The Genius of Norman Brinker -“A strong culture cannot survive a weak owner”

“The genius of Norman wasn’t the many things that were visible to the customer. His genius was in assembling, nurturing, challenging, educating, motivating, evaluating, and coaching a team of people to achieve what he had dreamed. Norman was the consummate restaurateur. But he was an even better leader.”

This excerpt titled "The Genius of Norman Brinker," by Lane Cardwell appearing in a recent edition of Chain Leader truly hits the mark. Part of Norman’s genius was his ability to recognize talent in everyone and somehow be able to coach them into achieving greatness. Norman lived the philosophy that your company IS your people. The other very admirable characteristic of Norman; he never quit learning and challenging those about him to do the same.

Great article! Until next time enjoy the read…

B-team players keep the company going when stars fall

“Who’s most critical to your company’s success, especially during a weak economy? Who supplies the stability, knowledge, and long-term view your firm needs to survive? B players—competent, steady performers far from the limelight.”

This excerpt from an article in Harvard Business Review, titled “Let’s hear it for B Players,” truly puts into perspective how it takes the entire team to grow a company into a respectable and formidable enterprise. The article does a nice job with 'B' players; in defining them, explaining how they become the ‘backbone’ of your corporation and how to nurture them. As we always like to point out – it is people who make the company and it takes all your people to keep your company ‘firing on all cylinders.’

Enjoy the read and until next time…

How to turn cynical employees into motivated ones

“When managers focus 100% on profit and self interest, employees follow suit by acting out of individual interests and being cynical about the company. On the other hand, when employees feel good about the company -- and its affects on the community -- they tend to be more motivated. "Employee pride" develops when staff is rewarded more often, corporate culture shifts from self interest and an increased emphasis is placed on improving the community.”

The great paradox is that businesses driven by self-interest cultivate employees who learn to similarly put their own self-interest first—to the ultimate detriment of the business. A management obsession with profit creates a workforce disinterested in profit, and obsessed instead with working conditions, wages, and other issues of interest to the workers themselves.

These are a few excerpts from a great article titled Culture Shift: Eliminating Employee Cynicism for Good by Paul Levesque published recently in Manage Smarter. Now granted business are in business to make money but when the FOCUS is on profits only and not on appreciating the employee, bettering the community/environment or providing value to the customer, then the workplace through the atmosphere created by management becomes a low performing highly undesirable place of employment. If a company wants to truly create a long lasting successful financial model, then they understand that the process might begin with hiring the best but that it also will be driven by highly motivated/stimulated employees. Getting the employee involved in all aspects of your business will help to create that ‘happy’ workplace that seems to have not only endless energy but also has an abundant wealth of ideas -and these ideas created by people will constantly keep your company fresh and inviting in the consumer eyes.

Enjoy the article and as always we appreciate your comments…