Category Archives: Leadership

Starbucks’ Sweet Smell of Success

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cap-and-gownWith the announcement this week that Starbucks is partnering with Arizona State University (ASU) Online to offer Starbucks workers college tuition reimbursement, it positions both Starbucks and its workers in a favorable light. The coffee giant’s College Achievement Plan provides a win/win for both employer and workers.

How it positions Starbucks: This new plan complements the Starbucks mission: “To inspire and nurture the human spirit - one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time.” It positions Starbucks as an industry leader, encouraging its workers who work 20 hours or more a week (either part time or full time) to complete their college education through convenient, online courses. It also demonstrates that Starbucks is paying it forward, investing in the future of its workers. And of course it solidifies the iconic Starbucks brand by building a stronger workforce since workers will remain at Starbucks over the long haul.

How it positions Starbucks partners (they are not called employees): It encourages partners to enroll in college and apply what they learn directly to their work. The more partners learn outside the realm of their daily jobs, the more well-rounded they become. As they continue through college, they may work their way up in the organization. When they apply the “pay it forward” philosophy to their own lives, they become more philanthropic and involved in their communities.

Some are criticizing this plan, claiming it creates another corporate monopoly. Within the College Achievement Plan, when partners complete their freshman and sophomore online courses through ASU, they will be given a discount. Completion of their junior and senior year coursework is fully paid by Starbucks. How refreshing for a corporate employer to offer tuition assistance to its workers. Wouldn’t it be nice if more employers invested in their employees’ futures?

What investments are you making in others and in yourself? How are you paying forward?

In Angelou There Was an Angel

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MayaAngelouThe world is still mourning the loss of the humanitarian and inspirational leader Maya Angelou. Some might say she had too much talent for one person, for one lifetime, yet she wore each with uncompromising grace and dignity: social activist, author, poet, actress, dancer and advocate, an eloquent elocutionist, whose words mesmerized and delighted. While her commanding presence filled any space with resonant sound, she remained humble and one of us. She invited us to sit at the table and enjoy open dialogue and debate.

Maya Angelou’s inimitable, expressive voice accompanied me on a long business trip to Indiana a number of years ago. I felt like I had a friend along for the ride as I listened to Hallelujah! The Welcome Table. Through my own laughter and tears, she made the trip go by quickly. Her lived experience taught many lessons. While this international treasure is gone, her words and her voice will live on forever, inspiring and motivating people to live their lives to the fullest, to stand up for what they believe in and let their voices be heard.

As a tribute to one of the most influential role models in my life and in the lives of millions of others, I offer this simple tribute to the great Maya Angelou:

MotherSisterFriend to all whose lives she touched, across the miles and around the globe, she reminded us of the importance of compassion, joy and hope.

Angel on earth – it’s in her name – she embodied a heavenly spirit with words offering a protected, safe haven from life’s struggles.

Youthful enthusiasm for life, no matter what age she was, she looked to each day as a gift.

Abundant Acceptance of all people, regardless of age, nationality, gender, race, social status, income level, education or orientation.

Advocate for society’s nameless, faceless and voiceless; she recognized their plight and encouraged their voices to be heard.

Nurturing spirit, she guided us through the peaks and valleys of our lives and offered us an oasis of food for thought.

Grace, amazing, was her true essence, through which her every experience, revelation and celebration was revealed.

Eloquent words – volumes – embraced us and drew us into her comforting bosom for quiet reflection, a respite from busy or troubled lives.

Love and Light emanated from her soul, making people feel like they were worthy of loving themselves and also of being loved and valued.

Optimist for possibilities and potential, she rose above life’s burdens to reveal the strength and tenacity of the human spirit.

United Nations embodied in one person, Maya Angelou represented the collective conscience of our global society.

May her light continue to shine in each and every one of us.

How Influential Are You?

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RedRibbonCutOxford Dictionary defines influence as: “The effect a person or thing has on another; moral ascendancy or power; a thing or person exercising such power.”

Can a person have power and no influence? Yes. Can a person have influence and no power? No. In order to have influence, you must have the power to make the influence work. Can a person combine power and influence? Yes. This is where the real dynamism happens. Power and influence complement each other when handled with grace. Influential people are those who have the ability to get things done, whether they are doing things themselves or encouraging others to get the work accomplished.

