Disqus - Latest Comments for Chris Bailey

Re: Please Rate my Reports

Chris Bailey — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 19:40:42 -0000

Marc, I'm not sure where in the world you see Jeremiah asking for only favorable ratings. And why in the world do you not want to be asked to help improve the quality of the products you purchase?

God I only wish more folks would be so humble as to ask for straight feedback. Jeremiah, don't let one voice turn you away from continuing to ask for how you can learn and improve your work. Trust me, that does become you more than you know.

Re: Is your Company Market Driven or Product Driven?

Chris Bailey — Mon, 26 May 2008 11:06:36 -0000

An interesting question...but one vital group appears to be missing from the dialogue: services. Most organizations spend most of their energy building a pipeline OR focusing on creating the next cool thing...but it's the services folks (customer support, account managers, etc) who provide an important - if often overlooked - function that fulfills the experience quotient that's initially hinted by marketers and developed by engineers.

Social media has an opportunity to extend the overall experience. In such a way, I'd suggest that companies can strive to be Experience Driven so that it's not an "either-or" question, but a cross-functional one that focuses on people rather than departments like marketing, engineering, services, sales, and others. It's in the latter option that turf wars erupt as one group tries to outdo the other or claim superiority.

Re: Learning “Doing Right” Is Different Than “Being Right”

Chris Bailey — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 17:46:12 -0000

But Micah, if you had watched that clip 5 years ago, I doubt it would have made the impact that it did just now. Our greatest teacher is often experience. So don't feel too sad...appreciate the experience for what it was. It clearly influenced the wisdom you now possess. Be well, Chris

Re: It’s a reason, not an excuse | A View from Judi Sohn

Chris Bailey — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 11:33:27 -0000

Judi, perhaps sometimes it takes a shake-up to recover our muse and purpose for what we do. I like your tagline and in light of what you've been going through lately, it's oh so appropriate.

Keep the faith and keep bringing who you are to this site. Fiery and passionate is what you do best.

Re: Why your university career centre was useless

Chris Bailey — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 08:53:04 -0000

Ryan, unfortunately I have to agree with you. As a student I had similar experiences which always led me to wonder the same things. But here's another question I've been left to ponder ever since graduating 10 years ago: what's the role of university...is it to further a student's learning or make a student career-ready? Most academics I've talked to almost seem to believe that these two ideas are mutually exclusive. And judging by the fact that few of us actual use our majors in our careers kind of verifies this.

BTW, asking you to pay $250 for the 'honor' of talking to it's students about their after-college life only seems to point out how poorly funded these career centers are in the first place.

Re: A New (New) Beginning With Some More Changes

Chris Bailey — Tue, 07 Mar 2006 20:30:14 -0000

Hi all, thanks for the good cheer. Now that I'm working with an easier (yet still quite robust) platform, blogging is starting to be fun again. Chris

Re: Reading Anything Good Lately?

Chris Bailey — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 11:05:29 -0000

You're welcome, Phil. Yeah, it kind of wakes you up to the notion that there is so much good literature out there and it's still being written today (my ex-librarian wife has been nudging me for a few months to read The Time Traveller's Wife and Life of Pi). Happy reading!

Re: Is There Room For ‘We’ In Your Elevator?

Chris Bailey — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 11:08:46 -0000

Deb, you ask what would an effective elevator speech be from this approach? Ah...you caught me :) It's a great idea, but one that I hadn't really put into the frame of reality. And so, the challenge is on. Let's see what we can create.

Re: Is There Room For ‘We’ In Your Elevator?

Chris Bailey — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 14:20:04 -0000

Brian, you've offered a great example. And you've hit on what I think is a central component of soulful work and the soulful business: helping others solve problems...it's not about solving them for them. In particular, I like how you've framed the dialogue around the phrase of "So what we did was (insert solution). It's not based on look how great I am, but look how great we can be.

Re: Taking Charge Of Our Future

Chris Bailey — Mon, 20 Mar 2006 14:30:41 -0000

Dan, you've offered quite a bit to chew on. Right now, I find myself trying to reconcile my deep belief in the possibility of soulful work with the reality that it's not always found everywhere. And, within this question, I know that we all have a choice in how we approach our work that generates personal meaning. There's wisdom somewhere on this path, I know.

Re: Homework For The Weekend

Chris Bailey — Mon, 20 Mar 2006 17:54:06 -0000

Dick, you're so very right. I'm still processing the questions...but then again, they are the kinds of questions that can't be figured out with a trip to the coffeeshop. Maybe I'll be able to conjure up a post in a couple of days. Thanks for the help in thinking bigger :)

Re: Can I Be Honest With You?

Chris Bailey — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 12:20:34 -0000

Tim, I think you hit on a valuable distinction...the difference between dishonesty and lack of honesty. The former is an ethical issue, the latter is a communication issue. And both lead to serious problems in a relationship.

I'm interested to know if you'd be willing to share some more about the emotional impact that you mentioned. Have you found a way to effectively create the space for sharing emotion as a means of yielding a more honest dialogue?

Re: Can I Be Honest With You?

Chris Bailey — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 09:30:51 -0000

Dwayne, that's one of the perks of getting involved with Toastmasters. You get the benefit of having a group of people help you zero in on those filler words and phrases. Which reminds me...I need to find another group soon.

And I'm right there with you...not only knowing about the presence of videotaping during a difficult conversation, but having to relive the encounter in the review. It might explain why we tend to make the same mistakes over and over again in our own conflicts. But think how rich that learning would be if we could have the courage to relive and at the same time objectively critique our own thoughts and actions.

Re: The Adversarial Workplace Run Amok

Chris Bailey — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 09:39:16 -0000

You know, Dick, there's something to what you say about how ego trips us up in our own relationships. And it's not only a sense of ego in terms of being right, but knowing what's right for someone else. It's a paternalism taken to the extreme.

Here's my learning from the past week...as an association manager, I need to remember that it's not my association; the association belongs to the collective membership. Sometimes it's easy to lose sight of that. There are times when I need to help my members create a better association not through my own ideas alone, but by facilitating the very best ideas from its leaders.

Each conflict has contributions from all involved parties...maybe I've discovered a bit more of how I've made my contribution.

Re: Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work On April 27

Chris Bailey — Sat, 15 Apr 2006 14:55:49 -0000

Very cool, Troy. Hope to hear how your day goes with your daughter...we should have some good stories to share.

Anyone else planning something on the 27th?

Re: Creativity Is An Act Of Courage

Chris Bailey — Sat, 15 Apr 2006 14:59:22 -0000

Hi Paul...I love that whole image of giving people back their crayons. It's brilliant. I often have this devilish impulse to go through our office, which has nothing but white walls and go nuts with a big box of Crayolas. Never was able to purge the five year old out of me (and they never will...ha ha ha).

Re: A Message From The Founding Fathers

Chris Bailey — Wed, 19 Apr 2006 06:30:11 -0000

Jodee, there's great wisdom in your proposal that it's the pursuit of happiness that can lead to unhappiness. Constantly chasing happiness leaves the inevitable end result: okay, now what? Once we have the hard sought happiness in hand, do we know what to do with it? Or do we go and chase it again somewhere else?

