferred all of the coins (for extra credit--and extra respect from me--try it with ten pennies)."
Thursday, February 5, 2009
The Possibility of Generosity in Difficult Times
We are hearing and reading a lot nowadays about corporate greed and the irresponsibility of senior executives. Everything from huge bonuses to executives who have run up huge losses and are going cap in hand to the government for bail-outs to profligate spending by these same failed executives on jets, office renovations and expensive junkets.
So it is especially encouraging to know that not all corporate leaders are greedy and irresponsible. Take the leaders of Waukegan-based Peer Bearing Co as an example and the generosity when the sold their business to the SKF Group of Sweden. Not only did employees get unexpected bonuses, it looks like they get to keep their jobs too.
So it IS possible to find executives who are responsible, compassionate and generous to their employees and responsible to the customers and communities. Unfortunately, they just don't make the headlines sufficiently often. Unfortunately the media does not thing good news sells.
So it is especially encouraging to know that not all corporate leaders are greedy and irresponsible. Take the leaders of Waukegan-based Peer Bearing Co as an example and the generosity when the sold their business to the SKF Group of Sweden. Not only did employees get unexpected bonuses, it looks like they get to keep their jobs too.
So it IS possible to find executives who are responsible, compassionate and generous to their employees and responsible to the customers and communities. Unfortunately, they just don't make the headlines sufficiently often. Unfortunately the media does not thing good news sells.
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