| Turbulent TwistersYou've read about it in the | | | | Mobility, I used to invite David Roth, a |
| headlines and experienced it first hand... | | | | marketing professional who was also a fitness |
| rapid change and constant stress. We're | | | | instructor, to arrive at my sessions around |
| talking about mergers, acquisitions, | | | | 2:30, announce "I hear there are people |
| downsizing, lean and mean, working harder not | | | | falling asleep in here and lead the group in |
| better, work and personal life completely out | | | | a work out. You can also harness the skills |
| of whack! These all too familiar realities | | | | and creativity of your people to incorporate |
| reflect the turbulent nature of corporate | | | | music and movement into your corporate |
| life. Against this backdrop, motivation, | | | | culture.Bringing music and movement into your |
| satisfaction and fulfillment can seem like | | | | corporation doesn't have to be a big ticket |
| remote, faint recollections of how things | | | | item. It can be as simple as:- playing |
| were supposed to be and how they used to | | | | relaxing music at the beginning of a meeting |
| be.When turbulence sweeps through your life | | | | and doing some gentle stretches- taking |
| whether it is wind storms at work or | | | | shorter but more frequent breaks during |
| hurricanes on the home front, fear and | | | | meetings so that people can stretch their |
| uncertainty dominate. Joy is probably the | | | | legs (5 minutes once an hour) |
| last emotion you feel capable of | | | | |
| expressing.But, it's important to laugh for | | | | playing upbeat vacation videos during |
| "laughter is the best medicine". By | | | | breaks- a two minute workout during |
| re-discovering the joy that often eludes us | | | | notoriously low energy periods such as 11:00 |
| we can:- re-charge our batteries | | | | A.M., after lunch or 3:00 p.m.For our final |
| | | | lesson from the Tin Man, contrast the image |
| - relieve stress | | | | of a bright and shimmering rainbow with the |
| | | | drab and dismal surroundings in which some |
| - renew hope and optimism | | | | employees work. Research has shown that |
| | | | colour and lighting levels have an impact on |
| - release the energy to generate creative | | | | our moods. Your facilities group needs to |
| solutions to the challenges that confront | | | | take this into account when designing office |
| usThe Magic of Myth and MetaphorAs a member | | | | space and establishing corporate standards |
| of the senior management team, you play a | | | | for work locations. Companies like Xerox have |
| critical role in fostering a climate of | | | | used this information to create a colourful, |
| renewal and hope in your organization. One | | | | upbeat and positive working environment for |
| rarely used strategy that you have at our | | | | their employees.You can get the same results, |
| disposal is the magic of myth and | | | | without spending a dime to paint offices, |
| metaphor.For example, The Wizard of Oz is a | | | | purchase new furniture or upgrade fixtures. |
| powerful story filled with important lessons | | | | How? All you have to do is encourage |
| for modern corporations.At the beginning of | | | | employees to add a personal touch to their |
| the story, Dorothy struggles with her own | | | | work areas with colourful posters and photos. |
| turbulent twisters, literally and | | | | Personal objects that remind them of the |
| emotionally. As she visits each character in | | | | things they enjoy can help them boost their |
| the story, she learns, grows and develops the | | | | spirits during periods of turbulence and |
| resources to cope with her turmoil.What | | | | change.Of Witches and WizardsJoy and laughter |
| lessons can YOU learn from The Wizard of Oz? | | | | can never thrive in the midst of negative |
| | | | interactions. As Dorothy discovered, some of |
| Lessons From the Wizard of OzIdeas From the | | | | the people around us can sap our energy due |
| ScarecrowIn many companies, expressing your | | | | to their negativity, harsh criticism and well |
| feelings is a taboo. When employees are | | | | meaning but discouraging advice. Others can |
| pressured into a repressing their emotions, | | | | disappoint us time and time again by failing |
| it is difficult for them to find the energy | | | | to honour their commitments. To maintain your |
| to generate new ideas and solutions. | | | | creative edge, it is important to reduce the |
| Movement, music and authentic emotional | | | | frequency and intensity of these |
| expression stimulate our senses and makes it | | | | relationships that empower drain you. As a |
