Leaders Should Watch Planet Earth

For weeks I have anticipated the premier of a new program on Discover Channel: Planet Earth. Filmed in high definition (HD), the program explores all the usual facets of the natural world: deserts, mountains, the African plains animals, plants, rainforests, and life and death.

But, that is half the story and a smaller part of why this show pertains to business.

A BIG part of a leader's responsibility is to help people see important issues in new ways and craft solutions that are novel and, therefore, valuable. Every truly innovative product is birthed out of a new way of looking at a problem, desire or need.

The iPod is a classic example. On the surface it is merely a disc- or memory-chip based Sony Walkman and so is only an advance over playback of tape recordings. But, the bigger innovation was in the way Apple made music available - the legal digital download. That innovation in tandem with the physical device has created irreversible shifts in more than just the personal entertainment device business; it has changed the entertainment retail and content business models.

Back to Planet Earth...

By way of a revolutionary camera that stabilizes images shot from a helicopter, HD technology and Discovery Channel's legendary skill in filming wildlife, Planet Earth shows us scenes and perspectives never before seen. It allows us to get new perspectives on age-old processes. THAT is what is so valuable about the show for leaders.

I hope when you watch you won't let yourself be totally distracted by the quality of the picture, though HD is amazing. Watch the angles of the shots. Notice how for the very first time we are shown the way a pack of hyenas orchestrate their hunting strategy. Take a look at what elephants DO in a water hole. They play! Watch the strategy a seal uses to avoid capture by a great white shark. It uses its skill for sharp, darting turns to its advantage, rather like a Mini Cooper would attempt to escape a tractor-trailer.

I swear, this program will have you gasping in amazement at how the natural world works. Personally, it had me simultaneously thinking about strategy, teamwork, individual expertise, tenderness, succession planning, persistence, handling adversity, and the inevitability of failure - and the purposes it serves.

OOOHs and AAAHs
Leaders are responsible for more than hitting revenue and profit targets. They are responsible for helping the people in their organizations think and act in fresh, new and value-creating ways. When they do that, revenue and profit are reasonably-expected outcomes. I hope Planet Earth makes you think about that all the while you OOOH and AAAH.

March Madness Lessons - #1

Oh man! What a great time of year to learn about teamwork and emotion and leadership the easy way!

Watch what the athletes say about teamwork, pulling their individual weight, trusting each other to bring their best skills and make smart decisions. Watch them hustle like mad for a loose ball as if the game depends on it.

Watch the level of engagement by the coach. Watch the intensity of encouragement given the players by their teammates on the bench.

Watch the amount of pride and emotional energy the players bring to their work, and show for their teams, teammates, school and each other.

I wish we had that kind of connectedness in our workplaces. Don't you? After years of coaching highly skilled, successful executives, I still marvel at how impersonally many of them lead others. I still marvel at how cool their interactions are, how terribly polite everyone is. A few, though, prove that work can be an inspired and highly productive place where highly skilled people who enjoy and respect each other work their tails off to achieve great results. I wonder why more people don't try to make their workplaces really amazing places to be.

And, if you feel it's pointless to rock the boat or try something new because the people who have more power want it the way it is, you have a decision to make. You can either learn about influence, how to build your influencing skills and direct them to achieve positive changes or go find a company that's more in tune with who you are right now. To stick it out too long in the wrong place...well...that's a different kind of madness.

David Facer is an executive coach who helps successful leaders improve results by creating a positive change in behavior, for themselves, their people and their organizations. He will be watching college basketball every day during March Madness...and working hard at www.ActivatePotential.com.

A 50/50 Decision

I crossed paths with a friend I hadn't seen each in five months or so. We caught up on the happens and goings on in each other's world. He recently left his job of five or so years with a big retail chain to start a business with his roommate.

He was so proud of his move. He had wanted to leave his job for a while and so when he stepped away onto the entrepreneurial path he was so proud, and a little anxious.

I think he's learning is that working for the man in a big company seems a lot easier than the early days of building a business. Nonetheless, he is feeling invigorated, hopeful and a little scared.

I'm hopeful for him, too, and a little worried. I don't yet see the sustainable market value of the business he started. But what perked up my ears most was that he and his partner are in a 50/50 relationship.

Having been in two 50/50-owned corporations, I don't believe they work. They may be good for friendships and romantic marriages, but as business arrangements, I don't like them. After two of them I decided I would never again do a straight 50/50 deal. I would either be a clear majority or minority owner. In both cases my past business partners and I turned out not to be compatible at all. Our values were sustantially different. (Sometimes it takes a while to find that out, and we were in business long before we knew enough about one another.) So, when we ran into difficulty, it was difficult to make decisions. (People with different values create conflict easily.) When we disagreed, we stalemated and nothing happened.

Ever accountant, attorney and businessperson I've met since--no joke--every one since--has said never do to a 50/50 deal. But, my friend did.

I didn't tell him the problems I had or the advice I received a little too late to be helpful. If I told him what I learned, it would be too late to be helpful to him, and may just smack of fearmongering. Instead I told him I'd been in two 50/50 business arrangements and would be happy to help him in any way should he run into any challenges, financial, managerial, negotiation or emotional...and wished him well on his new, exciting journey.

It's hard to watch someone live out a decision you disagree with. In this case it was already made, but the feeling is the same. Thing is, no man can walk another man's path. Sometimes the best we can do is walk the tow-path along side him, offering help when he needs it.

I hope my friend doesn't run into any of the problems I did. If he does though, I'll be there to help him out. One thing I learned is to skip any reference to his original decision and just help him in the present moment. Did he make a mistake? I don't know. That is for him to answer. It's not my place to judge his decisions. My job is to support him and help when I can. Sometimes that's the most you can do for someone...and when someone's in trouble...it's a lot.