There’s an important prevention I sometimes use when facilitating critical group meetings. It’s a ground rule I call ‘No Me-Too Stories’. You’ve probably all experienced it. Someone tells a story in a group meeting. The story helps make the person’s point. Next thing you know, another person chimes in with their story. Then another. Rarely do the subsequent stories add much value—not adding much new perspective or insight. It’s just people expressing themselves—in the form of ‘me-too’ stories—that largely serve the storytellers own personal needs. The intentions behind the stories may be good and it may make the person telling the story feel good, but rarely does it help the group advance its objectives.Continue reading
Whose Money Is It?
Paraphrasing the renowned economist Milton Friedman, “people become especially generous with other people’s money.” Politicians do it, business people do it too!
From my point-of-view, professionals don’t play fast and loose with other people’s money – especially when they’re in a position to benefit personally from it.
Consider the employee who lives high-on-the-hog on the company dime. For example, choosing the Conde’ Nast featured restaurant with the $75 steaks while on a business trip. Or the consultant staying at the big-name Four-Star hotel with the 1,000 thread-count sheets? Would they make the same generous choices if it were their own money?…or would they make a different choice?
I realize that there are many instances in which the more generous choice (as a practical matter) makes great business sense—especially when it involves clients. Management is sometimes even couraging of such generosity. Sometimes it’s a way to reward employees. And sometimes there really isn’t a great (or appropriate) alternative to a more expensive option. Yet, these instances are far more the exception than the rule.
How many times have you heard someone boasting of staying at a prestigious Four Star Hotel while on business when the hotels they stayed at for their own vacation (and paid for with their own money) was consistently Three Stars (or less)? Inconsistencies of this type can be precursors to having others lose confidence in us.
Organizations expect people to act responsibly. It’s a sign of maturity and professionalism to treat other’s money like our own. It builds trustworthiness and one’s own self-esteem at the same time. Granted, some may consider this example insignificant, but it’s one that can portent bigger, even more important, things.
Who Ya Hanging With?
Quick! Think of the people who you tend to hang around with. You know, people you don’t have to hang around, but people you want to hang around. For instance, the colleague at work who you can confidently confide in…the life-long friend who has always known how to buoy you up in moments of despair…the relative who always has your back…the college roommate who gave it to you straight when you were about to receive academic probation. What do they have in common?
Allison Morrissey of Durango, Colorado (who received an Advanced Readers Copy of The Power of Professionalism) made an astute observation when pondering that question. She notes, “Now I can articulate why I like my social circle so much. They come from every economic strata. They represent every educational strata. They cover a myriad of tongues, creeds, and skin colors. The commonality amongst them? They’re all professionals.”
How about you? Are you hanging around with professionals?