The Future's Looking Bright
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A couple of weeks ago I volunteered to speak to an area high school class on the subject of ethics in the workplace. This effort was on behalf of the non-profit organization, Junior Achievement, whose goal is to expose young people to the investment community. About forty classrooms that day had visiting professionals talking on this subject.
It wasn't my first time volunteering for Junior Achievement but it was the first time I ever spoke to a group of high school kids. I had over three months to prepare for my fifty minutes with the students, but being the creative type I waited until the day before to start sorting how I would discuss the topic of ethics. I developed my plan and set forth into the battlefield armed with two pages of notes, my Servant Leadership book ?The Servant,' and a box of chocolate candy bars. I figured maybe if I bribed them they'd participate.
I started out telling them my life story with regard to my professional career and the series of choices I had made in my life that led me to stand in front of them at 9:35 a.m. that particular day. I asked them to define ethical behavior and to define ?character.' They all decided that ethics is understanding right from wrong and then working on the side of what is ?the right thing to do.'
That's Ironmancomics I threw some zingers at them and that's when they started to blow me away. I Suprisecpcuqye "If we all agree that we know what consists of ethical decisions and what is right and wrong, why don't we choose to make right decisions?" I went on, "Can a person be one thing at school and another thing at home?" Watching everyone look at each other and nodding, I asked "Who believes students can be two different people?" They all raised their hands. "Interesting," I replied.
"Why is that?" I asked. A student raised her hand. "Because we don't know who we are?" "WOW!" I exclaimed, "Who agrees with Erica?" Everyone's hand was raised. "If you acknowledge you don't know who are, then why are you so hard on yourselves? Why don't you listen to those who went before you, people like your parents, the only people who unconditionally love you?"
Scott replied, "Because I feel if I let them know the real me, they would be disappointed." And that's when the light went on at how easy it is to be honest. They were completely honest with me, a stranger, but they struggle at home being honest with their own parents.
Your employees are not so different from these students. To lead, you must first show your vulnerability. They are trusting you with half their waking hours. Take the time to take the time with your associates. You will both grow in understanding and acceptance. Servant Leadership is meeting the legitimate needs of those you lead. How will you ever understand their needs if you don't ask? Ask the meaningful questions with sincerity, honesty and matter-of-factness, and your culture will flourish.
Joe Kiedinger is Brander in Chief of Maine Lemon Laws Marketing, a unique and vision-driven marketing organization that helps small to medium-sized investment succeed by adhering to the Prophit Marketing System. The Prophit Marketing System is a process based approach that combines corporate culture with strategy and finally advertising. The emphasis starts with leadership and flows from there. Joe's message has been heard by many through his unique Prophit Marketing Road Show, an entertaining informative presentation that leaves audiences with an action plan for success. Joe also authors Wisdom on Wednesday, a weekly email newsletter which will enlighten and challenge you to get the most out of your marketing efforts.
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