Do happy Brand U’s make better and more profitable companies? If the answer is a demonstrable yes, then people really do matter. The Gallup survey discussed early in the chapter found there was a positive correlation between worker attitudes and a company’s financial results. The survey found that four attitudes correlate to higher profits: 1. …
To be happy, to be authentic, to be honest, to be of service.
Companies are simultaneously transforming and want to be ‘family friendly.’ These two trends sometimes seem incompatible. Each year, more companies are competing to be a poster company for Working Mother Magazine’s ‘Best Companies for Working Mothers.’ Brand U’s want more flexibility to balance work and family. However, companies want the banner that lists them in …
Technology is also blurring the lines among work, family, and leisure. Work and technology are portable, transparent, and mixable. And as more of us see technology as fun, Brand U’s are using it to improve their lives both at work and at home. But, work and life seem to be a zero-sum game – if …
Practice what you preach. Plautus, Roman Playwright
Should a leader be held accountable to a higher standard of moral and ethical conduct than their employees? This is a compelling question that is raising suspicion, fear, and hackles of many in the workplace and in government. The visible he ‘said – she said’ disputes between President Clinton and Monica Lewinsky have focused this …
Warm, endearing stories and poems are often not part of an organizational culture. Business war stories of an individual or a team developing a hot product, working outrageous hours to please customers, or blazing new profitable markets are more often the stuff of corporate myths and legends. What’s different now is that organizations are paying …
Japanese fathers spend an average of 17 minutes a day with their young children.” Jordan, Mary and Sullivan, Kevin, “Japan Pushes Dads to Spend More than 17 Minutes a Day with Kids,” The Oregonian, May 9, 1999, p. A16.
Lead the cultural change or transformation Make a case for cultural change Use organizational design as part of the business strategy Ensure the successful change effort is collaboratively, systemically, and competently managed Promote a continuous learning and adaptation environment Are keepers of the organizational vision.[i] [i] Sherwood, John J; Hoylman, Florence M, “The Total …
Quality, value, and customer service are often integrated into the vision, mission, values, and guiding principles. Some better-known Brand U guiding principles are: Nike: ‘Just do it’ and ‘I can’ Lockheed Martin: ‘Mission success’ Forbes Magazine: ‘Capitalist tool’ Hertz: ‘Exactly’