Category: Commentary

What’s the eighth most important thing I learned in 2016?

Insightful Thought – One of my clients has an important reminder tacked to the bulletin board in his office. “The Dalai Lama, when asked what surprised him most about humanity, answered: ‘Man. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.'”

Here is the ninth most important thing I learned this year:

Lasting Words – The best quote I discovered in 2016 is from decades ago: “If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea.” It’s attributed to a writer whose classic you probably read in school. The Little Prince is the fourth bestselling book ever. You might not know that 15 months after publication, French author and aviation pioneer Antoine de Saint-Exupéry perished in a plane crash while flying a reconnaissance mission during World War II.

Each December, I pause to share with my newsletter readers the ‘Top 10 Things’ I learned during the year. May peace and love be on your doorstep in the New Year… as we begin with Lesson #10:

Better Instructions – Clear communication is essential to achieving desired business results… and sometimes what you think you say isn’t what others hear. At a strategic planning meeting I facilitated, the CEO kicked things off with this story: “Early in my career, I launched a facility in the Middle East that manufactured storage tanks. The first week, at the end of one day, I told the night crew, ‘Never paint the tanks on the inside.’ The next morning I arrived and discovered they had taken two tanks outside and painted them amidst the blowing desert dust.”

In September 2014, after Green Bay dropped to 1-2 on the season, quarterback Aaron Rodgers – during an ESPN radio interview – told fans: “Five letters here just for everybody out there in Packer-land: R-E-L-A-X. Relax. We’re going to be OK.” The team won 11 of the next 13 games… and made it to the NFC Championship before falling to Seattle.

We’re now three weeks since America awakened on November 9 to learn Donald Trump is the president-elect. It’s been a dynamic 21 days as people express their disappointment, excitement, frustration, joy, anxiety, hopefulness, uncertainty, confidence, anger, happiness, fear, comfort, concern, anticipation.

Last night, Mr. Trump had dinner with Mitt Romney – one of his most outspoken pre-election critics – and it appears he’s considering the 2012 Republican candidate for secretary of state. It’s as if there is a disruption in the space-time continuum… one year later than Doc Brown encountered in Back to the Future III. Up is down. Left is right. Backward is forward.

Mr. Trump’s words and actions from years past are well documented. What he said and how he treated people during the run-up to the election were right there for everyone to see. Yet, even some of my closest friends, when telling me why they were going to vote for him, said: “I’m confident he’ll change once he takes office.”

Immediately after the election, my daughters said they are scared. While I know this country is bigger than any one person – we survived the Civil War, assassinations, two World Wars, the resignation of a president, the Great Depression and everything else that’s ever occurred – it’s too soon for me to hug them and say, “Relax, we’re going to be OK.”

We’re 51 days until the inauguration. I’m praying President Trump is different than the man we’ve seen thus far, because in four years we won’t have Marty McFly available to journey back in time and fix things.

You hire someone with expectations he’ll be with you a long time. Sometimes that works and he makes it a career – you look like a genius. Other times he leaves for a different position – you’re disappointed. Then there are times things don’t work out – and you decide a termination is in the organization’s best interest. You toss and turn the night before, get into work early to deliver the hard news, and get on with finding a replacement.

Two days ago, my alma mater fired head football coach Charlie Strong after three seasons. While he changed the culture among the student-athletes – every one has received or is on track for receiving his degree – the number of losses on the field were unacceptable at a university that considers itself college football elite.

In my January 2014 newsletter – a few weeks after he was hired – I wrote:

“Five decades after the Civil Rights Amendment, Charlie Strong becomes the first African American coach of a men’s athletic program at UT. ‘I don’t ever want to look at is as being the first,’ he said at an introductory press conference. ‘I want to look at is as I’m a coach and that’s the way I want to be treated.'”

UT-Austin president Gregory Fenves and athletics director Mike Pence wanted their coach to succeed for many reasons – and were patient until the end of this season’s finale. However, like in any business, results matter… and it became clear after three straight losses that a change was necessary.

Sometimes being in charge means making the hard call. That’s a primary role of leadership. It’s also why some days leaders don’t look forward to getting out of bed.