I guess you might say...why be happy tomorrow when you can be happy today?

Re: I Don’t Like RSS And Newsreaders

Chris Bailey — Sat, 22 Apr 2006 17:34:18 -0000

Lucy and Steve, your comments encouraged me to think about other ways I can offer folks to keep updated with this blog. So I added a Feedblitz email option in addition to an RSS subscription option.

And I'm going a huntin' for other ways out there that make it easy for all to have a full blog experience. Lucy, you make a good suggestion about blogarithm. I'll take other suggestions.

Re: The Greater Sin Is Not Dreaming Big Enough

Chris Bailey — Sun, 23 Apr 2006 12:30:17 -0000

Phil, you're absolutely right...there are times when safety is an essential experience. There are times when we long for the safety of being in someone's arms, knowing that things will be okay. But staying there, clinging to that feeling of safety only leads to an unsatisfying cold comfort. Safety can be an illusion and a dulling force. There comes a time when we need to seek the adventure and risk of moving away from safety when it lulls us back with its Siren Song...we are hypnotized and don't see the dooming rocks ahead.

Re: The Greater Sin Is Not Dreaming Big Enough

Chris Bailey — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 15:00:28 -0000

Garth, many thanks for your prayer. I can't help feeling that there is a higher purpose in the adventure that we're about to undertake.

Re: Giddyup Cowboy…We’re Moving To Texas

Chris Bailey — Sun, 07 May 2006 16:38:02 -0000

All, thanks for your encouraging thoughts.

Jeff...yes, any contacts you have in Austin are much appreciated (I tried to send you an email but may not have a good address for you).

Derek...we should have plenty of open space for the Starr Redwines to hang their hat for a stay. Who knew you'd be returning to Ohio and I'd be a Texan?!?

Kevin...I'm coming to find that once you take one big risk, the next big risk is that much easier. We'll see if there's real wisdom there, though ;)

Patti...I love that quote. Sometimes our capacity for growing hits a wall and we need to do something different to break through. Transformation takes some sacrifice and some guts.

Thanks again, y'all...pretty soon there will be an open invitation to visit the Bailey suburban ranch. Yeehaw.

Re: Redefining Our Joy At Work

Chris Bailey — Mon, 22 May 2006 06:59:05 -0000

Gary, I think one reason that 'fun' in the workplace gets such a bad rap is because the word tends to get confused with 'frivolity.' As you mention, it's enjoying oneself without getting anything out of it. The idea of fun which I believe has a lot of power to it (and Bakke would undoubtedly agree) is the one where we get to use all of what makes us unique to the service of something greater than ourselves. That is definitely complementary.

Re: All You Need Is Love In The Workplace

Chris Bailey — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 11:15:05 -0000

Hi Tim...and thank you for sharing. What a great song for a pre-school graduation...it's always been one of my favorites.

What you say about a "reticence to be honest" really resonates with me. I believe most folks really want to speak the truth, but also don't want to show to much of themselves to others. It's being vulnerable that usually hangs us up. I remember reading one time that a leader is never supposed to reveal themselves and share their feelings (fear, joy, sadness, etc.) with others. That BS must come straight from the school of fear-based leadership. A true leader is someone who is confident enough to be vulnerable and fearless...and who can be honest enough to own their own humanity.

Re: All You Need Is Love In The Workplace

Chris Bailey — Sat, 10 Jun 2006 19:05:04 -0000

Fifteen years ago, I admit that that must have seemed shocking. Heck, right now I figure it still seems shocking to most folks. We continue to believe that professionalism and intimate emotions such as love have no place together. Yet, we don't seem to have nearly the same queasiness when it comes to openly allowing hate to seep into our working world. We're going to need to discover how to live the energy that love provides in our work...else, I do wonder if business will survive? Or at least survive in a form where anyone wants to actually do business. What's your thought, Dick?

Re: All You Need Is Love In The Workplace

Chris Bailey — Sun, 11 Jun 2006 11:19:26 -0000

Dick...wow, great article...it really puts these ideas into a broader framework. It seems that our organizations are still so mired in an industrial-age concept of work, particularly where processes are 'engineered' and employees are replaceable cogs.

I like how you put it in terms of immaturity...the great challenge that folks like you and I face is how to help our businesses and nonprofits grow from adolescence (or even infancy in some places) to adulthood.

Thanks for sharing the article and keeping this dialogue going. I think it's a particularly rich one.

Re: Take The Mea Culpa Bus

Chris Bailey — Sun, 11 Jun 2006 13:17:51 -0000

Dan, thanks for the story. You've eloquently highlighted the perspective from the other side of the relationship: how a leader deals with an employee who has broken your trust and done something to lose respect for them.

There seems to be a strong link to the dialogue that Dick Richards has stimulated with one of my recent posts on love in the workplace.

I wonder how it all might have come out differently in your story above if the individual in the wrong had just made an honest, sincere, and humbling apology?

Re: All You Need Is Love In The Workplace

Chris Bailey — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 07:38:41 -0000

Dick, I'd absolutely agree in the importance of loving the work process as hard as it is at times. Without this love, not only can there be no artistry, but you can get folks who only care about the ends (with little or no concern about the means of achieving those ends).

Re: How Is Your Elevator Pitch Going Down?

Chris Bailey — Thu, 06 Jul 2006 07:25:27 -0000

Hi Jodee, I guess their server is having a bad case of the Mondays. It was working as late as last night so give it another go.

Hey, I'm always up for doing a little elevator pitch exchange. Like I said, I wish I had thought of it first. And interestingly enough, with my move to Austin, I'm completely revising this site and my business model so I'll be posting a new pitch somewhere here soon. As they say...you show me yours and I'll show you mine :)

Re: How Is Your Elevator Pitch Going Down?

Chris Bailey — Thu, 06 Jul 2006 20:00:00 -0000

GL, I agree to a great extent. Thanks for adding how important the delivery is to a successful pitch. That pitch just has to get you through the door, then it's showtime...you better be prepared to back that enthusiasm up with a solid product or service. In the end, it's a good blend of both substance and style that wins business.

Re: How Is Your Elevator Pitch Going Down?

Chris Bailey — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 18:35:39 -0000

Troy, a thirty minute elevator speech would be ridiculous, who would say such a thing? Oh, right...that would be me :) Thanks for the catch. Updated above.

Re: Be Patient With Yourself

Chris Bailey — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 22:46:36 -0000

Hi Deb, I'm happy that this post resonated with you. It sounds like you have a lot going on in your life right now. All the more reason to give yourself a little more space to breathe than usual.

I'm sorry for the loss of your aunt and hope that your family finds peace. Be well and safe journeys next week.

Re: You Know What They Say About Assumptions

Chris Bailey — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 09:22:06 -0000

Jamie, you've added some really important ideas (btw, it's great to hear from you). In particular, your advice to be easy with yourself when making faulty assumptions is dead-on and good to remember. Just something we reforming perfectionists struggle with from time to time.