As an influential person, people listen to you, they know you will get the job done beyond your own abilities and you can be trusted. If you want to understand how influential you are, observe how often people ask you to join a committee or task force. When they do make the ask, ask them why they thought of you to serve in that role. Their answer will provide you with some insights on how they perceive your talents or skills. Another way to test how influential you are? Call someone you know and see if s/he will take your call! If you are continuously rerouted to another person, you will know you have little to no influence with that person.

Being influential and using that power is based on what you know (your level of knowledge), who you know (who you are connected to), who they know (who they are connected to) and your style of leadership (how you get things done right and within a reasonable amount of time). Pay attention to who trusts your advice when you share information and make recommendations. That will reveal to you whom you influence.

Ask yourself this question: Who do I currently influence? Who would I like to influence and why?

 

How Resourceful Are You?

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arrowsupdownMy parents, who lived through the Great Depression, instilled the value of resourcefulness within me at a very young age. To this day, it is one of my top values. From the time I was a child, I found a way to recycle/repurpose long before it became fashionable. Yet the term takes on a slightly different meaning in the professional world. How can you be resourceful in your work environment?

Resourcefulness in the workplace is vitally important to an organization’s success. The Center for Creative Leadership identified resourcefulness as one of the top five skills a leader must possess in its 2009 study, The Leadership Gap. Within the study, resourcefulness was identified as “working effectively with top management.”

What value has resourcefulness brought to companies and organizations in the past five years? The most recent recession forced many to tighten their belts and be more resourceful, yet, what does that mean? In my opinion, being resourceful at work also includes:

  • Involving key contributors in strategic decisions
  • Honoring organizational priorities
  • Creatively pursuing options and possibilities
  • Including some new voices in the conversation, especially those who are rarely asked or who may get lost within the organization’s hierarchy
  • Knowing where to go for answers
  • Asking tough questions
  • Considering new solutions to age-old problems
  • Engaging workers in the mindset of “sustainability”

Being known at work as someone who is resourceful can position you as a leader who cares about the company, its mission and its people. How can you become more resourceful at work?

 

 

Be an Experience Creator

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BlondeGirlExcitedOf the many roles that you play in your life, did you know that you can also play the role of Experience Creator? What is an Experience Creator, you ask? Let me create two scenarios for you. Imagine this:

Scenario One: You arrive at the office with your espresso latte in one hand and briefcase in the other. You want to get to your desk quickly so you can check to see if the meeting time you requested with the Regional Vice President is a go. You have worked really hard on this project and are eager to share your thoughts with the RVP. All you can think about is your ideas. You are focused on those ideas, almost obsessed about them. You can’t get them out of your head. As you breeze into the office, so focused, and so determined to get to your desk, you don’t hear it, you don’t see it and you don’t experience it: The cheerful “Good morning!” from your department assistant. In fact, every morning you are so focused on what you are thinking that you miss her hellos. That simple “Good morning” that she shares with you every day is her way of being an Experience Creator. An Experience Creator creates a positive, even memorable, experience for other people.

What is the result of your not acknowledging the assistant’s greeting every morning? She thinks you don’t like her. In fact, she shares with one of your co-workers that she thinks you don’t like her. “She adores you,” your co-worker replies. Your co-worker decides to share this important piece of information with you because she thinks it’s something you need to know. She’s right. You are so appreciative that she shared this information with you that you vow to make a change the next day.

Scenario Two: You arrive at the office with your usual espresso latte in one hand and briefcase in the other. You pause before you enter the building. You take a deep breath and consciously feel the air entering your body. As you walk, you are aware of everything around you. As you enter your department, you make it a point to stop at your department administrative assistant’s desk, smile and say, “Good morning, Haley!” Now you are the Experience Creator.

Think about the many people who you come in contact with on a daily basis. Customers. Co-workers. Friends. What kind of experience you are creating for them? Is it positive or negative? Are you friendly or guarded? When you remind yourself that you are an Experience Creator, it will completely change how you see others and ultimately how you see yourself. When you create a positive experience for others, it positions you as a professional who cares.

Practice saying this new mantra each day: “I am an Experience Creator!”

Plant a Seed of Hope

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SeedlingWhen was the last time you planted a seed of hope in someone else’s life?

