One of the key skills in consulting is being able to assess people and organizations quickly and efficiently. Professional consultants are constantly honing their assessment skills and abilities. However, when it comes to social media, it is easy to determine if an organization is not leveraging the power of Facebook in an effort to build relationships with current and future customers.
1) The only thing people talk about on Facebook is what they're doing for lunch or dinner!
2) Our policy prohibits employees from "playing around" in Facebook on a company computer or on company time!
3) We delegated our Facebook Page to __________ because they are under 30 and understand that computer stuff!
4) We measure our Facebook success by the number of "likes" we get!
5) We tried it for a couple of weeks and it didn't do anything for us!
Trust me! If your leadership team is guilty of any of these, you are really missing out on the Facebook movement.
In a recent survey, over 57% of the respondents indicated they spent more time talking to people online than in real life. Like it or not, social media is where the "talking" is happening. Social media success is commonly defined by how effectively you build relationships and social capital. It's not about what people are doing for lunch. Unless, of course, you're talking about an event which your company is sponsoring.
If you are not leveraging the power of your team by encouraging them to be Facebook ambassadors and creating a social media policy which describes key dos and don'ts for them to follow, you're missing out.
Let me ask you this: Would you allow your Facebook page administrator to appear on the noon news to represent your company or organization? Would you hold them accountable to develop and maintain customer relationships? If your response was no, you're missing out!
Facebook isn't a quick fix. Facebook success will not come overnight. In fact, success will be an ongoing venture. Furthermore, meaningful measurements are critical to creating a successful Facebook strategy.
When it comes to Facebook, if you believe the aforementioned five points, I bet you're missing out!
Did Screw Dad Screw Son???
Being the 5th generation in the family business, Hyland Screw Machine Products, doesn't guarantee a job. Dan Hyland, whose great-grandfather founded the automotive supplier in 1928, has been making some pretty tough decisions lately and lay offs are one of them.
Due to production cutbacks, Hyland was faced with giving some of his workers their pink-slips. Since his son is one of the newest employees in the company, Dan thought it was only right to lay him off in the first round as well.
It was the right thing to do Dan said. And moreover, when he told his son about his impending lay off, the son told his father that it wouldn't be right for him to stay on while other good workers were let go.
At The CPO Institute, our primary focus is on values. Companies and people that have well established values and live by those values are successful and sustainable.
Dan Hyland and his son live by a set of time tested values. Being the 5thgeneration in the family business, Hyland Screw Machine Products, doesn't guarantee a job, but it does guarantee a foundation of solid core values.
No, Dan didn't screw his son…he helped him learn a valuable lesson. Dan appears to be a man that lives through his values and is a great business man and Dad.
Life is tough sometimes and it is filled with choices. Live by a defined set of values and Don't Just Do It!
For more on this story check out the local TV report from Dayton, OH on Hyland Screw Machine Products.
Leaders-Is Your Lift Greater than Your Drag?
I agree with everything Waldo says, but I think there is much more to leadership. What do you think? In your opinion what are other key roles or attributes great leaders exhibit?
Don't forget to follow me on Twitter.
After my early morning workout, I joined a friend for breakfast. It was supposed to be a quickie then off to other errands. However, when he asked what I thought about the plight of today's leaders when facing the challenge of managing a multigenerational workforce…well let's just say the conversation required a healthy tip for our server.
If you want to read an article, in which yours truly is quoted, check out this article entitled Coming of Age in Corporate America. This article is very interesting and views the problem from many different perspectives. Whether generational collaboration is a priority for you or not, it is something for all of us to think about…millennials and boomers. Check it out and let me know what you think!
Great poached eggs and conversation!
Occasionally when consulting with Boards of Directors, especially on matters requiring a vote, it is necessary to recuse or withdraw a member from a position of judging so as to avoid any bias or appearance thereof. This past week as the Senate debated the automotive bridge loan, I watched with a tremendous amount of frustration as Senator Shelby of Alabama continued to unabashedly destroy the domestic automotive industry. The fate of our entire nation rests in the hands of a man that simply wants the Big 3 to fail.
Why would that be a priority to Shelby?
At the end of this entry, I have given you a link to see what automotive industry currently resides in Alabama. When you look at this list, it appears as though you might be reviewing an industry site in Japan. Here are some of the automotive companies in Alabama; Mercedes, Honda, Hyundai, Toyota, Yachiyo Manufacturing, Kwang-Sung, Hwashin and more. Not one General Motors, Ford or Chrysler. Now it is abundantly clear why Shelby has that continuous grin that looks strangely familiar to the one my cat gets when she has destroyed another Christmas ornament.
Admittedly, in the last ten years these, non-Big 3, companies have brought 35,000 new jobs to Alabama. Again, let me remind you that I talk to people about the need and importance of setting their personal and professional priorities and Shelby has his; protect 35,000 jobs in Alabama and kill 2-3 million automotive associated jobs elsewhere in the United States.
lately. When he makes statements like that, it's obvious he also hasn't taken a test drive in the Malibu, G-6 or Mustang. The Big 3 also offer some of the best trucks in the world, and people want them!
Don't get me wrong! Many American companies lack the true leadership to get through tough times. An old Economics Professor at U of M told us there are two ways to grow profit: Increase revenue or decrease cost. Many of today's "leaders" take the ostensibly easy way and cut costs. Layoff people, cut quality and/or quantity, reduce programs and training…cut, cut, cutting their way to profitability. Significant changes in the leadership must be made and perhaps a strong "Car Czar" is a good idea.
Don't get me started on greed! There is more than enough to go around. Company executives and the bonuses are merely out of control. The UAW has "United" itself out of working on autos. Both sides better get real, real quick. Everybody needs to cut back, but not just in automotive. Everything from Dockers to Doctors needs to reduce their pricing. Greed is aplenty and we will not survive if we allow it to cloud our vision as we set our priorities and make important decisions.
That brings me back to the Senator from Alabama.
This article might likely cost me a speaking gig or two because it will upset someone in a key decision making position. But, in difficult times, we ALL need to stand up for what we believe. Whenever we find ourselves entrusted with a leadership position, we cannot let greed and individual priorities get in the way of doing what is right and just for the greater good, not just for my business, or your industry, or the Senator Shelby's state.
Another point must be made in this regard. If Carl Levin, D-MI were in a leadership role on this committee, I would also recommend he remove himself from facilitating the discussion on this topic. He too would have such a vested interest in the outcome that his judgment would be clouded and overly biased.
In closing, let me say it is apparent that Senator Shelby believes in doing what's good for Alabama and has made that his priority. He certainly is not focused on what is necessarily good for the people of the entire United States.
Senator, shouldn't you recuse yourself?
Since I commonly talk to multigenerational workforces and associations, a free-lance journalist recently contacted me for my opinion on how people can overcome leadership and work-related challenges. See the article here: http://www.howsmatter.com/coming-of-age-in-corporate-america/ Brooke has done a nice job of covering a multitude of perspectives and she sites Jack Welsh, me (T.J. Wisner) and several other experts in the article.
Bottom line, for the average worker in America today, its more important than ever that you Be Your Own Chief Performance Officer.
NSA's current President Sam Silverstein challenged us to; "Do the right things consistently, based on strategic intent." Pretty solid direction. Furthermore, the President Elect, Phil Van Hooser reminded us all that things won't always go as planned or expected. Therefore, we need to be flexible and forgiving.
Overall, the event was simply outstanding and impactful. Thanks to everyone, and I do mean everyone, who had a role in delivering such an exciting program. Now it's time to set my priorities as the incoming President for NSA Michigan.