| possible for us to take full advantage of the | | | | member of the senior management team, it is |
| power that lies within the brain.We tend to | | | | important to remember that, when volatile and |
| take our brain power for granted but, from | | | | aggressive individuals are placed in |
| the first time we meet the Scarecrow, it is | | | | leadership roles, they can cost your company |
| evident that he views the brain as a | | | | in terms of poor morale and stress-related |
| marvelous gift from our creator.The brain | | | | short term disability costs.Equally |
| contains an array of tools and resources to | | | | destructive are the insecure "know it all" |
| help us resolve problems and develop new | | | | wizards who can kill the creativity and |
| strategies for addressing customer and | | | | innovation organizations need to thrive and |
| employee concerns. At one end of the spectrum | | | | remain competitive. By refusing to be open to |
| is our right brain, the storehouse of our | | | | the feelings and ideas of employees and |
| creative faculties. At the other, is our | | | | customers, some of the best ideas are never |
| logical left brain.With the right brain, you | | | | harnessed.Spending time with negative |
| can paint vivid pictures of your vision for | | | | individuals can cause employees to feel |
| the company. You can also harness the | | | | disempowered, vulnerable, even ill. This can |
| creative energy of employees to generate | | | | make it difficult for them to cope with |
| ideas about how to improve translate that | | | | change and stress. When your organization is |
| vision into reality. For example, by | | | | facing turbulent times, you can't afford to |
| incorporating relaxation exercises and guided | | | | subject employees to critical managers who |
| imagery into strategy and project planning | | | | demoralize, discourage and demotivate them. |
| sessions, you can begin to take advantage of | | | | As senior executives, we need to use tools |
| the creative sparks generated through the | | | | like behavioural interviewing to ensure that |
| right brain.With the powers of analysis | | | | we place people in leadership positions who |
| available through the left brain, you can use | | | | can create a positive climate . A focus on |
| a logical, linear and step-by -step approach | | | | the technical or financial aspects of |
| to formulate a concrete and detailed | | | | leadership is not enough to ensure that the |
| implementation strategy.You can increase the | | | | right people are "minding the store".In their |
| effectiveness of the executive forums we | | | | ground-breaking research, Bill Catlette and |
| described earlier by involving some of your | | | | Richard Hadden, authors of Contented Cows |
| customers and suppliers. After your | | | | Give Better Milk: The Plain Truth About |
| presentation and question period, small | | | | Employee Relations and the Bottom Line, |
| facilitated groups can provide an opportunity | | | | established a connection between the quality |
| for employees, customers and suppliers to | | | | of employee relations and organizational |
| express their concerns openly and generate | | | | success.They identified the following "best |
| possible solutions. Brain storming tools such | | | | practices" in employee relations:- Get people |
| as storyboards, mind maps and collages | | | | committed- Show them you care- Enable them |
| unleash the power of both sides of the | | | | for the performance of a lifetimeIt may not |
| brain.During these sessions, you can recruit | | | | be rocket science but it works.For Dorothy a |
| volunteers to serve on small | | | | HomeIn contrast to the "witches" and |
| cross-functional, multi-level teams to which | | | | "wizards" who erode organizational |
| you assign the mandate of addressing some of | | | | effectiveness, there are other relationships |
| the most pressing issues that employees and | | | | that encourage and inspire employees. Some |
| customers have identified.To function | | | | individuals have a knack for saying the right |
| effectively, the brain needs constant | | | | thing and helping us find humour and hope no |
| stimulation. Looking for a low cost way to | | | | matter how bleak the circumstances. They add |
| provide stimulation and release brain power? | | | | a sparkle to everyone's day and serve as |
| Encourage employees to place colourful | | | | excellent role models of how to smile in the |
| objects such as stress balls, cube or | | | | face of adversity.When emotional reserves are |
| metallic puzzles, play dough and slinkies on | | | | low, it is important to increase the |
