Tag Archives: michael lee stallard

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Create a Culture Office to Promote Connection

Southwest-Airlines

#59 Create a Culture Office to Promote Connection

Research has shown that connection begins to breakdown when the number of individuals in an organization exceeds 150.  Establishing a culture office or center that reports to the CEO and promotes connection is a best practice.

For example, Southwest Airlines has a Culture Office that reports to the CEO. The Culture Office has 30 people and is responsible for promoting Southwest’s culture. In addition, there is a Culture Committee of 150 individuals who are spread throughout the company.

Texas Christian University (TCU) established the TCU Center for Connection Culture. Its vision is to make TCU the model for Connection Culture in higher education and the Center’s mission is to be the catalyst for intentional connection at TCU.

This is the fifty-ninth post in our series entitled “100 Ways to Connect.” The series highlights language, attitudes and behaviors that help you connect with others. Although the language, attitudes and behaviors focus on application in the workplace, you will see that they also apply to your relationships at home and in the community.

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To Connect, Share Your Stories

Honest-Conversation

#58 Share Your Stories, Be Open to Connect and Build Trust

The deepest connections are formed when you are appropriately open by communicating who you really are, what you really believe and your struggles in life.

When it will help another person and it’s appropriate, consider sharing what you’ve learned from past mistakes. This openness communicates humility and promotes connection and trust. If you are uncertain about when it is appropriate to be open in a particular context, seek the advice of trusted friends.

This is the fifty-eighth post in our series entitled “100 Ways to Connect.” The series highlights language, attitudes and behaviors that help you connect with others. Although the language, attitudes and behaviors focus on application in the workplace, you will see that they also apply to your relationships at home and in the community.

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Corporations: Lessons from a College Football Halftime

 

Enthusiasm and energy will be on full display this Saturday as the #6 TCU Horned Frogs football team host the #7 Kansas State Wildcats at 6:30 pm EDT on Fox.  During halftime, TCU will celebrate the 10th anniversary of “Frogs for the Cure” which began in 2005 when TCU athletics partnered with Susan G. Komen Greater Fort Worth to sponsor the first ever pink-out halftime presentation at a university football game.

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Lead Like a U.S. Marine

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Great leaders know that task excellence alone is not sufficient to achieve sustainable superior performance. They also know that relationship excellence alone is not sufficient in the end. Instead, truly great leaders realize the vital importance of both elements.

The dual focus of task and relationship excellence can be difficult for many leaders to grasp. In our daily lives, we see many illustrations of what it looks like to focus on task excellence and many illustrations of relationship excellence, but it is rare to find examples of leaders who demonstrate both.

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To Connect, Affirm Your Colleagues

Good-Job-Cookie

#57 Affirm Your Colleagues

When you become aware of something a colleague did well, encourage him/her by saying so in person or sending a note or email. A handwritten note can be especially meaningful given the rarity of receiving such notes in the age of instant communication.

Remember that some people like being recognized publicly while others prefer private praise. Try to match your method of encouragement with your colleague’s preferred style whenever possible.

This is the fifty-seventh post in our series entitled “100 Ways to Connect.” The series highlights language, attitudes and behaviors that help you connect with others. Although the language, attitudes and behaviors focus on application in the workplace, you will see that they also apply to your relationships at home and in the community.

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To Connect, Learn Team Strengths and Vulnerabilities

Wooden mannequins pushing puzzle pieces into the right place

#56 Know Your Team’s Strengths and Vulnerabilities

Have your direct reports take tests that identify their individual temperaments and strengths (e.g. Myers Briggs Personality Type, Gallup StrengthsFinder, VIA Inventory of Strengths, etc.).

In E Pluribus Partners/Connection Culture Group’s work with teams, we often have team members take several tests and share the results with their teammates. We assess the team to determine its collective strengths and vulnerabilities in light of the work they are responsible for completing. You should do the same.

For the greatest impact, hire an outside facilitator to lead this assessment.

This is the fifty-sixth post in our series entitled “100 Ways to Connect.” The series highlights language, attitudes and behaviors that help you connect with others. Although the language, attitudes and behaviors focus on application in the workplace, you will see that they also apply to your relationships at home and in the community.

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Help Your Direct Reports Create Personal Development Plans

Coworkers who are friends at work talking

#55 Create Personal Development Plans

People are more engaged when they are striving and progressing toward goals.

Work with your direct reports to create personal development plans. Help them discover wise goals to advance their careers. Put disciplines in place to help them achieve these goals. Doing so will boost their effectiveness and their connection to you.

This is the fifty-fifth post in our series entitled “100 Ways to Connect.” The series highlights language, attitudes and behaviors that help you connect with others. Although the language, attitudes and behaviors focus on application in the workplace, you will see that they also apply to your relationships at home and in the community.

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How to Become Indispensable to Your Clients

Client-Relationships_Handshake

What makes you indispensable to a client? So indispensable that she treats you as a valued partner and pays you well for a sustained period of time? The obvious answer is to have clearly demonstrable expertise in areas she values. This alone will open doors and close deals for you.

It won’t ensure long-term loyalty, however.

To become truly indispensable requires a human connection that nurtures trust. Integral to this type of connection is Shared Identity, Shared Empathy and Shared Understanding. 

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Connect Through Team Activities

Volunteers at Soup Kitchen

#54 Take Time for Team Activities

Consider activities that you can do together as a team. Pixar Animation has Pixar University to help create connection among employees.  Each employee has the option to attend up to four hours of classes each week. The university offers more than 90 classes from filmmaking to drawing. The motto on Pixar University’s crest is a Latin phrase meaning “alone no longer.”

Zappos gives its managers a budget for team-building activities. Team activities done away from work help people to truly focus on one another rather than be distracted by being in the workplace. Doing something fun together helps people to like one another and leads to more cooperation.

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Is It Ever Wise to Swear at Work?

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By Michael Lee Stallard and Katie Russell

You discover a careless error your administrative assistant made in printing a proposal you need to present to a potential new client in a few hours. Should you swear to express your frustration?

How about when you are speaking to the people you lead who are clearly not giving their best efforts?

How about if you are a woman in a male-dominated culture and you want to fit in?  Would cursing be wise in that situation?

A recent Quartz.com article argues that in circumstances like these, swearing is ok. We disagree. Let’s look at the rationale presented.