Pile On Motivation

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Category: Leadership

  • What caused GE’s downfall ?

    GE’s fall in market capitalization over time is not something that should surprise us.

    Jack Welch the CEO of GE loved playing the “finite game” with most emphasis given to short term performance and financial numbers.

    Gradually this finite mindset , with the metrics focused on performance , pitted the individual employees against one another.The work culture started deteriorating and in turn employees lost faith in the work culture.

    This was inevitable keeping in mind that the game of business is an “infinite one” with employees as the drivers of growth and success.

    Had it not been for the $139 bail out given to GE by the US Government in 2008 , the once iconic company would have been history by now.

    Simon Sinek in his book titled “The Infinite Game” outlines the finite mindset of Jack Welch and how it eroded the work culture of GE and hence led to the downfall of the once iconic organization , in the long run.

    Please find below the links that highlight the shortsightedness of Jack Welch as a leader that has landed GE in a quagmire.

    Source – theweek.com

    https://theweek.com/articles/761357/fall-ge

    Source – foxnews.com

    https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/general-electric-the-worst-bailout-in-the-world

  • What is unique to “The Container Store”?

    The Container Store’s unique “employee centered”  work culture has enabled it to be known as one of the best workplaces.

    Source – consciouscompanymedia.com

    https://consciouscompanymedia.com/workplace-culture/how-the-container-store-built-its-legendary-culture-by-embracing-wellness-in-the-workplace/

    The link gives us insights as to how embracing wellness at the workplace has enabled the store to develop a legendary infinite minded culture.

    During the recession of 2008 , the employees were willing to cut corners in order to save job cuts.Executives entitled for expensive business hotels sacrificed them for cheap hotels in order to help save fellow employees from getting fired , during the tough times.

    Simon Sinek , in his book titled “The Infinite Game” , cites various examples of “The Container Store” and its unique employee centered work culture that has made it well equipped to play the infinite game of business.

  • Does “hitting a goal” give us fulfillment?

    Human beings right from the caveman times have been social animals always craving for human bonds

    With the rise of “nuclear families” & focus on short term goals we have started becoming more self centred

    In the modern day hitting goals , short term targets are given lot of priority.This is like addiction and is like a “dopamine” shot.This can never give us true fulfillment since we cannot trick the human brain.

    True fulfillment results when we do something for others out of generosity expecting nothing in return.This is when “oxytocin” flows and makes us realize the true value of human bonds

    Adopted from Simon Sinek’s book titled “The Infinite Game”

  • “Work culture” & its two components

    Culture in any work environment is a function of two essential components:

    1) Values & 2) Behavior

    A value system is nurtured by the leadership.If the value system encourages a long term infinite mindset it has a wonderful effect and makes people feel safe and encouraged.The vice versa is true as well

    The value system inculcated and nurtured has a direct impact on behavior of employees.If the value system is strong it leads to trusting teams where the behavior is that of co-operation and collaboration.If the value system is weak and short term oriented , people mistrust each other , hide information and micromanagement dominates.

    Thus culture has a huge role to play in getting best out of employees

    Adopted from Simon Sinek’s book titled “The Infinite Game”

  • Three steps to “Switch” to desired behavior

    For things to change behaviour of people have to change.The change needs to impact both the rational and emotional brain.

    Three steps to effect the change:

    1) Directing the rational brain by a) Following the bright spots b) Scripting Critical Moves and c) Pointing to the destination

    2) Motivating the emotional brain by a) Finding the right feeling b)Shrinking the change to a minimum & c) Helping people grow

    3) Shaping the path from start to destination by a) Tweaking the environment to change behavior b) Build habit forming behavior & c) Rallying the herd letting the good behavior spread as a disease

    Adopted from Chip and Dan Heath’s book titled “Switch”

  • Three steps to “Switch” to desired behavior

    For things to change behaviour of people have to change.The change needs to impact both the rational and emotional brain.

    Three steps to effect the change:

    1) Directing the rational brain by a) Following the bright spots b) Scripting Critical Moves and c) Pointing to the destination

    2) Motivating the emotional brain by a) Finding the right feeling b)Shrinking the change to a minimum & c) Helping people grow

    3) Shaping the path from start to destination by a) Tweaking the environment to change behavior b) Build habit forming behavior & c) Rallying the herd letting the good behavior spread as a disease

    Adopted from Chip and Dan Heath’s book titled “Switch”

  • Taming the “problem seeking” rational brain

    Three steps involved in helping the rational mind focus towards a goal even when it is faced with a problematic situation:

    1) Focus on the bright spots

    2) Provide crystal clear direction to reach from start to finish

    3) Script the critical moves involved with the above two points

    Adopted from Chip and Dan Heath’s book titled “Switch”

  • How great leaders inspire their teams?

    Truly infinite minded great leaders understand the psychology of their team members to perfection

    When faced with crisis situationsn, the natural instinct of the rational mind is to think too much about the problems.

    The emotional or limbic brain as well , lacks direction from the rational brain and sends negative vibes

    A visionary calms down the rational mind with crystal clear direction to remove any ambiguity.Such a direction by focusing on bright spots send right signals to the limbic brain.

    To add on to this , the leader motivated motivates the limbic brain by showing the way to dispel any negativity

    These end up inspiring the teams to fight crisis situations.

    Adopted from Chip and Dan Heath’s book titled “Switch”

  • Overcoming “resistance” towards change

    The human rational brain has an inherent tendency to look out for problems

    When faced with change the problems associated with the change take centre stage.

    The best way to thus calm down the rational brain is to provide a crystal clear direction that the rational brain can follow to avoid ambiguity.

    Adopted from Chip and Dan Heath’s book titled “Switch”

  • What’s working right now?

    Whenever we are faced with a crisis , problem or epidemic the rational brain of human beings has too many questions to answer.

    When faced with a multitude of options , the rational brain undergoes “analysis paralysis”

    In such a situation very seldom people think “Whats working right now?”If we do and focus on the bright spots several new vistas open up.

    Adopted from the book titled “Switch” by Chip and Dan Heath