Sandy Schwan at Evolving Strategies, LLC

Boost Performance By Doing Good

"Devising and maintaining an atmosphere in which others can put a dent in the universe is the leader's creative act." --Warren Bennis

Can doing good keep employees engaged and grow your business? You bet it can.

Ramping up altruism may well be the killer app in 2009 and early 2010 — a time when companies need their top talent to be firing on all cylinders to spur growth and renewal, but where conventional rewards such as pay raises and bonuses are hard to come by, according to Sylvia Ann Hewitt in her forthcoming book Top Talent: Keeping Performance Up When Business Is Down.

Hewitt is an economist, member of the World Economic Forum Council on the Gender Gap, and founding president of the Center for Work-Life Policy where she directs the "Hidden Brain Drain"—a task force of 50 global companies committed to fully realizing female and multicultural talent.

Her research shows that high-potential employees are motivated by a desire to give back to their communities. These employees are increasingly seeking out employers that allow them to do so on the job. Real life examples and the associated returns? By integrating "doing good" into their business strategies, GE's healthyimagination and Pfizer's Global Access programs are expanding company revenue and attracting and retaining these key employees.

Weaving the 'feel good' factor into a go-to-market playbook gives high potential employees priceless psychic rewards, and a reason to stay, play and win, says Hewitt. This approach is certainly working for Ponni Subbiah — one of Pfizer's most talented female leaders. "We all want to feel that we can have an impact on the world. That's why I like Global Access. The fact that we're going to increase access to our medicines in a part of the world where people are very needy .... that's very gratifying for me." And it's good business.

Action

While donations and volunteering are wonderful avenues for allowing your employees to give back, do not limit your company's socially responsible efforts. Explore ways that your company can combine social responsibility and commercial viability by offering lower cost products to emerging markets or developing a new profitable solution to a social problem.

Adapted from Harvard Business Publishing

Using Values to Guide Business Strategy, Keep Employees Engaged and Grow Your Business

"The Cause is Hidden, But the Result is Well Known."

Ovid, Roman Poet (43 BC - 17 AD)

People today are focused on the global economic crisis, but Harvard Business School professor Rosabeth Moss Kanter sees also a global crisis of business.

Has the model of American capitalism that worked so well to raise the fortunes of millions of people last century hit a wall? In its place must arise a new model of the company, one that serves society as well as rewarding shareholders and employees, Kanter argues in her new book, SuperCorp: How Vanguard Companies Create Innovation, Profits, Growth, and Social Good.

Kanter, one of my top tier strategy and organizational change visionaries that I follow and learn from, shared key points and great stories at a leadership learning session I attended with my esteemed colleague from the Northern Trust Company, Jill Nabonsal:

1.  Start with a Sense of Purpose. Lead with Your Principles and Values. Think about how you can apply your products and services to address the many unmet societal needs.

2.  Be Open to Discussions. It is Not Your Words But Your Conversations that Matter. Allow for self-organizing, -governing -policing where possible. Give your employees a voice and you may be amazed what transpires.

3.  Value Relationships. A Sense of Purpose Forms a Strong Basis for Your Relationships and Conversations. Start with 'Who I am, what I believe and what is important to me.' Speak of values first. Think of meeting others' needs before your own. (And you may be surprised how your own needs end up being met way beyond your expectations.)

4.  Use Values to Reduce Risk. Having Values at the Core of Your Solutions Reduces Risk. Your standards seem too high? Help your clients reach the higher standards that you may set. Who wins? Who benefits? Your clients, your clients' clients, your team, you.

Here is a more detailed summary of the book if you are interested in learning more.

But can doing good keep employees engaged and grow your business? You bet it can. Stay tuned for my next post.

Bumble Bees, Airplanes Helping NOLA Minority Youth Soar

 "Aerodynamically the bumble bee shouldn't be able to fly, but the bumble bee doesn't know it so it goes on flying anyway."

Mary Kay Ash, (1918-2001), pioneer for women in business

 

About one year ago, Captain Barrington Irving took off from Opa Locka airport inside the cockpit of Inspiration II, a plane built entirely by Miami high school students in the Experience Aviation Build & Soar Summer Program.

