Getting into the Melbourne Cup spirit

I usually write this post on a Sunday evening as I prepare for the week. Last weeks post on my weekly activity – was about the uncertainty of travel, but by Monday afternoon that had changed. (In the short term anyway). I like many others fear it will be a long drawn out battle. Last week therefore was productive – with the excitement of the company lunch – falling on the same day as Melbourne Cup – the festive season is now officially upon us. I finished the week in Perth with a speaking engagement to the local council association of Western Australia – eager to know how they could make a difference in their work places.

Coming up:
Monday: Client Meetings
Tuesday: Dream Employers Webinar
Wednesday: Brisbane Speaking Engagement for the Australian Superannuation Fund Association
Thursday & Friday: write, write, write…

Two past RedBallooners (and me supporting them) who are now working in NYC

Over the past 10 years RedBalloon has had many members of the team leave the business often to run their own show, travel, take on study or leave to work elsewhere. RedBalloon has been part of their personal journey, part of their learning, development and education – we have impacted and supported them. And in return they have appreciated being part of RedBalloon.

On a personal level we are often sad to say good-bye given that we experience so much together; they often have become great friends. One of my colleagues who left for a promotion to another company – lamented that ‘it just won’t be like RedBalloon’ and I responded – “that it was now up to him – to take all that he has learned about the power of employee engagement and shared values and create that in his new workspace.”

Another colleague who went to work with Disabled Skiers in the US wrote to me to say “as a result of working at RedBalloon and learning how to execute growth strategies and being a values based business – there are 100s of disabled people who are now having a far better experience.” I was so touched that she took a moment to let me know.

I was delighted to receive the email below from a colleague who left to follow the love of her life to New York. At RedBalloon we don’t take recognition for granted – we believe it is all about the authentic, real and timely acknowledgement of really ‘knowing’ our people. And it is wonderful to know that we are spreading the word.

Hello Ladies! I hope all is well. We are melting in the June heat wave here, but otherwise ticking along just fine.

Had a great experience of recognition last night and immediately thought of you gals:

I started my new job about 2 months ago. At the time, I had planned on going to Paris for my (30th!) birthday and had the vacation days pre-approved. Once I started work, however, a big project launch was scheduled for around the same time and I was clear that I would not be able to take my trip— since I was planning on traveling alone, thankfully, this did not ruin anyone else’s plans, but of course it was a disappointment for me. When the project was cancelled at the last minute and quite unexpectedly, I was frustrated that all my work had been in vain, and immediately thought, “I could have gone to Paris!” Last night, a very senior member of the company approached me and said “I heard you cancelled a trip to Paris for us… and whilst its not Paris, at least its French…” and he handed me a generous gift certificate to a new, swanky French restaurant downtown. I was humbled and surprised— not only for being recognized by a senior person for all the hard work I had done but the extra nod to my trip was very thoughtful. This morning, I couldn’t stop smiling and got to work early to be extra prepared for a meeting with the same senior person— it makes me want to do good work for him. Mostly, it reminded me of my days at RedBalloon — I haven’t been “recognized” like that since then and it made me remember how good it feels!

I hope that all is well in Pyrmont and you are living the value of FUN every day! I think of you all often— please keep in touch and definitely let me know if anything brings you to NYC, I would love to catch up.

Wonderful! Not only that they get to carry the story on – but that past RedBallooners take a moment to recognize us and the impact we had…

At the Swans Magpies game - met 'the cup' - winning takes a team in complete harmony. The EY award is a wonderful acknowledgement to the RedBalloon team.

This week of course is the end of the financial year. Time to reflect, review, and reinvigorate ready for the new financial year. Last Monday we finalized the plans for FY12 – each team leader presenting their insights, ideas and execution plans – requesting resources and budgets. This is now the eleventh annual planning cycle and each year I am even more excited by the innovations and new opportunities that RedBalloon creates.

I managed to get to Melbourne for the NAB speaking engagement last week– and back for the Eastern Region Ernst Young Entrepreneur of the Year event- despite the airline chaos. My daughter came with me to the event. It was wonderful for her to hear the other business leaders’ stories. She whispered to me as proceedings commenced ‘Mum this is just like a speech night for grown ups’. Now 15, I was so proud of her; how she engaged in conversation and was truly interested in other people. (She was also proud of her mother as I accepted the category award and go on to the National finals in Melbourne in November.) Also made it for the third year to the BRW Best Places to Work list… well done team.

