It's the Leadership, Stupid

[daftandbarmy]

It's the Leadership, Stupid

The morning coffee break had wrapped up and we were back at it, involved in a deep discussion. Some people were at the whiteboard, some debating one another, and some listening attentively as we batted an issue around the room.

The door to the conference room swung open and it seemed that a new member was joining the meeting. That is, until he didn't. He entered the room, but made no eye contact with either the group leader or the facilitator. He took one of the chairs in the main circle, but immediately grabbed a mobile device from his briefcase. Physically, he was in the room. But mentally, he never joined the meeting or tackled the problem we were trying to solve.

Later, when there was a key decision to be made, someone interrupted this person to ask his opinion. And that's when I learned that he was "the leader" of this initiative. At least, he was supposed to be.

It would be easy to dismiss his behavior as poor manners, a busy executive doing his best. You might even think I'm picking on the person, since each of us has done this to some degree or another. Yes, we all hate to go to meetings. Yes, we all have too much to do. Yes, we are all anxious that our inbox is being filled while we're away from our desks.

But to excuse this behavior misses a key point: how small actions lead to big outcomes. Dismissing this behavior leads to a culture none of us want. It misses how micro-actions like this add up to an ensuing result none of us want.

http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2011/08/its_the_leadership_stupid.html?cm_mmc=email-_-newsletter-_-leadership-_-leadership090111&referral=00206&utm_source=newsletter_leadership&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=leadership090111

 

[brihard]

That all seems like it should be a no-brainer..?

 

[The Bread Guy]

That all seems like it should be a no-brainer..?

To some of us, yes.  To those texting in their university classes to the point where, when the prof approaches them and stands in front of them, their buddy has to bring the prof to their attention, maybe not so much.

 

[Delaney1986]

Since we had to make laws to make people realize that texting and driving was a bad idea, assuming people would have enough common sense to not do so in a meeting seems like a stretch. 

But common sense to me, yes. And I was too afraid of most of my Prof's to even turn my phone on in class, let alone use it, lol.

 

[daftandbarmy]

~ The values indicated by status-insecure parents are such that their children learn to put personal success and the acquisition of power above all else. They are taught to judge people for their usefulness rather than their likeableness. Their friends, and even future marriage partners, are selected and used in the service of personal advancement; love and affection take second place to knowing the right people. They are taught to eschew weakness and passivity, to respect authority, and to despise those who have not made the socio-economic grade. Success is equated with social esteem and material advantage, rather than with more spiritual values.

Norman F. Dixon Quotes



Read more: http://www.finestquotes.com/author_quotes-author-Norman%20F.%20Dixon-page-0.htm#ixzz1XW6CFfzi

 

[cupper]

What did we do before the advent of 24/7 all access communications? We waited for the carrier pigeon or pony express to deliver the response.

Now we are screaming at the microwave to hurry up because it's taking too long to heat up the food. Meanwhile we are on the phone calling the person we e-mailed 5 minutes ago asking if they got the message, and what their response is.