 

How cool would it be to be the program manager helping the minority youth of Baton Rouge and New Orleans build and soar?

 

That opportunity for the right person crossed my desk today. Contact name and email is George Moore gmooredtii@yahoo.com******** for more information and follow-up. Good luck!

___________________________

To:Accenture Alumni
Subject: Opening in Baton Rouge/New Orleans

  

Looking for a project manager for a new Aviation Academy and After-School program for minority youth in the Baton Rouge/New Orleans area. A 10-12 month project that involves the planning, launch, and management of an innovative new educational program. The program would expand educational curriculum and services throughout communities within Louisiana and create career pathways in aviation, aerospace, renewable energy, and technology. http://www.experienceaviation.org/   The Mid-Level Business Analyst or Manager must have strong project management experience, including the ability to: Create and execute project work plans and revise as appropriate to meet changing project needs and requirements Identify resources needed and assign individual responsibilities Manage day-to-day operational aspect of project Review deliverables prepared by team and vendors Effectively apply methodology and enforce project standards Track and reports hours and expenses on a weekly basis Manage project budget Excellent Written and Verbal Communication Skills Experience with Microsoft Project and Visio Software Requirements Documentation experience and aviation industry experience a plus This is a potential long-term opportunity once the program is developed and launched. Please send resumes to George Moore gmooredtii@yahoo.com. Project would begin sometime in late September.

********Please note: I do not know George. He and I are simply on the same alumni group list. That is our only connection. I do not know anything else about this opportunity, so any questions or information you direct my way cannot be answered. Please don't be offended when I don't respond since I can't.

 

Scholarships for College and Graduate School

I am a huge fan of education and doing my part to support those looking to further their education. Afterall, education can lead to change! Apologies for this lengthy posting, but it is well worth it. Please send a link to this posting to others who may find this information helpful. - Sandy

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR COLLEGE AND GRAD SCHOOL

1) Bell Labs Fellowship For Underrepresented Minorities
 http://www.bell-labs.com/fellowships/CRFP/info.htm

2) Student Inventors Scholarships
 http://www.invent.org/collegiate

 3) Student Video Scholarships
 http://www.christophers.org/vidcon2k.html

4) Coca-Cola Two Year College Scholarship
s http://www.coca-colascholars.org/programs.html

5) Holocaust Remembrance Scholarships
 http://holocaust.hklaw.com/

6) Ayn Rand Essay Scholarships
 http://www.aynrand.org/contests/

7) Brand Essay Competition
http://www.instituteforbrandleadership.org/IBLEssayContest-2002Rules.htm

8) Gates Millennium Scholarships (major)
 http://www.gmsp.org/nominationmaterials/read.dbm?ID=12

9) Xerox Scholarships for Students
http://www2.xerox.com/go/xrx/about_xerox/about_xerox_detail.jsp

10) Sports Scholarships and Internships
http://www.ncaa.org/about/scholarships.html

11) National Assoc. of Black Journalists Scholarships (NABJ)
http://www.nabj.org/html/studentsvcs.html

12) Saul T. Wilson Scholarships (Veterinary)
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/mb/mrphr/jobs/stw.html

13) Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund
http://www.thurgoodmarshallfund.org/sk_v6.cfm

14) FinAid: The Smart Students Guide to Financial Aid scholarships)
http://www.finaid.org

5) Presidential Freedom Scholarships
http://www.nationalservice.org/scholarships/

16) Microsoft Scholarship Program
 http://www.microsoft.com/college/scholarships/minority.asp

17) WiredScholar Free Scholarship Search
http://www.wiredscholar.com/paying/scholarship_search/pay_scholarship_search.jsp

18) Hope Scholarships & Lifetime Credits
 http://www.ed.gov/inits/hope/

19) William Randolph Hearst Endowed Scholarship for Minority Students http://www.apsanet.org/PS/grants/aspen3.cfm

20) Multiple Lists of Minority Scholarships
 http://gehon.ir.miami.edu/financial-assistance/Scholarship/blackhtml

