THEME: Some Thoughts On Current and Emerging Trends
FOCUS: The Power of Joyful Service
Tuesday morning: September 7, 2010
Dear friends,
Regularly now, I am finding more and more people who lack passion and joy about the work they are doing. Years ago, some one told me that “it is only work if you want to be some place different.” Right now, it appears that more and more people want to be some place different. They are not happy and they are not passionate. It is just another day at the office, doing another day’s worth of paperwork. It is another day of watching the clock and hoping the day will be over quickly. The sad part about this situation is that more and more people are experiencing this and thinking it is the new normal in business.
It is time that we rekindle the experience of making a difference at work. We need to enjoy what we are working on and be more engaged. We need to rekindle a sense of purpose and passion which unites us to rise to our current challenges and meet them head on.
Gallup research in the book, Married To The Brand: Why Consumers Bond With Some Brands For Life, Gallup Press, 2005, points out that “engaged employees create engaged customers.“ Given the current economy, we need as many engaged customers as we can get. But we must realize that the source of engaged customers is more engaged employees. The later happens before the former happens. And the former happens when we have more engaged leaders and managers. But many leaders and managers are overwhelmed and unimpressed by how their organizations have responded to the current economic challenges and subsequent organizational changes. Routinely, they witness status quo trumping innovative strategic solutions.
As a strategic planner, I have observed a change to this situation in certain organizations. In these unique work places, their strategic plans have one element that many others do not have, namely organized community service and regular philanthropic actions. Recognizing that we live in a very interconnected world, these companies choose to invest staff time and corporate dollars in helping others in their community. They recognize that we live in an interconnected world where service to others is not only good for the receiver but also good for the giver. As James C. Hunter in his book, The Servant: A Simple Story About the True Essence of Leadership, Crown Business, 1998, wrote, “Long ago a man named Syrus said that it is of no profit to have learned well if you neglect to do well.”
For us here today, doing well means reengaging in the communities where we live. We need to seek out opportunities to make a difference and reengage in the life of our communities. By doing this on an on-going basis, it will be good for our communities and good for the company. But most important it will rekindle a sense of passion and joy in the lives of those who we work with on a daily basis.
This week, support volunteer community service and recommit to regular philanthropy.
Have a great week,
Geery
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