Harvard Business Professor, Clayton Christensen, made news this past week by asserting that within the next couple of decades half of America's colleges would be bankrupt.
Why?
Christensen believes the value represented by an on-line education will erode enrollment in the traditional four year universities; in other words, their business pattern has been disrupted.
What perhaps was more interesting was what Christensen found could not be disrupted. This from CNBC:
Fortunately, Christensen says that there is one thing that online education will not be able to replace. In his research, he found that most of the successful alumni who gave generous donations to their alma maters did so because a specific professor or coach inspired them.
Among all of these donors, "Their connection wasn't their discipline, it wasn't even the college," says Christensen. "It was an individual member of the faculty who had changed their lives."
"Maybe the most important thing that we add value to our students is the ability to change their lives," he explained. "It's not clear that that can be disrupted."
And there it is, the relationship is everything. I remember that when I was trying to select a college my uncle, a college prof, gave me his excellent advice; that really the pedigree of the college didn't matter as much as the relationship the student could have with the faculty.
The same is true of the workplace. You may work for a company with one of the best reputations, but if your boss and peers cannot conduct work with positive, nurturing relationships - that reputation is greatly diminished. Conversely, you may work for a little known company - but if you have great working relationships - the world is a beautiful (and productive - and more than likely, profitable) place.
The responsibility for this falls to each of us. Relationships, by their very nature, are reciprocal - meaning each of us has ownership. It is a privilege to have the responsibility to start and nurture positive working relationships; own that privilege and utilize it to its full advantage.
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My book "Courageous Questions, Confident Leaders" is available on Amazon Kindle.
Friday, November 24, 2017
Friday, November 17, 2017
How to Improve Your Life
From the get-go, my parents relentlessly taught me to thank people. It wasn't even an option. I admit that, as an adult, "Thank you" falls out of my mouth somewhat automatically; perhaps I'm not even aware that I'm saying it.
I know this, though: even without thought, it is better to thank people, even in the most casual of circumstances, than it is to not thank people. It is minimally, polite. In an age when we all seem to be on edge, politeness and courtesy are much needed antidotes
Upon reflection, however, it has become more than that to me. The expression of thanks humbles us; it is a reminder that we are beholden to others for what we have. As much as we may like to believe that we are self-made and self-sufficient and may not need others - that is not the reality. In our society, every day and almost every minute we are reliant upon each other. The expression of thanks acknowledges that teamwork.
The expression of thanks, then, also builds bonds between us. And again, in a particularly divisive period in our history, this linkage from one to another is a good thing. Even if it may be someone with whom we disagree, to express thanks. . .to admit that we are reliant upon them. . .is a very good exercise.
If you appreciate others expressing gratitude toward you - then you know the following is true. It's a good feeling to be thanked. It is an acknowledgment of all of you've done or who you are. That reinforcement, then, just wants us to be better people.
And here's the thing. . .being grateful makes each one of us better people. I know I feel better if I reach out beyond myself to express gratitude - I've not only reinforced the bonds that tie us together, but I have done something good for another person.
So, write a few thank you cards and put them on co-worker's keyboards. Take someone to coffee as an expression of gratitude. Unexpectedly go out of your way to shake someone's hand and thank them for all of their hard work and contributions.
You will improve their lives. . .and yours.
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My book "Courageous Questions, Confident Leaders" is available on Amazon Kindle.
I know this, though: even without thought, it is better to thank people, even in the most casual of circumstances, than it is to not thank people. It is minimally, polite. In an age when we all seem to be on edge, politeness and courtesy are much needed antidotes
Upon reflection, however, it has become more than that to me. The expression of thanks humbles us; it is a reminder that we are beholden to others for what we have. As much as we may like to believe that we are self-made and self-sufficient and may not need others - that is not the reality. In our society, every day and almost every minute we are reliant upon each other. The expression of thanks acknowledges that teamwork.
The expression of thanks, then, also builds bonds between us. And again, in a particularly divisive period in our history, this linkage from one to another is a good thing. Even if it may be someone with whom we disagree, to express thanks. . .to admit that we are reliant upon them. . .is a very good exercise.
If you appreciate others expressing gratitude toward you - then you know the following is true. It's a good feeling to be thanked. It is an acknowledgment of all of you've done or who you are. That reinforcement, then, just wants us to be better people.
And here's the thing. . .being grateful makes each one of us better people. I know I feel better if I reach out beyond myself to express gratitude - I've not only reinforced the bonds that tie us together, but I have done something good for another person.
So, write a few thank you cards and put them on co-worker's keyboards. Take someone to coffee as an expression of gratitude. Unexpectedly go out of your way to shake someone's hand and thank them for all of their hard work and contributions.
You will improve their lives. . .and yours.