This week:

Adelaide: for Westpac’s Ruby Connection lunch and the Australian National Credit Union conference

Sydney: for client meetings, attending a presentation by Dr Brene Brown and a strategic offsite for Best Buddies

Canberra: Debater for the affirmative at AIMs Great Debate with Julie McCrossin.

Reading:

Martin Seligman’s – Flourish

Megan - accountable for the employee experience - Sailing with the team

I had a great time debating with my colleague Megan (Employee Experience Manager – an HR professional) about what engagement means at RedBalloon – she has developed and documented all the things we do – and Matt in our corporate team is getting ready to share that with the world.

Here are some points from a webinar that my colleague Emma sent me on the same topic I have added the RedBalloon view of the world in italics:

• Engagement is a daily exercise that must be owned by every single person in the organisation, every day.
  I completely agree – we don’t have an engagement manager – every leader and colleague is accountable for engagement – and I have often been quoted as saying – engagement is a journey not an activity.

• Culture is like the tide, and people like boats on the water – when the tide rises so does engagement.
  I have learned that not only is happiness infectious – so is engagement – People like being productive and hanging out with other people who are productive too.

• Engagement requires all of the following: Clarity, Communication, Trust, Priorities, Direction, Action, Alignment, Progression, Relationships –
  Yes agreed. I believe it also takes Passion, Commitment and Persistence.

• “The Engaged stay for what they give, The disengaged stay for what they get”.
  Remember by definition the disengaged are people who are being paid – and they ‘hate’ their employer

• Be aware that if a company undertakes an engagement survey but does nothing to follow up to improve the engagement culture this will actually result in further disengagement!
  Being real with people, authentic and transparent is essential for an engaged team – if you cannot tackle all the outcomes of the survey – let people know what you are going to do and by when (and absolutely make sure that you do do it – cynicism is very distructive)

• “Know your People, Know your Manager!”
  And I would add to that – we are all just people – and business is a people game – so I hope you like them.

If I was to add the RedBalloon ‘secret sauce’ to this list it would be; from the day dot – I founded this business believing in people, whilst I personally had struggles along the journey (I had the commitment but not the technical skills) as soon as practicable RedBalloon employed professionals to deliver on the detail of the commitment. All the ideas in the world do not make success – it is the execution of the plan that delivers the outcome.

Me in Mount Gambier - 1974

I met some wonderful people last week – In the Hunter Valley on Monday, mid week I was at The Entrance on the central coast and then I finished the week in Mount Gambier, South Australia.  I had such fun at each event. Having Friday evening with 150 energetic business people in Mount Gambier was a great night…I met so many authentic, community minded people – it was inspiring.

I spoke off the cuff about the ingredients to a successful business (purpose, persistence, people and passion) – and the audience was so generous, laughing loud in all the right places and sighing deeply at the touching moments. I felt honored to be there but also I felt truly appreciated. I know I made a little difference to the business community there.

A classic comment after the event… A woman came up to me and said ‘I have been watching your company for about 5 years and I really admire it – I was really scared that I would be disappointed with your presentation and you would be a “d—k head” thank goodness you aren’t – you did your business proud tonight.’ Real feedback on the importance of being one’s self and authentic – it resonates so loudly about the organization I represent.

I am concerned though – simply being everywhere for everyone is not sustainable long term. I know I am fortunate to be in the position to contribute to so many people – but I have to be a bit more effective on how I do it.  This week we will be making a few changes at RedBalloon, setting up ready for the execution of the 2012 plan.  My role will change too – as I want to increase the impact that I have on the community that has been so generous to RedBalloon.

This week in addition to attending the Australian Human Resources Industry conference, I will be at a strategy day as part of my role on the board of Best Buddies. We will have a companywide lunch on Tuesday – I will have a regular day of one on one’s on Monday. Mid week I am on holidays for a week in Exmouth – WA. I am going to tick one thing off my bucket list – Swimming with Whale Sharks . Then we will go on a Kayaking trip. I’m unplugging for 7 days. No iPhone or Mac; a great chance to think, contemplate, evaluate, and listen.

Reading: The Thank you Economy by Gary Vaynerchuck

I have been in three situations recently that have given me an insight I had been oblivious too. When we happily operate in our own world we are often blind to other peoples view of the world.

I thought people knew how important it is to be grateful for another person’s generosity and that to authentically thank them was the gift they give in return.

1. I was chatting to a business associate who, when I asked him how he recognizes his small team, answered ‘I don’t like to thank them more than once a month – otherwise it just won’t seem sincere, you can over do it if you say thank you to often – they will take it for granted.’
2. I was in a committee room where it was being discussed what to give the speaker to say thanks for their generosity of presenting to our group – and one of the men in the room said ‘they don’t do it for the gift – they do it because they want to help others.’
3. I was asked at an event on the weekend how RedBalloon went during the GFC – given that gifting is not an essential purchase.

