Bresnahan's Shorts* - March 2004

*Short topics

Old Habits Die Hard

I believe this is a familiar saying to all of us. While culling through my files earlier this year, I came upon some material on leadership and high performing teams. It got me thinking. If old habits die hard, it is no wonder that we are slow to adapt to change, unless we are in a great deal of pain and a change is better than continuing with the way things are. Maybe that is a reason why the phases of team building are: forming, storming, norming and performing.

Whether we are talking about ourselves as individuals or a group of people (team), we have to be:

• Clear about our vision
• Ready to make the investment (in time, energy and maybe money)
• Willing to take on or share the leadership
• Have a sense of importance or urgency
• Have good information that we trust and clarifies decisions
• Willing to take ownership for the change and the future outcomes

I recently started to read a book, Terms of Engagement, written by one of my grad school instructors, Dick Axelrod. He talked about having by-pass surgery and how difficult it was to make life-changing behaviors. He chose to make changes because it was better than the alternative. However, in the process, he rode a roller coaster until he could completely adapt to a new lifestyle, including diet and exercise.

So, it goes in our businesses. Yes, we need a vision/purpose but when we make changes we need to trust the information and experiences we have had to assure us that we are making a good decision, one that will lead us to a future we would like to be a part of. Sometimes, when we are busy tending to business and putting out fires (being tactical), we are not reflective or strategic. However, we need those moments of reflection to proceed.

I think a large part of this is trust. We need to trust that the information and experiences we have had are true and that the change we are pondering/exploring will lead us to a better place with better results. That is exactly what I think about the responsibility-based program I have written about for almost a year. More information keeps coming in e.g. over 70% of the work force is not engaged their work. (Ever wonder why?) The fact that such a culture change is needed in today's and tomorrow's, business environment becomes more evident everyday.

Give the Bresnahan Group a call so you can collect more information on the subject and can ponder on it. Then you can decide what you want your future to look like. See if you are ready to make a commitment to change a habit (a management practice), take on a new one and accept the consequences of a powerful and positive outcome.

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Thoughts to Ponder

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act, but a habit." -Aristotle

"The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook." -William James

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Back to Basics

"Once you start a job, finish it."
"Finish what you have begun."

The first quote is thanks to Mike Russo. The second is from my memory.

Finishing what you have begun is a hard thing for some people. I remember, as a child, it was hard for me. But I guess my parents taught me well and I persevered. I can do this now!!

Now learning also means commitment to me. We were taught that if you commit to something you have to stick with whatever it is. For my brother it meant playing football and the Boy Scouts (at least for the school year). For me, it was a summer job working with people with physical disabilities away from home. (That worked out so well I did it for four years!) As an adult, it has meant a job that wasn't always pleasant. It also means making a commitment to be on a committee only if I can contribute in some way and can do the job. Sometimes we experience bumps in a relationship but we can't quit. We must work to make it better and overcome obstacles.

No matter what it is, a job, volunteer work, a relationship, others are counting on us. When we don't finish the job others may be disappointed. This sounds like accountability or responsibility to me. These are both "hot" words in today's business world. We want others to be committed, accountable and responsible. The question is, are we? Certainly if we are passionate about the task it is easier to be committed and responsible. If we don't really care it is easier to walk away. However, that doesn't make the disappointment of others any less.

Most American workers are not "engaged" (loyal and productive) in their work (71% according to Gallup). They are not passionate or challenged. Most (55%) are just putting their time in. I guess they are finishing the job they started but not with any extra effort and probably not doing it as well as they could. Just think how that could be changed. Could the person decide himself what would make the job more exciting and meaningful? Could the boss create an environment that would make the work more meaningful and challenging? I know for a fact that the answer to both questions is "yes." Either way it takes some effort to change the environment so everyone wants to finish the job - be more committed, responsible, accountable.

Part of the equation is if we want to be responsible for our actions and ourselves or do we want to go around saying everyone and everything is responsible for our lives. We keep hearing about frivolous lawsuits and statements that no one is accountable any more. That certainly is a sad state of affairs. It can be different, at least one person at a time, starting with you. Remember, "Finish what you started." Be responsible, accountable and committed. That's something you can surely be proud of and be a role model for your children, grandchildren and co-workers.

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Recomended Reading

"Intrinsic Motivation at Work" by Kenneth Thomas

Learn about the psychological rewards that really motivate workers.

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More Information

For more information about any of these topics contact us at 505-922-1973 or email BresGroup @ 4u.net.

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