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My book "Courageous Questions, Confident Leaders" is available on Amazon Kindle.
Friday, November 10, 2017
. . .and it's all about ME! The Dangers of the Me-Centric Leader.
Once I worked with an individual who consistently tried to make themselves the center of the universe. "I," "me," "my" were essentials in sentences. Any work accomplished by the team became self-credited to the leader. Insistently the team was referred to as "My people," until I just wanted to scream, old-testament style "Let MY PEOPLE go!"
Similarly, our president has a knack for making everything about him. For instance, his comments on foreign diplomats:
"The one that matters is me," Trump continued Thursday night. "I'm the only one that matters because when it comes to it, that's what the policy is going to be. You've seen that, you've seen it strongly."
Or when the individual he endorsed for the Virginia governor's race lost. . .
Gillespie "did not embrace me or what I stand for," Trump tweeted from Asia
Okay. So here are the problems associated with the Me-Centric leader:
1. The me-centric leader fairly screams: "Look at me, give me all of your attention, because basically I'm insecure at the core." No one really wants to follow someone who's insecure.
2. The me-centric leader effectively sucks all of the air out of the room; there is no oxygen left for the rest of us.
3. The me-centric leader disengages the remainder of the workforce. Translated: "If it's all about me - then it's not about you - and if it's not about you (or the team) then you cannot have a sense of ownership or responsibility." Organizationally - this is deadly.
4. Similarly, the me-centric leader leaves a whole lot of revenue/positive producing opportunity on the table by not including the remainder of the workforce. Great ideas are seldom the work of one; often great ideas are the work of many.
5. The me-centric leader makes all arrows point toward them: all of the energy is directed inward - there is no outbound energy. Ultimately that is a dynamic that makes everything and everyone surrounding the me-centric leader wither through a lack of nurturing.
6. And this is biggest challenge of all - the me-centric leader is living in an unrealistic world. In our societies - the message and the work has to be about all of us - not one of us.
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My book "Courageous Questions, Confident Leaders" is available on Amazon Kindle.
Friday, November 3, 2017
Truth and Will Among the Chaos
Observing the national scene over past months, it strikes me that ongoing chaos is both demoralizing and fatiguing. To quote Roseanne Roseannadanna ". . .if it ain't one thing it's another." Whether it's at work, at life or on the national scene. . .an unrelenting stream of craziness makes one just want to throw up their hands: "I quit."
But we can't - because then the chaos wins. There are two antidotes: truth and will.
The power of truth is undeniable; the search for truth is trickier. First of all, we must be committed to telling the truth - otherwise we are part of the problem. Secondly, we must be absolutely steadfast in finding the truth We must eschew that which is National Enquirer-esque; those broad, self-serving rumors which may or may not have a kernel of truth at the core. Instead we need to find facts, and utilize that which is foundational as our compass.
We must also spread the truth; I find that generally we are all too comfortable believing that which is said and in a sort of passive aggressive style refuse to refute that which is illegitimate.
Will. We must soldier on. In times when we feel that there is no hope, we must find hope. In times when we don't believe - we must find faith. And we must evangelize both of these. Chaos thrives in the quick sand of indetermination and failure; but in the light of sheer will and determination, ultimately chaos will fail - and we must believe in that.
These are the discussions of difficult times; we wish organizational dysfunction, game-playing, uncertainty and disorganization didn't exist. They do. They will continue to thrive unless there are those who have the integrity to abide and spread the truth. . .and have the determination to work for a better tomorrow.
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My book "Courageous Questions, Confident Leaders" is available on Amazon Kindle.
But we can't - because then the chaos wins. There are two antidotes: truth and will.
The power of truth is undeniable; the search for truth is trickier. First of all, we must be committed to telling the truth - otherwise we are part of the problem. Secondly, we must be absolutely steadfast in finding the truth We must eschew that which is National Enquirer-esque; those broad, self-serving rumors which may or may not have a kernel of truth at the core. Instead we need to find facts, and utilize that which is foundational as our compass.
We must also spread the truth; I find that generally we are all too comfortable believing that which is said and in a sort of passive aggressive style refuse to refute that which is illegitimate.
Will. We must soldier on. In times when we feel that there is no hope, we must find hope. In times when we don't believe - we must find faith. And we must evangelize both of these. Chaos thrives in the quick sand of indetermination and failure; but in the light of sheer will and determination, ultimately chaos will fail - and we must believe in that.
These are the discussions of difficult times; we wish organizational dysfunction, game-playing, uncertainty and disorganization didn't exist. They do. They will continue to thrive unless there are those who have the integrity to abide and spread the truth. . .and have the determination to work for a better tomorrow.
Like it? Share it!
My book "Courageous Questions, Confident Leaders" is available on Amazon Kindle.
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