My response to each:

1. It is not the quantity but the quality of the acknowledgement that makes the difference. “Good manners cannot be worn out.” You could make someone’s day, every day as long as the acknowledgement is truly personal, timely and relevant. Generic words that are not specific do little to make you or the other person feel great. Be specific.
2. People don’t donate their time to speak for the ‘thank you’ gift – but as a speaker I know how much I give of myself every time I step before an audience. What the speaker really wants is to know that they made a difference to another person’s life. Letting the speaker know the contribution they made will be the thanks they yearn for. Also to give them a thoughtful gift – that has perhaps been researched about what is relevant to them – shows them that you cared about the preparation the speaker made – because you to cared enough to go to a similar effort.
3. Gifting is a central to our well being. It is essential to our humanness. They way we thank some one, or acknowledgement them is what makes people feel connected to another. The work done by the New Economic Foundation points to the well being effect of gifting on not only the recipient but also the giver. Giving a great gift is a source of happiness – and is fundamental and essential to our well being.

Last night I got inspired to write this after watching an episode of Madmen – where Don the main character has a fundamental issue with acknowledging those around him. Set in 1965 I understand that may be how people operated last century. But we have moved on.

EXCERPT: The tension rises with Peggy’s frustration at being kept in the office after hours. Add her simmering resentment of her unsung contribution to the Glo Coat commercial and she reaches boiling point. She lashes out at Don for taking credit for her work and he retorts with “It’s your job. I give you money, you give me ideas.”

“And you never say thank you!”

“That’s what the money’s for!” he yells. “You’re young, you will get your recognition. And honestly, it is absolutely ridiculous for you to be two years into your career and already counting your ideas. And you should be thanking me when you wake up, along with Jesus, for giving you another day.”

Please leave a comment about a time you thanked someone authentically and how it made you feel. I am looking to add stories to the book I am currently researching… thank you

A young woman I know (30 – age is a relative thing) works within the financial markets. She works long hours, with little recognition or even contact with her manager. At annual review time her manager was very tough. He even went as far as to say: ‘the way you approach work is just different to the others.’ Interestingly, all her peers are men. Of course she approaches work differently – she is a woman. We are not all the same – we bring different things to the same problem. She did not get a particularly good review – or any recognition for the long, hard hours she works. She was devastated, upset and unable to sleep. She said, ‘I work so hard – do I have to be just like them?  If I give up, how will any woman ever make it in this man’s world?’ So whilst my friend battles on, lonely, unappreciated and ‘different’ – we need to do something at senior levels. We don’t want women on boards who act like men – we want them to bring their personality, intuition and empathy.

Until there are as many women in executive roles and on boards, many young women will give in. It is too lonely, too hard and the pay just does not warrant the angst. (My friend knows she is paid less than her peers and her ‘bonus’ is always less).

It makes me so sad for her. I want to go into that institution and stamp my feet and yell, but I also know that those macho men in that business would just look at me bewildered and say, ‘See this is why we need to keep it the way it is – no crazy women here, thanks – they’re just too hard to understand.’

Which is why affirmative action for women on boards is eminently sensible. If ‘traditional’ (male) businesses struggle to accept us for who and what we are, women will always feel they “have to be just like them” to get to the top. Which isn’t authentic, and dismisses all those innate positive qualities the feminine brings. Legislation that supports the appointment of women to boards would help change perspectives that, sadly, are currently too male-skewed.

What are your thoughts – given it is International Women’s Day and the debate is throughout the media?

I wonder how many bosses will be showing how much they care for their team today? (There is a few love heart chocolates on the desks at RedBalloon this morning.)Interesting results from our survey on bosses showing their love.

Also last week RedBalloon got its 2010 Hewitt employee engagement score (which we are very excited with.)  Glad to see as we enter our 10th year and continue to grow dramatically that the score has grown too.

This week is all about learning… I am loving our Grow theme.

Monday: One on One’s (also still sorting out after the flood) – and a few external meetings too.

Tuesday & Wednesday: Verne Harnish is in town for the Growth Summit

Thursday: Full day planning offsite in Melbourne

Friday: Business meetings in Melbourne (including lunch with Janine Allis)

Reading: ‘He’ll be ok – Growing gorgeous boys into good men‘ by Celia Lashlie

In the video below you will see many of the team  – but particularly we ask Megan ‘What is our engagement secret?’