21) Guaranteed Scholarships
http://www.guaranteed-scholarships.com/

22) BOEING scholarships (someHBCU connects)
http://www.boeing.com/companyoffices/education%20%20relations/scholarships

23) Easley National Scholarship Program
http://www.naas.org/senior.htm

24) Maryland Artists Scholarships
 http://www.maef.org/

26) Jackie Tuckfield Memorial Graduate Business Scholarship (for AA students in South Florida)
 http://www.jackituckfield.org/

27) Historically Black College & University Scholarships
 http://www.iesabroad.org/info/hbcu.htm

28) Actuarial Scholarships for Minority Students
http://www.beanactuary.org/minority/scholarships.htm

29) International Students Scholarships & Aid Help
http://www.iefa.org/

30) College Board Scholarship Search
http://cbweb10p.collegeboard.org/fundfinder/html/fundfind01.html

31) Burger King Scholarship Program
http://www.bkscholars.csfa.org/

32) Siemens Westinghouse Competition
http://www.siemens-foundationorg/

33) GE and LuLac Scholarship Funds
 http://www.lulac.org/Programs/Scholar.html

34) CollegeNet's Scholarship Database
 http://mach25.collegenet.com/cgi-bin/M25/index

35) Union Sponsored Scholarships and Aid
http://www.aflcioorg/scholarships/scholar.htm

36) Federal Scholarships & Aid Gateways 25 Scholarship Gateways from Black Excel http://www.blackexcel.org/25scholarships.htm

37) Scholarship & Financial Aid Help
 http://www.blackexcel.org/fin-sch.htm

38) Scholarship Links (Ed Finance Group)
 http://www.efg.net/link_scholarship.htm

39) FAFSA On The Web (Your Key Aid Form &Info)
 http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

40) Aid &Resources For Re-Entry Students
 http://www.back2college.com/

41) Scholarships and Fellowships
 http://www.osc.cuny.edu/sep/links.html

42) Scholarships for Study in Paralegal Studies
http://www.paralegals.org/Choice/2000west.htm

43) HBCU Packard Sit Abroad Scholarships (for study around the world) http://www.sit.edu/studyabroad/packard_nomination.html

44) Scholarship and Fellowship Opportunities
http://ccmi.uchicago.edu/schl1.html

45) INROADS internships
 http://www.inroads.org/

46) NAACP Scholarships
http://www.naacp.org/work/actso/act-so.shtml

47) Black Alliance for Educational Options Scholarships
 http://www.baeo.org/options/privatelyfinanced.jsp

48) ScienceNet Scholarship Listing
http://www.sciencenet.emory.edu/undergrad/scholarships.html

49) Graduate Fellowships For Minorities Nationwide
http://cuinfo.cornell.edu/Student/GRFN/list.phtml?category=MINORITIES

50) RHODES SCHOLARSHIPS AT OXFORD
 http://www.rhodesscholar.org/info.html

51) The Roothbert Scholarship Fund
 http://www.roothbertfund.com/

“Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves; they therefore remain bound.” — James Allen, 1864-1912, English literary man of mystery and unrewarded genius

The smart folks at Vital Smarts and the MIT Sloane Management Review recently released a study on the root causes for the shockingly high failure rate of cross-functional projects and programs. Estimates are that as many as 80 percent of strategic initiatives, IT projects, corporate programs, and the like are awful disappointments. For example, four years ago, the world watched as Gustav Humbert, the CEO of Air Bus, was dismissed from his job in shame when the A380 aircraft missed its delivery date by more than a year. The worst of it was that the announcement of the delay happened on the day the plane was due! Makes you scratch your head in wonder that this information did not seem to be available to Mr. Humbert any sooner than the minute he was supposed to unveil the engineering marvel to the world. What was going on?

The study identified five early warning signs of project failure. How companies handle these five issues predicts with up to 85 percent precision how well they achieve critical results. In fact, if the people at these organizations handle any of these crucial issues poorly, the odds of the project being delayed, of quality being compromised, and of costs escalating are better than 70 percent. Not good.