Re: We Learn So Much About Life From Death

Chris Bailey — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 18:23:06 -0000

Thank you all. My one and only hope was that I could find some meaning in Papop's death in a way that honored his life. He had so much to teach us and I know that his legacy will continue to guide us throughout our own lives. I'm proud to be a part of this wonderful family we have (though it may have taken his passing for me to fully realize it).

Re: Thoughts on CareerBuilder’s Super Bowl Ads

Chris Bailey — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 18:31:06 -0000

jf, I'm convinced his singers must have had some kind of suction cups attached to those heels. Can't say enough about the entire performance. Got me wanting to see Prince live real soon.

Blake, the Bud Light commercials always entertain, I was just a little underwhelmed by them. Usually, they've got me spewing beer as I laugh. This year, they got a laugh and a couple of chuckles. It's hard to constantly bring your A game each year. I noticed you didn't include the atrocious SalesGenie.com commercial. I swear I was waiting for it to transform into a spoof, but it just kept on going. Ack.

Re: Some Gifts Are Best Not Accepted

Chris Bailey — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 12:42:18 -0000

Deb, thanks. I agree with you. It's amazing how powerful such a simple choice can be. Simple, but not easy. I wrote this on the whiteboard in front of my monitor as a reminder when I deal with my own customers and work colleagues. Next time you're able to recall this advice, let us know how it works for you.

Re: It’s About The Relationship, Stupid

Chris Bailey — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 12:50:22 -0000

Hi Rosa. As your clients will surely confirm, the D5M works. It's just important to start with something. Imagine what would happen if executives would at least do a weekly five minute program. And then make it a habit. Make it a time to really know who is working for you and with you. How much more successful would our businesses be? Keep up the great work you do, Rosa. It's an inspiration to all us mainlanders :)

Re: Don’t Like To Work? Here’s A Five Step Plan For You

Chris Bailey — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 12:35:00 -0000

Right back at ya, John. It's good to find an engineer with an enjoyably snarky sense of humor. Glad I found your writings and your book.

Re: If Leadership Was A Punctuation Mark, What Would It Be?

Chris Bailey — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 21:22:33 -0000

Excellent, David. I love it. I think you make a great 'point' (get it? okay, that was really bad). There's a lot of power in the notion of '&' as a way we bring people and ideas together. And I really dig your observation of the meditative look of the ampersand...it puts the symbol in a whole new light.

Thanks for advancing the dialogue here.

Re: Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work Day Is April 26

Chris Bailey — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 21:44:17 -0000

That's great, Ben. Caroline will be ready in no time. Funny how our kids are growing up fast, huh?

Can't wait to hear how her understanding of your work evolves as she grows. Part of what we can teach our kids is that it's always possible to do work that matters. That's what's neat about the Take A Child To Work Day...they get to experience it first hand.

Re: Why Stalk When You Can Twitter?

Chris Bailey — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 22:11:36 -0000

Hey there, David and Sue. I thought maybe it was just me not being hip to the new style. Maybe the fact that we don't quite get it means that we have work to do that keeps us from constantly letting folks know that we just went to the fax machine, now to the post office, oh and now I'm heading to the bank. Can you feel the excitement build? ;)

Re: Why Stalk When You Can Twitter?

Chris Bailey — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 09:56:58 -0000

Hey there Ben, I don't know if that's the last nail in the coffin. Just saw that Johnnie Moore is trying it out. Egads.

I'm trying to figure out why I dislike this whole idea so much. But I still haven't heard from anyone as to why Twitter is worth the effort. Or is this just a Gen Y thing?

Re: Why Stalk When You Can Twitter?

Chris Bailey — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 16:26:15 -0000

Oh Ben, I know. I've just contributed a little bit to Twitter's ascension in the world. Or maybe not...maybe if more of us call 'bullshit' on some of this insanity then the world will return to it's senses. Could you make a case for how it can be used in the association world ;) I'm just dying for someone to argue with me on how it will better my life.

Hi Annette, glad to have found you though I'm sorry it's at Johnnie's expense. Luddites often get a bad rap...they're usually the canary in the coalmine of online senselessness.

Re: Why Stalk When You Can Twitter?

Chris Bailey — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 09:26:57 -0000

Howdy, EM. Wow. Now that's really going unplugged, but you've offered an example of where being constantly connected isn't as productive as it's made out to be. There's unplug your television week...imagine if there was unplug your internet connection week? Would the world stop it's rotation? Of course, I'm not sure I could do this which probably points to a nasty addiction. Oh well, guess everyone needs at least one vice in their life.

Re: Creating Our Own Magic

Chris Bailey — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 09:38:48 -0000

Hi Patti, how's my favorite bus rider? It's amazing how just one other person's perspective can change something so dramatically. I know this deep down, but often forget it.

Re: St. Patrick’s Day Lesson From Gazoo

Chris Bailey — Sat, 17 Mar 2007 19:21:29 -0000

Thanks, Annette. Technically, I'm a wee bit Irish so I got that going for me. But then, I'm also a wee bit French, Swiss, German, and English. I can trace my lineage from across the ocean to Wales. Unfortunately, we don't really celebrate Owain Glyndwr over here.

Re: St. Patrick’s Day Lesson From Gazoo

Chris Bailey — Sat, 17 Mar 2007 22:59:30 -0000

I totally agree. You learn a lot about who you are when you change locations, particularly when that location is outside your native country. Other than a few trips to Canada, I haven't been out of the States in nearly 10 years. I need to remedy that soon.

Guess St. Patrick's Day isn't nearly as festive there as it is here, eh? This St. Patrick's Day was rather tame. I'm working on the Chris Bailey Reclamation Project which means I'm on a strict diet and exercise regime. I even have Guinness in the fridge to taunt me. But I need to get back to some heathly ways.

Re: Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work Day Is April 26

Chris Bailey — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 08:56:18 -0000

Heather, that is a bit of a mystery about your daughter's perspective. Wondering...do you talk or think about work even after your work is finished? Or is it more defined by her own understanding of what work is? I'm curious so I hope you let us know what you discover. Perhaps letting her into your actual work world on April 27 is just the way to get that dialogue started.

Re: Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work Day Is April 26

Chris Bailey — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 16:49:09 -0000

Isn't that interesting, Heather. Kids do come to things with their own perspectives. I know my own second-grader often doesn't understand that my work schedule is very different from her school schedule.

We might often think that our kids need to catch up with our way of viewing the world, but I love your idea. Let's get a better grip on the way our kids experience the world. Take Your Parent to School Day would be a big step in that direction. Just a normal day to share the school experience together.

I share that same dis-ease of the pace at which our children are expected to learn. Is it any wonder our kids are stressed? But without appreciating the way they interact with the world, we can't begin to understand their fears, hopes, and dreams.

Thanks for bringing in something very new to the dialogue.

Re: Workspace Matters: Three Ideas for Creativity

Chris Bailey — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 16:55:51 -0000

Hi Jenny, I truly appreciate that. And thanks for extending the dialogue...it prompted me to visit your site again and subscribe to your newsletter.

I'm curious...in the work that you do, have you come across or created anything that builds a sustaining structure to encourage playfulness throughout an organization? My experience is that just saying you're a creative or innovative or playful company doesn't work. You have to develop structures to integrate these principles in everyday work. Love to hear your thoughts.

