Your Own PAC!
07/13/04
Roger Berkowitz, CEO of Legal Sea Foods, has a unique way of keeping in touch with his people: "I hold President's Advisory Council (PAC) meetings quarterly with randomly selected employees without any management present. I encourage participants to 'cut loose' with their ideas and suggestions. Having over 50 enthusiastic, unencumbered employees at my disposal is an incredible opportunity."
Getting truth and innovative ideas up the organization is one of any leader's biggest challenges. You don't have to be a CEO to have your own PAC (People's Advisory Council). Regularly scheduled meetings let you build a habit of structured listening. We all say we want to listen, but our schedules tell the truth about whether we do. Put your calendar where your commitment is by scheduling time to respond to employee concerns and ideas. The goal is not to circumvent your chain of authority by micromanaging problems. Keep the focus on opportunities to improve or to serve the strategic business goals of your team. Such meetings are a great time to put rumors to rest and to build a reputation for openness. When people know that they won't be punished for telling the truth or thinking out of the box, you will get the "enthusiastic, unencumbered employees" you deserve to have.
A PAULSON QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"We all say we want to listen, but our schedules tell the truth about whether we do. Put your calendar where your commitment is by scheduling time to respond to employee concerns and ideas." --Terry Paulson, Ph.D.
MONDAY'S MIRTHFUL MOMENT
In honor of having heard Art Linkletter speak recently, Captain Bob via Dan Poynter provides this week’s mirthful moment--Kids say the darndest things!
A three-year-old went with his dad to see litter of kittens.
On returning home, he breathlessly informed his mother there were two boy kittens and two girl kittens. "How did you know," his mother asked? "Daddy picked them up and looked underneath," he replied. "I think it's printed on the bottom."Another three-year old put his shoes on by himself. His mother noticed the left was on the right foot. "Son, your shoes are on the wrong feet." He looked up at her with a raised brow and said, "Don't kid me, Mom. I KNOW they're my feet."
On the first day of school, the Kindergarten teacher said, "If anyone has to go to the bathroom, hold up two fingers."
A little voice from the back of the room asked," How will that help?"A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Kevin, 5, and Ryan, 3. The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake. Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson. "If Jesus were sitting here, He would say, 'Let my brother have the first pancake. I can wait.'" Kevin turned to his younger brother and said, "Ryan, you be Jesus!"
When you keep your eyes open for mirth, you just may find it! Hope this kicks off your morning and helps get your mood adjusted for the week. Now, get busy MAKING CHANGE WORK and have some fun along the way!...