| their desks. Allow them to "fiddle" with | | | | frequency of your interaction with positive |
| these objects during meetings or periods of | | | | individuals. Spending time with supportive |
| reflection. If you start the ball rolling and | | | | and positive friends relatives and colleagues |
| lead by example, you'll help eliminate some | | | | is therapeutic. It can help you recover from |
| perceived taboos and send a clear signal | | | | the toxic effect that some of the pessimistic |
| about what is permissible.Lessons from The | | | | individuals with whom you have to associate |
| Tin ManThe Tin Man learned that emotions help | | | | during the course of your business day.Like |
| us deal effectively with change and | | | | Dorothy, we often overlook the most |
| uncertainty. They impel us to take action to | | | | supportive individuals around us. Why? They |
| reduce our pain or increase our level of | | | | are usually too involved in doing their work |
| satisfaction.In many corporations, there is a | | | | and making a difference to engage in the |
| taboo against expressing emotions. Employees | | | | political gamesmanship that has become a part |
| are encouraged to walk around like the | | | | of moving up the corporate ladder.Through |
| proverbial clown, laughing on the outside and | | | | employee recognition programmes, we need to |
| concealing the pain within. "Pay no attention | | | | be proactive, search for these individuals |
| to that man behind the curtain" seems to be | | | | and turn them into corporate heroes and |
| the company slogan. In fact, departing from | | | | heroines.We need to give these individuals a |
| the party line or expressing concerns about | | | | higher profile within the organization. With |
| management decisions is definitely a career | | | | their support, you and your employees can |
| limiting move.It's time to put the "heart" | | | | find the courage to take the risks that can |
| back into corporate life. There is no need to | | | | make your vision of corporate life a |
| fear the expression of genuine emotion. Even | | | | reality.Conquering Fear Through Risk-Taking: |
| negative emotions are not a threat if we view | | | | The Legacy of the Cowardly LionAs the |
| them as signals that employees need | | | | Cowardly Lion discovered, our fear of the |
| opportunities to re-energize and renew their | | | | unknown can be the greatest obstacle to our |
| emotional states. If we recognize the need | | | | effectiveness. Even though we realize that |
| for change early, we can make adjustments | | | | our corporations need renewal and our |
| before the onset of crises.Like the Tin Man, | | | | employees are badly in need of refreshment, |
| we can cultivate a healthier and more relaxed | | | | we cling to the security of the |
| environment through music and movement. Music | | | | traditional.Five years into a new millenium |
| is like a magical elixir that restores | | | | and we still find it difficult to shed the |
| spirits that are dejected and discouraged. It | | | | outmoded paradigms and management practices |
| stimulates the brain and refreshes the body. | | | | that we inherited from the previous |
| You can use music before meetings, at break | | | | millennium. What will other executives think |
| time, during training programmes, and as a | | | | of you if you introduce some radical new ways |
| part of brainstorming and project management | | | | of doing business? Will your Board of |
| sessions. Some companies even allow employees | | | | Directors support you if you step out, take |
| to bring small radios or CD players into | | | | some risks and experiment with a few of the |
| their work areas. Others offer opportunities | | | | ideas presented in this article? It's risky |
| for movement by providing fitness and | | | | but you'll soon discover that "the only thing |
| recreational activities on company premises. | | | | to fear is fear is fear itself". Your |
| IBM, for example, has teamed up with the | | | | employees will thank you for creating a more |
| Governor General's Horse Guards to make a | | | | relaxed and humane work environment. Every |
| riding club for their employees on weekends | | | | risk you take will help you transform your |
| and evenings. Team leaders in many Japanese | | | | company and equip employees to face the |
| companies lead their employees in gentle | | | | challenges that lie ahead. It will also bring |
| streching exercises or Tai Chi once a day. If | | | | you one step closer to re-discovering joy and |
| you can't do it, maybe one of your team | | | | laughter in your workplace. |
| members can do it. When I was at Bell | | | | |