When I was growing up, my dad called me his “Yardbird” because I helped him with outdoor chores. He instilled in me at that early age the knowledge that any seed that is planted can grow into something beautiful when it is nurtured. Every day I watched those seeds grow and change. Every day I hoped to see something new.

Now many years later, as a Master Gardener, I have the privilege of planting seeds of hope in the lives of some individuals who are new to gardening. This year I chose to volunteer with the Cleveland Crops program, a partnership among the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities, Ohio State University Extension Service, Master Gardeners of Cuyahoga County and others. This urban farm program educates, trains and employs individuals with developmental disabilities so they can lead productive lives.

During our first training session last week, we Master Gardeners provided information and answered questions about basic planting and watering techniques. In the coming weeks, we will teach other aspects of gardening to willing participants. When asked if they were excited about the hope of getting involved in gardening, many of the participants enthusiastically said “Yes!”

In the world today, we must remind ourselves to put aside our own needs and focus on others who need our time, attention and expertise. There are individuals within our own communities who simply want a chance, to prove that they can contribute and be part of something greater than just themselves.

Last week, I planted a seed of hope in every person I met. What seeds of hope can you plant in someone else’s life?

Is Humility Hip?

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UnknownWith the recent announcement that Pope Francis was honored by Time Magazine as its Person of the Year, it begs the question, Is humility hip?

I doubt that the average person today ponders the meaning of the word humility much, let alone embraces its virtues. Society is more likely to reward materialism, greed, vanity and pride. How refreshing to know that there are still some people in the world today who not only value humility…they live it. The pontiff’s practicing humility demonstrates his concern for the greater good rather than living the good life himself.

Humility is defined as: The state or quality of being humble. Humble is defined as: Having or showing a consciousness of one’s shortcomings; lowly; unpretentious; to lower in condition or rank; to lower in pride; make modest. (Reference: Webster’s New World Dictionary).

Consider how different the world would be if leaders practiced humility. For one thing, they would admit their flaws, their mistakes, their humanity. They would practice transparent communication and eliminate hidden agendas. They would lead by example. They would think of others first. Rather than tell us how great they are, they would recognize and reward greatness in everyone. As a result, we could come together on common ground and work in the spirit of collaboration and cooperation. It would be like a breath of fresh air.

I, for one, support the notion that humility is hip. It would be grand to live in a world where humility is king (or Pope). It begins with self-reflection and one question: How am I practicing humility in my life?

Nelson Mandela: Mentor to the World

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MandelaCroppedThere is not a more fitting capstone to this series on mentoring than ending with a tribute to Nelson Mandela, former president of South Africa and Nobel Peace Prize recipient, a man who was — and remains — a mentor to the world.

Qualities: Nelson Mandela possessed many endearing qualities. As a humanitarian and peacemaker, he gave a voice to human rights and demonstrated the capacity of the human spirit. As he fought to end apartheid in South Africa, he united people not only in his country but also around the world. His carefully structured messages were spoken from his lived experience and the heart. As he advocated for social justice, freedom and equality, his actions and intellect positioned him as a powerful world leader. Even in his later years, Nelson Mandela founded The Elders, a group of seasoned global leaders, to work together on human rights issues and world peace.

Quotes:

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

“Lead from the back — and let others believe they are in front.”

“For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”

“Courage is not the absence of fear — it is inspiring others to move beyond it.”

“There is no passion to be found playing small — in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.”

“If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner.”

“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”

Questions: Reviewing Nelson Mandela’s purpose-driven life, I am inspired to pose several questions for all of us to consider as we move our lives forward in a more purposeful way:

What voice lies dormant within me that needs to come out? On whose behalf can I speak or serve as an advocate?

How can I treat others with greater dignity and respect?

What contributions can I make to my community, my country or the world? To enhance education? To eliminate poverty? To feed the hungry? To model sustainability? To live in peace?

What small changes can I make in my life, every day, to become a more positive role model for others?

What bitterness or negativity can I rise above and begin living my life more fully and wholly? Who do I need to begin building positive relationships with…whether at home or at work?

When you find yourself struggling with a big question, a challenge, or an altercation, ask yourself, “How can the wisdom of Nelson Mandela guide me with courage and grace?”