You always have to work on listening to others. Always be emphasizing a learning environment. You always have to be talking about getting better every day. Challenge yourself … have you got enough ideas, do you have everyone’s input, have you listened enough.
Don’t just start and jump off the bridge … get some data before you jump. Understand where you’re going and why.
Listening is so important – knowing you don’t have all the answers … always searching for better ideas, better ways.
This idea of “continuous improvement” is not just a slogan … it’s real. Use it as an incentive, not a bully stick. Make it interesting … collaborative … shared … engaged … involved … productive … fun and important. Its how you get people to come to work … get them motivated … keep them motivated … develop a loyal workforce.
Focus on looking at how you can do what you are doing better. Challenge everyone … challenge each other … how do we do things … and why … can we do it better. How do we socialize? Socializing builds camaraderie and teams. More good ideas come up in informal gatherings than in formal meetings … and generally from further down in the organization where the rubber meets the road and it’s most impactful.
No one has all the answers … you need every brain in the game working to get better continuously. It’s not good for the leader to come to the party with the answer. The purpose of the leader is to bring up issues and then get everybody’s input to make sure the final answer is the best you can come up with.
Next Blog: Do you know where you stand in your company?
© Phil Hoffman 2014. All rights reserved
I Am Phil Hoffman 