Good Morning, Friends! Here are 5 things I’m up to this week…
What I’m working on – This week I put out a rough draft of two things that have been swirling around my head for a little while now. The Partner Pledge and the Piesan Promise. I was inspired to write these after an incident happened about a year ago in one of the shops. We got word of a long-standing Piesan that suddenly developed this really shitty attitude. It was very much unlike him and it caught us all off guard. After about a week of putting up with and trying to talk through the issues with them, it really started to affect the moral of the shop. To be honest, I’ve never seen a shops culture take such a dive in such a short time. We ended up regretfully parting ways with this person, but the damage they left was deep. It taught me how quickly one bad attitude can infect and spread through an entire shop. It made me think about how our culture is a precious, but fragile thing. It takes enormous time, energy and TRUST to build up, but can be brought to its knees by a single person having a bad week. The fragility of workplace culture is where the idea for the Piesan Promise sprouted. It’s only a couple sentences, but it’s powerful. I want our Piesans (and ourselves) to read it and realize this whole thing is bigger than just them. That the attitudes they bring into their workplace has the potential to effect those around them…every day. Everyone ON the team has a responsibility TO the team. The partner Pledge was created in the same spirit. It’s the leadership’s pledge to the entire company. We’ll never stop trying to make this the best damned company to work for. Period. When it comes down to it, we’re all just volunteering here. There may be some exchange of money for time, but no one NEEDS to be here, we all WANT to be here. The difference between the two is that when both parties WANT something, they have a responsibility toward each other. To both hold up their ends of the respective bargain. Full versions to be debuted with the Pep Rally Board.
Something I’m pondering – We don’t have bosses. Over the last couple years, as a leadership team, we’ve tried really hard to create and develop leaders, not bosses. A boss is someone who directs from behind the scenes. A leader is someone who sets the example from the front lines. A boss hides in the office pretending to be buried in work. A leader protects the team at all costs. Bosses bark orders. Leaders paint a vision for the future and provide a path to get there. Bosses dwell in gossip and drama. Leaders leave you with goosebumps. Ships without captains go nowhere. The three most important things you, as a leader, can give your teams are; your time, your example and your recognition. The more time and attention you give your team, the more you’ll get in return. Piesans will be inspired to go that extra mile for you if they feel like you’ve gone that extra mile for them. Your time over everything! Setting a good example is building trust. Piesans preform their best when they feel comfortable, safe and secure. Set that example every period day period. And always celebrate the teams wins. Celebrate everything, no matter how small. Celebrate a job well done and chances are that job will be done even better the next time. Your team is your business, your success and your future.
What I’m reading – This week I started my 8th book in my 12 books in 12 months challenge; Mistakes Were Made (but not by me). This is an intentional diversion away from my usual genre of business books and toward something more in the social psychology realm. Not that I’m bored with the business genre or I think I need some psychological grounding or anything. Someone I trust recommended it. This book analyses why we make mistakes, cling to outdated attitudes or mistreat people. Sometimes a book or podcast finds you at the time you need it and for me, this little fella just happened to be here at the right time. I’ll keep you posted.
What I’m watching or listening to – Vampire Weekend’s new LP. These guys just released a new, 6-song LP and I swear to god, I can’t get these songs out of my head! I wake up with them. I go to bed with them. I’ve been a fan since their first album and, in my humble opinion, they’re putting the best music of their careers. Harmony Hall will be the song of the summer, mark my words!
App or Technology I’m into lately – This isn’t something I already have, but after doing a pretty deep dive into my buddy’s Apple Watch over a couple White Claws the other day, I think I’m ready to pull the trigger. Do any of you have either an Apple Watch or any other smart watch? How do you like them? Do you like them? Thoughts? Recommendations? Warnings? Let me know!
Have a wonderful week, all!
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