Re: It’s So Easy, A Caveman Could Do It

Chris Bailey — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 21:56:26 -0000

You know, Kris...you may not even have to intentionally boycott. My guess is that if you walked into a store next week, you'll be met with inexperienced sales staff who know they're getting paid basement wages. Or a customer service staff who don't care enough about their company to bother caring for their customers. It's sad that this is a tactic still employed in the business world.

Consider this:
"It's workers as disposable commodities, put in and put out based on whatever happens to the stock price." - Greg Tarpinian, executive director of Change to Win.

Re: The Creative Heat In The East

Chris Bailey — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 08:32:35 -0000

Hawaii and Alaska seem to frequently get the shaft. Maybe we can petition Kevin to work up a version 2 with our 49th and 50th states?

But what's your anecdotal evidence say, Rosa? Would you say the climate is conducive and attractive for creatives in Hawaii?

Re: The Creative Heat In The East

Chris Bailey — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 23:03:35 -0000

That's fascinating, Deb. I never would have guessed that Greenville is growing that fast.

What's doubly fascinating is the relativity of the data displayed on the map. Let's take my boyhood home of West Virginia. By the amount of red shown on the map and it's proximity to hotspots like Northern Virginia and Cincinnati, it looks like there should be creatives there (ot at least fertile ground). However, take the link that Rosa provided (thanks, Rosa) and WV ranks dead last in innovation.

I understand what defines creatives and innovation may be different, but there seems to be a lot of discrepancy at play here.

Re: When A Boring Presentation Just Won’t Do

Chris Bailey — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 18:16:35 -0000

Sure thing, Michael. Glad you stopped by.

Re: A(nother) Redesign And Some Humble Pie

Chris Bailey — Wed, 16 May 2007 08:06:01 -0000

Thanks for the feedback on the new design.

@EM: that seems to be one of the challenges of rss feeds. Like you, I use a feedreader and only visit actual sites when I want to comment or there's something really compelling me to link through. Guess that's what I need to play with...creating posts that are compelling enough to leave the reader and sail the "great Internet ocean."

@Ben: I think there's a valuable lesson here for me...never criticize something I don't fully understand. I have to (sheepishly) admit that I'm kinda digging it. And there are actual instances out there where Twitter is used to help. See Matt Brett's The Power of Twitter.

Re: What’s McNext for McDonalds?

Chris Bailey — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 10:41:40 -0000

I noticed that commercial, too. Perhaps more of these types of ads will encourage some rethinking on our part (as the Big Mac-consuming public).

Re: From Joining To Belonging In Organizations

Chris Bailey — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 09:45:13 -0000

Duly noted...for some reason, I think I knew about your affinity toward the single-malts. Thanks for getting this dialogue started in the first place. The for-profit world can learn much from some of the practices of the non-profit world. I have a future series planned on just this topic.

Re: Mentors Are Everywhere

Chris Bailey — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 10:05:05 -0000

Hi Lisa, no apologies necessary. It's tough to keep up with all the blog stuff that's out here. Glad we connected back to this theme. One key is empathy and the degree to which a managerial candidate has this trait will likely determine their success. If you're a selfish jackass, you probably won't fare too well. Yep, it's possible to change, but empathy is an inborn characteristic that's rather difficult to pick up along the way (and forget finding a professional development training session for it).

Re: More On Belonging In Organizations

Chris Bailey — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 18:33:57 -0000

Quite right. It's great to find these connections just hanging out there. Must mean that the ideas of belonging need to be voiced right now.

Re: Corporations Are Social Institutions

Chris Bailey — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 19:45:58 -0000

Tell ya what...next time we get the chance to get together, I'll bring the single-malt and we'll both have one heck of a dialogue about our HBR reading. Cheers :)

Re: Corporations Are Social Institutions

Chris Bailey — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 20:19:53 -0000

Hi Paul, darn glad Annette could hook us up. Good to have another Irish connection. I'll be keeping up with you, as well. Might even take a bit of inspiration from your blogging editorial policy...at least give a bit more details about what *I* am all about. Come back soon.

Re: WorkPlay Series On Reflection: The Springboard

Chris Bailey — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 21:34:26 -0000

Ellen, that's fascinating about reflection being actively visible in the brain. It definitely refutes the notion that reflection is a 'passive' activity.

Welcome and hope to hear more from you again soon.

Re: Expect The Best…You Might Just Get It

Chris Bailey — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 09:41:46 -0000

You're very welcome, Tammy. Thanks for starting the dialogue. Unfortunately, I think many team leads and managers don't even get as far as thinking about either ground rules or group norms. They assume that people just naturally know how to communicate effectively. And we know that's a poorly formed assumption. Perhaps it also betrays the notion that group gathers are merely a way to transfer information from person to person, stripping the potential for truly sharing ideas and more emotional concepts like disappointment, frustration, joy, etc. Interesting stuff...thanks again for spurring the dialogue.

Re: The Benefits Of Competition?

Chris Bailey — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 09:03:10 -0000

Hi Nick, that's fantastic stuff. Thanks so much for sharing it here. It encapsulates the benefits of competition as a way of further improving ourselves and our organizations. And what I really like is that he not only differentiated his store based on product, but that he focused strongly on relationships...relationships with customers, relationships with each other, and relationships to attitude. Here's hoping that John gets to successfully compete with his fellow businesses - both large and small - for some time to come. And that he helps cultivate a similar entrepreneurial spirit in his staff so they'll recreate it elsewhere. Thanks again, Nick, for sharing.

Re: New Work Redesigned Pagecast On PageFlakes

Chris Bailey — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 08:19:36 -0000

Thanks, Bart. I'm glad you like it.

Re: WorkPlay Update: August 20 2007

Chris Bailey — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 08:35:57 -0000

Thanks a bunch, Phil. I don't know why, but once I put the idea out there for the series on reflection and started to write...I hit a wall. Poof! Whatever mojo was working to begin the thought process has taken a vacation. Ah, physician heal thyself, eh? It's time to use some reflection time to allow the groove back in. Never fear...I'll finish it up.

And double thanks for your encouragement. Part of taking that step outside my front door also means leaving my protective armor at home. So can a leader be vulnerable, open, honest down to their core? Yes, but it sure isn't easy. There's some learning here for me...I appreciate you helping me find a way there.

Re: Middle Management Is Approaching A New Day

Chris Bailey — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 15:15:18 -0000

Absolutely! Well put, Peter. In many ways, I've found that middle managers actually have *more* room to innovate and experiment than executives do. I particularly like what you say about identifying a new (or perhaps unconsidered) management practice...and then study it. Often, it's that last part that stymies the doers who want to implement immediately (I've fallen into the group a few times). There's an art of management mastery that requires patience and some determination.

Lot's of learning here. Thanks for adding to the dialogue.

Re: Reclaiming A Different Type Of Labor Day

Chris Bailey — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 22:44:11 -0000

Hiya Patti, glad to inspire you in return for all the inspiration you've offered me. I do agree that one day hardly seems enough...maybe we need a week of reflection on our the potential we bring through our work.