1. Fact-Free Planning — Commitments to deadlines and limits on resources are made with little consideration for the real demands of the project.
2. AWOL Sponsors — The executive sponsor of a project is not leading as s/he should. S/he is not showing up for meetings, holding people accountable, or walking the talk.
3. Skirting — Powerful leaders bypass agreed upon decision-making processes or quality gates in ways that are allowing scope creep or putting commitments at risk.
4. Project Chicken — Critical aspects of the project are going over schedule or running over budget and it's not politically popular to admit it. Instead, people play "chicken"—letting things get closer to the deadline without acknowledging problems.
5. Team Failures — Key members of the project team are not competent or do not follow through on their commitments.

ACTION:

• In your project plans, remember to give the right level of focus on the people aspect of the project. Confirm sponsor commitment and what 'commitment' means to project success.
• Make one of the first steps in your project a "Roles and Responsibilities" list. In organizational (or project team) design 101, a fundamental reason why teams don't work effectively is because it is not clear who is doing what. Make it clear – write it down and discuss with everyone on that list.
• Raise issues as soon as you identify them. I think we all know that it is much more effective to handle issues when they are spark vs. a full-blown wildfire.
• Get clear on how people, groups are to be held accountable for this project. This is tricky, but if you get this agreement upfront, it gives you the leverage to question accountability should something go awry.

Adapted from Vital Smarts, 2009.

Loss: A Learning Opportunity with a Specific Purpose

"Should you shield the canyons from the windstorms, you would never see the beauty of their carvings." Dr. Elisabeth Kubler Ross, 1926-2004, Swiss-born psychiatrist and author

I have friends and family that are experiencing difficult losses of family pets. I've been revisiting Kubler Ross' five stages of grief to help me get a better sense of where these folks are in the grieving process so that I may better support them through each stage.

Brushing up on this model reflects what some of what my clients are experiencing. A merger of two companies with two distinctly separate cultures into one company and one culture doesn't happen overnight. People need to experience the Denial – Anger – Bargaining – Depression – Acceptance of the 'death' of their original company before accepting and embracing their new company.

Remembering to include organizational change frameworks and time to allow employees to move through this process. Don't fault them for their feelings. Instead take the time to learn how to assist in guiding them through the stages, if appropriate.

I'll end with another impactful quote from EKR:

"You will not grow if you sit in a beautiful flower garden, but you will grow if you are sick, if you are in pain, if you experience losses, and if you do not put your head in the sand, but take the pain as a gift to you with a very, very specific purpose."

ACTION: If you are experiencing an organizational change, develop a list of ten possible purposes / opportunities for you to learn in this change. The purpose is there...and it is up to you to find it.

Trust Your Instinct...& the African Hornbill Bird & Dwarf Mongoose

"Both work together, or network, to accomplish their individual objectives." Is this quote referring to the success of a recent merger? Not quite. The author was referencing the relationship between the dwarf mongoose and the African hornbill bird.

Check out William E. Boswell's book Success by Instinct: Use What Animals Already Know to Boost Your Career. Boswell, a former senior executive with BP America, and one of the company's highest ranking African Americans, presents an thought-provoking approach to managing change, including personal career development. Instead of the usual dos and don'ts, Boswell offers 14 practical principles based on the instincts found in the animal kingdom which are also used by businesspeople, sportsmen, and world leaders alike to tremendous success.

Here is a sampling of Boswell's principles for success through instinct:

Acknowledge that adaptability is essential for an effective transition, organizational shift or change

Establish goals to add direction, purpose, focus and meaning to the change you are facing

Recognize that teamwork is essential to accomplish goals

Maintain knowledge of organizational environmental issues, and ensure compatibility with your personal values 

By the way, going with your gut does not mean that data and research are not important. Trusting your instinct means considering factors that may not always be easily quantifiable but are still quite important. Depending on the situation, you will need to be careful to avoid the confirmation bias trap. More on confirmation bias in my next posting.

Try not to get stuck in the analysis paralysis. Be quiet and listen to your gut instinct.

Looking to Create Creative & Innovative Solutions? Go To Your Stretch Zone

Can You Become a Creature of New Habits?

