Howard Schultz, Starbucks CEO, made an observation worth sharing, “Success is best when it is shared. You will be left with an empty feeling if you hit the finish line alone.”
In difficult times, organizations are tested. How organizations deal with decreased revenue and missing their quarterly plans can say a lot about whether their actions match the often quoted value—“Putting our people first.” If your people are your most important resource, it ought to show in the tough times.
Are companies more worried about paying top executive bonuses for making “tough” downsizing decisions or are they more committed to spread resources in a way to keep those “most important resources” to be ready for any economic upturn. Do you put your budgets where your printed values are or do your true values show?
In difficult times, the obscene sums of money paid to top executives, even when laid off for poor performance, makes the shared team victory mere words. This is not to say that some poor performers ought not to lose their jobs, but that should have been done for performance not as an economic strategy. Leaders question worker loyalty. Loyalty is earned by shared victories and shared support in the tough times. Are you going to bat for your team? Look for strategies to invest spare resources into emerging opportunities that you can ride when the economy improves. Earn the trust and the commitment you want from your people; they truly are your best resource.
What do you think?
(Source: Howard Schultz, Success, April/May, 2008, p. 24)
Comments