Re: Being Transparent Or Inviting Your Customers Into The Kitchen

Chris Bailey — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 09:20:11 -0000

Hiya Adam, sorry for taking a couple of days to pop back to your comment...I wanted to download your ebook and chew on it. I think we're in agreement over the concept of transparency and hidden values. In particular, we can transform the everyday business transaction from a simple exchange of money to something far more valuable and meaningful. As you say, we're more willing to exchange money for service if we know what lies behind (and the values within) that service.

Do come back again and keep the dialogue going. I enjoy your perspective and hope we can have more exchanges soon.

Re: The Return Of The Alchemy Of Soulful Work

Chris Bailey — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 09:25:44 -0000

Howdy, Rosa...that just warms my soul to read that. And even more reason to hold on to Alchemy and keep running with it. Be well, my friend.

Re: Listen To What Your Surroundings Are Telling You

Chris Bailey — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 16:07:04 -0000

Thanks a bunch, Astha. I'm going to be doing some header banner cycling...trying to see if I can find a good randomizing program to hotswap out graphics.

Re: You Can Lead Employees To Change, But You Can’t Make Them Do It

Chris Bailey — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 08:29:39 -0000

I agree, Jamie. I think what happens in most cases is an opposite fear reaction from the management side: what happens if this initiative fails? Most change initiatives are viewed as a one-shot deal...if it fails, that's it. And with so many working parts in the process, it just feels more natural to approach from a total control mindset.

Here's another thought...most organizations view change like they do relationships, rarely doing what needs to be done to feed them on a daily (or at least more frequent) basis. Building an internal ability to change is integrating it into the corporate culture. It's about realigning change as a more natural process, not one that feels foreign and constantly awkward.

As I write this, my mind is computing all the different scenarios and I realize that I'm really over-generalizing this. I'm also trying to do it on half a cup of morning coffee. Might also explain my semi-coherent babbling :)

Re: Three Years Of Blogging And What I’ve Learned Along The Way

Chris Bailey — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 20:00:44 -0000

Keiron, I totally understand. There are times when I'm not sure if folks appreciate my drivel, either. There's not a good feedback loop - at least with my blog. I tend to gauge feedback by number of comments and the problem is that I don't get nearly enough to satisfy my sense of whether this blog is more than me just publishing my thoughts. I put a rating system for each entry, but it only works if you visit the site...not if you read from an RSS reader. So how exactly do figure out if what we write matters? I don't know...I'm open to suggestions.

From one blogger to another, keep the faith. If what we write is meaningful, hopefully it'll catch fire for someone. Be well.

Re: Three Years Of Blogging And What I’ve Learned Along The Way

Chris Bailey — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:06:59 -0000

Howdy Deb, thanks so much for that. Your words mean more than you know. And I'm glad my experiences have impacted you. I think it may be my mission in life to live by this phrase: Chris Bailey...he'll do stupid things so you don't have to :) It's a catchy tagline, huh?

Re: Connecting To Work That Matters

Chris Bailey — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 23:41:30 -0000

Heather and Alex, I think you both add some terrific points about how management can and should do more to tap into what matters most to their people. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts (and those of others) on how to begin the dialogue. I imagine that one factor blocking this from happening is that it can feel strange to do in a workplace setting...as ridiculous as that may seem on the surface.

Like Heather's suggestion, as a manager I've made questions around meaning and purpose in work a kind of litmus test of the work itself. When one's work strays toward the place of disinterest or disconnect, then a great manager will help bring to balance.

Re: Connecting To Work That Matters

Chris Bailey — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 07:48:06 -0000

SilkOne, your comment made my day :) It sounds like you're beginning to ask some purposeful questions that will help you in your career and work as a manager. Keep focused on what matters. Let me know if there's anything I can do to help you. My best thoughts are with you in your career change journey. And I look forward to hearing more from you. Be well.

Re: Creating Great Ands – Your Opposable Mind At Work

Chris Bailey — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 19:01:13 -0000

Hi Deb..."the counter-intuitive advice to make decisions from a place of exploration rather than expediency." Ooooh I like that. And I agree. Too often a decision is just another thing to cross off the to-do list. The best decision may not always be the easiest or simplest. It might just be messy. You just reminded me...I need to add Dan Pink's book to my ever-growing list of things to read.

Re: Creating Great Ands – Your Opposable Mind At Work

Chris Bailey — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 19:19:29 -0000

Hi Graham, thanks for stopping by and introducing your work. I'll definitely take a look.

Re: Three Years Of Blogging And What I’ve Learned Along The Way

Chris Bailey — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 19:48:17 -0000

Hi Dave, a big 'thanks' right back at you for stopping by. I'll admit that I had a big smile on my face as I read how you ended up staying longer than expected. That's great! Hope you come around again soon.

And I really like the improvements to the Shelfari widget design...even the fact that I can create/save/edit all my widgets in one spot. Very cool. Now the only problem I'm having (and I'll submit a help request for it) is that the widgets don't work in either of my sidebars here. I even tried in the sidebar of my sandbox site thinking it might be the template design I'm using here. However, they do work if I use the widget code in a standard page content area. Perhaps there's something in the script that drives it?

Anyway, appreciate you coming by. I've become a big fan of Shelfari since starting to use the site a few months ago. Keep up the great work and let me know if there's anything I can do to help y'all out.

Re: Build A Learning Culture With Learning Circles

Chris Bailey — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 20:07:21 -0000

Hi Yianni, glad you stopped by and even more importantly that you surfaced the problem with my contact page. That'll show me to sanity check all of my widgets and blog modules. I've deactivated...I fear that others tried to correspond with me through the form and just left when they couldn't get it to work. Thanks again for letting me know.

I'll get with you through email/IM/etc about how I work with design and help any way I can. Welcome to the wonderful adventure that is blogging.

Re: Starting A New Career Story

Chris Bailey — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 19:25:10 -0000

Hi Jamie, thanks for the reminder about Transitions. For some reason, it's failed to make my "To Read" list, but it's there now. The neutral zone sounds like a place I've been before, as well.

Re: WorkPlay Review: Pzizz

Chris Bailey — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 22:51:31 -0000

Hi Tammy, the main benefit I've seen in Pzizz is that I tend to relax much more easily through the program. And that loud beep makes darn sure that I don't go beyond a 20 or 30 minute nap.

Hi Sara, yeah, the recommended timeframe is somewhere between 15-30 minutes. And honestly, I've felt great after just a 5 minute nod-off. There's something beneficial to just allowing the mind to take a few minutes off. Give it a go and see how you feel.

Re: Your Grandma Should Have Died In The Off-Season

Chris Bailey — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 23:06:42 -0000

Tammy, apparently they recognized their ignorance and gave Troy Williamson his game check. But still...it took a gang of veteran players pleading his case to get the coach and management to change their minds. Here's a question: if your company decided that work was more important than a family death, how much longer would you be there?

Re: Connecting To Work That Matters

Chris Bailey — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 08:02:05 -0000

Hi David, it's never too late to add to the dialogue :)

I like what you say about showing folks they matter...not just talking about it. There's a big difference there and when it comes to something this important, insincerity or half-heartedness can be read like a giant flashing neon sign.