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/04/business/04unbox.html?_r=1&goback=%2Ehom

This New York Times article provides an interesting perspective on the three zones of existence and in which zone true change occurs.

There are "...three zones of existence: comfort, stretch and stress. Comfort is the realm of existing habit. Stress occurs when a challenge is so far beyond current experience as to be overwhelming. It’s that stretch zone in the middle — activities that feel a bit awkward and unfamiliar — where true change occurs."

If possible, develop change management solutions, strategies and tactics to keep impacted people in the stretch zone. The stress zone can create an inability for people to learn because they are in the 'fight - or flight' mode.

Crash. Burn. Turnaround: Seven Ways to Turn Failure Into Success

"Every strike brings me closer to the next home run." 

Babe Ruth (1895–1948), American baseball player

Perhaps you are leading an organizational change (e.g., merger, acquisition, downsizing, hyper-growth, business process reengineering) that is not performing quite as planned. It could even be considered a…failure. So, what do you do?

 

You may not realize it now, but you have (at least) two key responses: the ‘little w’ response and the ‘Big W’ response (and I am hopeful that my Northern Trust Corporation colleagues reading this entry are smiling at the re-use of big and little w).

 

Option One: The little w response. wallow in self-pity

 

Option Two: Big W response:  Be Willing. Be Willing to turn disappointments into great accomplishments by:

• Changing a course of action that isn’t working, no matter how much faith, time and money you may have put into it so far
• Abandoning a path that is not taking you where you want to go, and starting over again

Thomas Edison believed there were no mistakes or failures, only “eliminated options” that brought him one step closer to his goal. Decide to eliminate option one above and rethink failure.

A failure can be a valuable opportunity to regroup and rethink strategies and goals. Do not let pride keep you stuck in a wrong decision. Realize there is hope on the other side of the change, even if you cannot see it yet.

 

ACTION: Try these seven steps to turn failure into success. 

1.   Look at your past objectively

2.   Focus on the purpose on the other side of the failure / pain

3.      Realize that you can’t see the whole parade from where you stand

4.      It’s not whether you have won or lost in the past; it’s the person you have to become to win in the future. Think about who you want to become 

5.  Accept that falling is a normal part of life, but try to fall forward - in the direction of your goal

6.  Realize that pain and heartache are only labor pains before your / the change's birth

7.  Know that retreat does not equal defeat

I recognize that these steps are not easy. There are strategies and tools to help you succeed in each step. Consider adding your steps that have worked well for you in the past. Even better, create a new step.

Make a deliberate decision not to give up in transforming your adversities into success springboards.

 

Adapted from © Advisor Today 2008 and Critical Choices That Change Lives: How Heroes Turn Tragedy Into Triumphby Daniel Canstro. All rights reserved.

Do What You Gotta Do: Thinking Beyond Change

"Just go out there and do what you have to do."

Martina Navratilova (1956 – ), tennis champion

It is certain that in every life, change will come. Change represents the situations, conditions, and events we try to avoid that could result in adversity, controversy, stress and inconvenience. We do not intentionally seek out these tough challenges. We do not desire to face these difficulties. We do not want to deal with some changes. When the changes do come, human nature allows these times to overwhelm us. However…

 

When we can appreciate change and respect its value in our lives, we come to a place of contentment. When we can see beyond current difficulties brought about by changing and realize that these challenging times will make us stronger and allow us to grow, we truly open our eyes with optimism. When we understand that ultimately we are in control of the way we respond and think about changes, that only we have the ability to choose the thoughts that enter our minds, we discover absolute freedom. Such hope is there in knowing that when faced with any type of circumstance, the truth remains that change is what we choose to make of it.

 

 

When your change comes – be it in your professional life or personal life, will you choose to be upset how the storm has inconvenienced you? Or, will you choose to acknowledge that while change has the potential to be destructive, it also brings growth and new opportunities?

 

 

ACTION

1.       Choose to think differently about facing change.

2.       Choose to see beyond the change to uncover the opportunities that change brings. 

3.       Choose to welcome change during all of life’s twists and turns.

 

 

 

Adapted from The WALK THE TALK® Company