Eric Jacobson On Management And Leadership

Sometimes when you are leading an organization or business and struggling to articulate your core values, it helps to see how others have stated theirs. In past postings I've shared Marriott's core values.  Below are the 10 core values of Zappos.com, a company founded in 1999 with the goal of becoming the premiere destination for online shoes.  Now, it is much more than just an online shoe store, and it's known for its unwavering focus on superior customer service. Deliver WOW through service Embrace and drive change Create fun and a little weirdness Be adventurous, creative and open-minded Pursue growth and learning Build open and honest relationships with communication Build a positive team and family spirit Do more with less Be passionate and determined Be humble I like these because they are stated with no fancy words or stuffy jargon.  They clearly guide employees.  They quickly paint a picture of what the company is all about...

I'm a big fan of the books authored by Leigh Branham.  He recently shared his findings from his latest book, " Re-Engage: How America's Best Places To Work Inspire Extra Effort In Extraordinary Times ." What he found after studying 10,000 employers is that the senior leaders at the best performing companies during these tough economic times are doing these three things to maximize engagement with their employees : Developing a clear and credible plan for, and path to, success Making sure the plan is clearly communicated from top to bottom Seeking and welcoming every idea for making the plan a reality and delivering more value (e.g. big and small improvements, new ideas and suggestions for innovation.) Without these actions and in the absence of communication from management, Branham says employees create their own information, which is often worse than the reality. The three things one should do may see like common sense and may appear easy to do, but it's...

Great ideas for your business can come at anytime from anyone on your team. So, as a leader, be sure you dig deep for ideas, and provide an easy way for all employees to make suggestions. Did you know that the idea for the microwave oven came to the inventor, Percy L. Spencer, when a chocolate bar melted in his shirt pocket as he stood in front of a magnetron, the microwave tube used to power radar? Carl Magee invented the parking meter when back in 1932 the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce asked Magee to solve problems caused by all-day parkers in the downtown business district. To jump-start your idea sharing program, encourage employees to: Tell you the obstacles they encounter Share what they are hearing from satisfied and unhappy (or lost) customers Explain what they think your business can do better than the competition

I had the pleasure of interviewing Overland Park, KS-based author Leigh Branham recently.  He's the author of three best-selling books, including Re-engage and The 7 Hidden Reasons Employees Leave . When asked what are the most important skills a leader should have to effectively lead, he offered this good advice: Vision Integrity Courage Authenticity In addition, he suggests that to be effective a leader should have: the ability to face and address unpleasant realities the willingness to welcome disagreement and open discussion the ability to open up and field tough questions the balance to be both tough and tender minded the ability to adapt oneself to the needs of those being led Most important, according to Branham, is a leader should have authenticity and courage.

One of my favorite lessons from the book, The DNA of Leadership , is the importance of being a developing leader. Developing leaders: Create the next generation of leaders Are great listeners Grow talent by challenging others to take on more than what they think they can do Are open, honest and direct Model the behavior they want to mentor for others If you haven't read Judith E. Glaser's book, The DNA of Leadership , give it a read.  You won't be disappointed.