Re: Being A Good Customer Is Good For Your Own Work

Chris Bailey — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 08:27:51 -0000

Jen, I think your approach is one we've all been subtly ingrained to believe is how we should act as customers. I'm not sure where the antagonism crept in to our interactions, but it's definitely there. Perhaps it's media-fed with all those 20/20 and Dateline exposés on how businesses are out to cheat the consumer. The end result is that we've all grown intolerant of mistakes to the point where I think a transaction (in the fullest meaning of the word...not just financial) has lost its humanity.

Thanks for stopping by and kick-starting the dialogue.

Re: Your Grandma Should Have Died In The Off-Season

Chris Bailey — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 08:35:18 -0000

Tammy and Keiron, and not only are folks going to bolt...they're going to be more likely to tell their colleagues (and the media might help them) about the workplace policies. If you heard stories about this type of thing, wouldn't you be a bit reluctant to work there?

In this case, the Vikings brass reversed their decision, but it calls into account their attitudes toward players and employees, doesn't it?

Re: Shelfari’s Breach Of Trust And What They Can Do

Chris Bailey — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 20:42:28 -0000

Thank you, Kare. At times, I think we lose sight of what's really important. And our language too often reflects a lack of civility. Bake those together and you get interactions that dehumanize and trivialize everything that's good about us.

I appreciate you stopping by and sharing.

Re: Creating Our Own Great Adventures – It May Be Easier Than You Think

Chris Bailey — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 08:06:33 -0000

Jory, I think I've always known that there was magic in the everyday. However, like you, I haven't been sure whether that magic (or more appropriately, the magic as I experience it) was interesting to others. More and more, I'm coming to find that it is. Keep on sharing your life and what makes you Jory.

Jen, I love it. I'm typically an early riser and I can honestly say there is magic and adventure in watching the stars slowly wink out as the sun peeks over the eastern horizon. And then every sunrise is different. Or foggy mornings...I actually love those.

Re: Tools Of The Devil – Employee Surveys

Chris Bailey — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 12:35:37 -0000

Darn good praise and much appreciated. Glad it struck a chord with you, Jamie. Can't wait to see your post/response.

Re: On Nine Years Of Fatherhood

Chris Bailey — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 21:29:39 -0000

Welcome, Steve...and thanks. It's always great to help kids start thinking about the work they want to do...and just as important to help them understand that it's okay to never be too sure about this question. Some of us still don't know what their soulful work is (though I think I'm edging ever closer to a possible answer).

Re: The Crucial Role Of The Agitator

Chris Bailey — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 13:22:41 -0000

fst, thank you for this wealth of insight that touches on the agitator as change agent. And perhaps more to the point...agitator as a person of influence. What seems to separate successful agitators from their less-than-successful counterparts (I've been in both groups as I think about it) is the degree of influence they have within the organization's culture. I love the question you pose at the end:

How does an agitator or contrarian, become that person with organizational credibility without losing their independence to think for themselves.

That is one well worth pondering...I'll likely pull this one out and dedicate a separate post to continue the dialogue.

Thanks again for sharing your insight and experiences. I hope to hear more from you soon.

Re: When Bad Systems Happen To Good People

Chris Bailey — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 10:29:27 -0000

Steve, because it's applicable here as well, here's the comment I left to the post at your blog
(Note: check out www.allthingsworkplace.com/2008/04/if-systems-trum.html to see the full post and thread)

I love how we're all stretching and playing around with this topic. What started with some simple questions has blossomed into a variety of different perspectives and tangents. We almost need a mindmap to map out the dialogue here...which may not be a bad idea.

The dialogue here has been excellent. The one notion that I would add is to consider the various people-systems as systems, as well. It's this that goes to the heart of my own post. We can talk about the systems that can exist parallel to the human component (technology, financial, etc). Within these systems, I can see the dichotomy between people and systems, one where you can plug in an individual and watch them act. But where I see most organizations falter is understanding their own people-systems (learning, social networks, engagement, etc) which is an integration that connects people to the organization's culture and deeper purpose. This conversation and exploration will always get trumped by financial and more traditional concerns as long as the old way of doing things is exalted. But I see things changing in this regard which is very exciting.

Steve, I really appreciate your inclusion of your experience with long-standing companies trying to figure out how they might stay in business. It seems that they may be realizing all too late that things have changed and their good intentions are likely not enough to keep the vultures away. And I see this honestly as a positive - its the cycle of death and rebirth that can be a powerful incubator of new and dynamic businesses. Would we rather work at a gutted organization still in business or a new organization with fresh focus, better market prospects, and - hopefully - a better grasp of its people-systems to help it succeed in this new age of business?

Re: When Bad Systems Happen To Good People

Chris Bailey — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 10:43:14 -0000

Charee, thanks for bringing in the current economic climate's impact on the people/organization dynamic. This is usually where an organization's guiding principles come into full focus. If the org is teetering on the edge of financial or other difficulties, you get to see exactly what it is willing to eject first. If it's people, then you know who you're working for and the company's priorities. On the other hand, if other line items get cut, executives decline pay increases, etc. as the first course of action (with cuts to workforce and items that allow employees to do their work coming as last resorts)...that speaks again to priorities.

And perhaps a good question to ask is: Do companies with great people-systems outperform and out-sustain companies that don't put the necessary stock into this?

Re: Would You Consider A Customer Care Strategy With Twitter?

Chris Bailey — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:39:25 -0000

Hiya Tammy, I hope UA finally decided to get you to your destination. Your point about the chicken or egg thing definitely conjures up another bullet
Great service begins with an attitude...don't expect the tool to do everything

Twitter is still just like the phone and email; just because you have them doesn't automatically mean your service level gets better. You still have to have an authentically passionate workforce that believes in themselves, in their work, and in the organization they work for.

And while not everyone is on Twitter to get those messages...think of how many folks might adopt Twitter if UA did send them a tweet to alert them to a problem.

Safe journeys!

Re: In The Middle Of A Job Change? It’s The Perfect Time To Enhance Your Portfolio

Chris Bailey — Mon, 12 May 2008 22:39:39 -0000

Jamie, that's a great example...and sometimes not the easiest path to take. It's so darn easy to just phone it in when you feel your time has come to move on. But you hit it square when you write that the best time to look and take a new job is when you're at the top rather than at the bottom. It makes a huge psychological advantage when interviewing, too.

Great insight...thanks for sharing your experience.

Re: Focusing On What We Are Rather Than What We Are Not (My Confession)

Chris Bailey — Tue, 13 May 2008 22:24:05 -0000

Oh Rosa, you always seem to know exactly what to say and I love you dearly for that. You know, the good thing about Boris and Natasha is they weren't too bright...always getting outwitted by a moose and squirrel. So we have that going for us, eh? It doesn't stop them from plotting and scheming against us though.

Thanks for the constant encouragement and friendship. You've been with me since the beginning and it's your kindness and wisdom that's seen me through my own evolution - with Alchemy and all my other life pursuits. You have my deepest appreciation.

Re: Focusing On What We Are Rather Than What We Are Not (My Confession)

Chris Bailey — Wed, 14 May 2008 08:30:12 -0000

Andrew, however you originally came upon my blog and work I'm glad it resonates with you. (And I think at least based on your music tastes that we have some things in common.)

The truth is that there are times when low (or at least low by my standards) readership and comments does weigh on me. Just writing for the enjoyment of it isn't enough...I want to be loved for it. And here's another truth that I'm equally certain of: there are folks who do love my writing and work but I'm greedy and want more.

Yet rather than wallow in self-pity I'm back to creatively thinking about how to grow my blog and my Bailey WorkPlay practice. And maybe that's the personal experience lesson I can share with you and others - keep playing around and finding what works. There's definitely more to come.

Hey, thanks again for not only reading but adding your comment here. Much appreciated.

Re: Focusing On What We Are Rather Than What We Are Not (My Confession)

Chris Bailey — Wed, 14 May 2008 13:39:56 -0000

Wendee, I'm printing this out and saving it for the times when Boris sneaks back in because even though I know what you say is true about who reads is more important than how many reads, I'll still fall prey to the urge of mass notoriety. Self-knowledge can be a double-edged sword at times.

But what you, Andrew, and Rosa say is a welcome and cheering reminder that even though at times I can't immediately experience the impact of my blogging work, I know it's being felt nonetheless. It's the feedback you're providing that makes me feel good.

Thanks so much!

Re: Bloggers Unite for Human Rights Today

Chris Bailey — Thu, 15 May 2008 23:17:36 -0000

Hiya Karen, glad this struck a chord with you. There is so much more we can all do but opening our eyes to what's happening around us is a good beginning.

Re: Bloggers Unite for Human Rights Today

Chris Bailey — Sat, 17 May 2008 16:24:29 -0000

Hiya Karl and Paul and welcome! Happy to spark your thinking. I can't claim that my own political activist record is anything to brag about but if I can at least take small steps it's a start.

Paul, if you blog about any of this let me know.

Re: Five Things That A Playground Can Teach Us About Relationships

Chris Bailey — Tue, 20 May 2008 12:27:31 -0000

Wow! Thanks everyone for sharing your fond memories. And welcome...I really appreciate that everyone here so far is a new commenter. Hope you'll keep coming back!

Kids have a wonderful way of reconnecting us to some deeper truths we might have lost along the path to adulthood. Definitely more to come on this topic...

Re: Four Professional Growth Issues For Managers (And How To Address Them)

Chris Bailey — Thu, 22 May 2008 19:00:02 -0000

Steve, I might argue that the smaller ones don't practice employee development any better than their larger peers. What's interesting is that from my observations...the reasons are largely the same as I listed above. And I think that if you asked most managers to tell you what talents are available to them through their team, they'd give you a glassy-eyed stare. Talent goes where it can be appreciated and cultivated...too bad most managers still haven't discovered this, yet.

Re: Four Professional Growth Issues For Managers (And How To Address Them)

Chris Bailey — Thu, 22 May 2008 19:05:45 -0000

Maddie, I totally agree. This post is influenced by my 10 years in non-profits from both a manager and employee perspective. It's in associations and other similar organizations that growing staff is even more vital to keeping them engaged.

Re: If You’ve Never Failed You’ve Never Lived

Chris Bailey — Tue, 27 May 2008 12:33:52 -0000

That's fantastic, Steve! I love the way that feeds into perception and how it can be used to shift thinking from negative to positive. Thanks so much for sharing that!

Re: Socialutions And The Social Media Pretenders

Chris Bailey — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 09:44:40 -0000

Jordan, I think many execs in organizations have absolutely no idea what their true culture is. They have their values/mission/vision neatly printed on cards or posters and think that's their culture. Unfortunately, there's much more to it than that but they look for the easy route. So when they try to implement a social media strategy that doesn't jive with their true culture, the disconnect is often perceived by everyone else but the executive powers.

Re: Socialutions And The Social Media Pretenders

Chris Bailey — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 09:58:27 -0000

Kare, both of those remarks are ones I get often, as well...particularly the "losing control" one. It gets interesting when I respond: "But you never really had control to begin with. It was all a bit of self-delusion." We're currently in the midst of a seismic shift in attitudes in regards to org culture, connecting deeply with customers/members/constituents, and employee engagement. Once upon a time, each of these may have been considered in isolation. Now, it's starting to be clear that these three organizational elements are interrelating in new, and depending on your perspective, scary ways.

I'm an impatient sort of guy but I'm learning that most organizations that want to succeed and remain vibrant for the long-term will eventually need to come around to this same conclusion. We just need to stay in the game and help them get there.

Re: Taking Care Of The People Who Matter Most

Chris Bailey — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:09:18 -0000

Hiya Judy, if you're interested in the book definitely consider buying the book from the WME online store with the discount code above. And check back here...I have a feeling that we're just at the beginning of a very interesting dialogue with Sybil.

Re: Taking Care Of The People Who Matter Most

Chris Bailey — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:47:07 -0000

Hiya Sybil, thanks for starting us off with your thoughts on those two questions.

Q1: I'm also wondering if it's not a case where management thinking hasn't caught up to organizational reality. There are a couple of times in your book where examples of poor engagement screamed industrial-age thinking and the belief that employees were cogs and the corporation was a machine. We still seem to suffer from a mechanistic perspective when it comes to the employee dynamic.

Q2: I'm hoping that we can get some of our readers who are non-profit and association professionals to weigh in and add to the dialogue. I think what can make working in a non-profit particularly challenging is the organization's relationship with its paid staff. It can be very different from the corporate world. And you're absolutely right about the critical nuances being different, particularly when it comes to dealing with volunteers as non-paid staff.

Thanks again for engaging in what I hope will be some very provocative discussions.

Re: Taking Care Of The People Who Matter Most

Chris Bailey — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:49:53 -0000

I'm not quite sure what you mean by a cubicle mindset, but my guess is that we're talking about the same thing. My understanding of the industrial mindset is grounded in the notion that organizations are machines and employees are simple cogs - easily replaceable with one specific purpose. If a cog is no longer considered usable, then its discarded. If it shows a weakness in an area, that weakness is hammered out. And the organization is best managed with an engineered efficiency. In essence, the same mentality that drove textile mills and manufacturing plants 150 years ago simply rolled over into the office environment without much thought as to whether it actually made sense in that space.

I believe that in order to help organizations truly harness the best in their people and fulfill the employee-management dynamic, we're going to need to be in the vanguard of helping organizational executives shift their mindsets. Some of today's best entrepreneurs are already there and it'll be with their additional help (or think of it as "peer pressure") that I think we'll see a stronger employee-customer care mentality spread wider.

Re: Taking Care Of The People Who Matter Most

Chris Bailey — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 19:48:26 -0000

Sybil, I think your frustration is common for all of us. Judy McLeish suggested an idea along the same lines, which is maybe the traditional approach we've been trying to implement is not the best:
http://employeefactor.com/2008/06/maybe_the_tra...

For me, the positive thing is that we're really just at the beginning of a new time in the history of work. What we're experiencing now are the growing pains as organizations grope for something that will work for the long haul. So, yeah...we have to keep the faith and keep plugging away, experimenting with new ideas, approaches, and practices and be part of the process to firmly entrench what we know will work.

Re: Python Thursdays: Confuse-A-Cat

Chris Bailey — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 09:19:36 -0000

Hiya Andrew, don't discount your experience based on your age. I think you're dead on with the importance of finding creative outlets. It's in the creative process that we usually find things that surprise us, inspire us, and confuse us. It shocks us out of our complacency and keeps us on our toes. Thanks for coming along and come on back in two weeks when we do it again!

Re: Python Thursdays: Confuse-A-Cat

Chris Bailey — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 09:24:04 -0000

Hiya Karl, could you imagine coming into work one day thinking that it's going to be a normal, everyday sort of day only to discover a guy dressed as Napoleon sitting in your seat? Then getting chased away by a penguin on a pogo stick? And another guy running through the corridors dressed only in a towel? That's how I imagine our kitty here must have felt...no wonder he was ready to head inside!

Re: Do Your Employees Feel Invisible?

Chris Bailey — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 10:19:16 -0000

Hi Cathy, thank you so much for sharing your painful experience. As hard as it must be to think of leaving a place where you've put in 24 years of your life, you're making the right decision. Any place that tears down your self esteem and confidence is toxic. Hold tight and true to who you know that you are: a hard working, patient, good helping professional that will be welcome in an organization that will see you and appreciate all you bring.

First and foremost, take care of yourself. Connect with your volunteer experience and hold on to the energy you gain there. Make it your armor. And find that next workplace as soon as you possibly can.

Please let me know how things go...and if there's anything that I can do to help you. Be well.

Re: Hidden Talents And The Gray Zone

Chris Bailey — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 10:31:21 -0000

Hiya Jeff, thanks for the suggestion. I'll definitely address the interaction of talents and passions. Look forward to reading your comments on the series starting this coming week.

Re: Hidden Talents Part 1: Talent, Retention, And The New Realities

Chris Bailey — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 12:12:11 -0000

Steve, thanks for the dose of experience and reality. I think one area where folks like us can get discouraged is when we realize that our advice is not being heard by executives even though we make all these impassioned arguments for why retention is so vital to the organization's health. But you hit it squarely on the head when you remark: "You pay attention to what you get rewarded for."

Somehow we have to work to change the conversation from short-term profit focus to a long-term people focus (and with our economy the way it is, that's going to be quite a feat). It's overturning decades and a few centuries of business thinking but - and feel free to call me crazy - I think we're a hell of a lot closer to creating functional organizations today than yesterday.

I hold fast to the ideal that great organizations that understand the value of people are like magnets for the best talent. They believe that people drive profits and not the other way around. So...what must we do to help executives make people and retention one of the top things on their list? Or do we need to be like the Ghost of Christmas Future and show them how things are going to be if they don't alter their thinking and actions?

Re: Every Single Person Is Responsible For Customer Experience

Chris Bailey — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 09:29:00 -0000

Sybil, I really appreciate the addition of that last sentence...it's something you address in your book that all managers need to think about and take action on. Every single manager and employee should ask: Who is my customer here within the organization? And am I giving them great service? We get so caught up in what's going on out there that we usually neglect the needs of folks two or twenty feet away.

Re: Five Ways To Treat Employees Like Customers

Chris Bailey — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:29:34 -0000

Thanks, Steve. It *is* enlightening to just observe how workers treat their colleagues and their organization when they think no one is paying attention. As for your experience with internal/external care, I'm also amazed at the stubbornness. I think this is yet another vestige of our industrial past when the job was done with little regard for the true welfare of the worker. It's sort of a mind/body split set to the modern workplace. We're getting there, just taking a while.

Safe journeys in your travels, friend.

Re: Five Ways To Treat Employees Like Customers

Chris Bailey — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:34:54 -0000

Howdy "website design"...I would love it if more folks and managers promoted this view and then developed the structures to integrate it into the working culture. Turns out that if we work in an organization, we all have internal customers. Easy to see why this has helped you snag those jobs. Thanks for adding that great idea and perspective to this post!

Re: Five Ways To Treat Employees Like Customers

Chris Bailey — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:37:34 -0000

Sybil, that's a great suggestion! By turning it around, it keeps organizations from navel-gazing and forgetting their whole reason for existing. The best orgs seem to be those who see the symbiotic relationship between the care of employees and customers.

Re: The Art Of Managing Self-Interest

Chris Bailey — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 08:56:25 -0000

Hiya Steve, glad to provide some inspiration for your latest post. I agree that there is a real misunderstanding around self-interest. It's quite different from self-centeredness or other more negative forms of egoism that can plague management (and employees for that matter). It is possible to pursue self-interest with a higher purpose.

Thanks for the dialogue here as always and double thanks for stretching it with your latest post:
http://www.allthingsworkplace.com/2008/08/stop-...

Re: Why Job Fit Is Important To Your Confidence

Chris Bailey — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 11:45:20 -0000

Mike, I like the questions you pose here. I think once an individual understands that they may not be totally responsible for a poor fit, then they can begin to approach their situation using questions like the four you offer above. Thanks for bringing that perspective to this post.

Re: Sit On The Same Side Of The Table

Chris Bailey — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 20:22:35 -0000

Ath007, for me the whole notion of sitting on the same side of the table is largely metaphorical (though I can see the physical nature of it, too). I always think of those scenes of two people negotiating a divorce or other sort of issue. They sit on opposite sides with a table acting as barrier in the middle. It keeps them separated and distanced when a closer connection is what's truly needed. And in my experience, we can fall prey to doing this with our customers - keep them just out of reach as a way to defend ourselves (rather like a suit of armor). However, what's needed today are closer connections and relationships, authenticity and guilelessness. It sounds like you do practice the metaphorical notion of meeting on the same side of the table.

Here's the part of your question that's taken me a bit off-guard: I almost always sit on the opposite side of my wife or friend when eating. I almost think its a learned behavior. Look at other couples and more often than not, they're sitting across from each other undoubtedly for the reasons you mention above.

But what could be the harm of sitting next to a friend, spouse, partner, (or even a business colleague)? The physical structure would then best mirror the metaphorical idea and solidify the connection between you and the other person. I think I'll try this the next time I'm out in a restaurant and observe what happens.

Thanks so much for your comment, perspective, and opinion of my post.

Re: Socialutions And The Social Media Pretenders

Chris Bailey — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 20:46:04 -0000

Thanks, Scott...I just downloaded and look forward to reading. Appreciate you posting the link here. Cheers!

Re: The Relationships Of Our Life’s Work

Chris Bailey — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 21:46:40 -0000

David, I love this that you write: "I have not had a job for almost 30 years but I sure have been working." Well said.

Re: The Relationships Of Our Life’s Work

Chris Bailey — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 21:55:14 -0000

Kare, I'm so glad it resonated with you. And thank you for the link to Rita Carter's book. I'll take a look at this and add it to my book wishlist...it sounds like just the book I need to read.