Wednesday 31 January 2018

Profit is not a reason for being in business

For many years I've been saying:

Profit is not a reason for being in business rather a result of being good at business.

I've be ridiculed many times for saying this.

The ridicule is much less today because the evidence is now overwhelming!

I love this from the B team paper 'New Ways Of Working' which you can download here.


What's your purpose (reason for being in business)?

Be remarkable.
Ian

Monday 29 January 2018

An 18 year old idea whose time has come?

I've began discussions with my publishing adviser about adding platforms like Amazon to how people can access my writings.

As a part of this I've begun reviewing my out of print books with the view to updating and republishing. In this regard I haven't yet got past my first book that was published in 2000 (except that it will need a new cover)!

I introduced the concept of a five-fold bottom line (pictured below) in this book. The concept didn't really take off. Below the picture is part of what I originally wrote in the book.

I would be very grateful for your thoughts as to whether or not you believe the concept has a place in the world of purpose-driven or conscious businesses which I see as the future. Please email me at ian@ianberry.biz

Thank you in advance.

Be remarkable.
Ian


"In an excellent book, ‘Intelligent Leadership, Alistair Mant says “The evidence suggests that confidence in political leaders is diminishing, to the point where the democratic process itself is threatened. Confidence in the morals and capability of business leadership has also diminished…It doesn’t stop there.  Confidence in public administrators, trade unions, senior military officers, church leaders, teachers, and even parents has been shaken by the manifest failure of all kinds of institutions to cope intelligently with change.”

I agree with this author’s assessment.  A major reason for this crisis of confidence is a biased focus on economics.  The ultimate measurement it seems is how much it costs or how much we make; and people are suffering as a consequence.  

Organisations must make economic profits, however, to increase profits without hurting people we must broaden our focus to include other bottom lines.

A few years ago I was a member of a Business SA lunch time audience who listened intently to futurist Richard Neville espouse the value to organisations of pursuing a ‘triple bottom line’. This is the traditional way of assessing an organisation’s performance, which is economic prosperity, plus two more recent ways, environmental sustainability and social responsibility.

The discussion around the table that day was a mixture of optimism and pessimism.  For some, making money and being socially responsible was seen as impossible at worst and difficult at best.  For some, the very idea of being able to maximise monetary profits while at the same time caring for the environment, was seen as desirable yet very difficult to achieve.

For others, the ‘triple bottom line’ had strong appeal; indeed some were already pursuing it.

I left lunch that day deep in thought. Organisations must be economically prosperous in order to grow.  Is it possible to make money and care for people and the environment at the same time?

My answer has become a resounding YES.  Profit and people do not need to be opposing forces and neither do profits and caring for the environment.  

My research has lead me however to the conclusion that success with a ‘triple bottom line’ will not be enough for us to restore our confidence in our leaders.  Two further bottom lines are required for the very survival of the human race.  These are spiritual validity and universal harmony. 

The Five-Fold Bottom Line

Economic Prosperity:  Making monetary profit is essential for personal and business sustainability and growth; and for our being able to choose our lifestyle now and in the future.

Social Responsibility:  All organisations are made up of individual people.  The cost, and not just economically, of unhealthy and unhappy workers is probably immeasurable. Therefore every organisation has a role to play in helping to prevent social ills.  Businesses must be responsible members of the communities in which we operate. Corporate citizenship is now much more than a sneaky way to promote our brands. 

Environmental Sustainability:  Once, most of us turned a blind eye to waste disposal and a myriad of other environmental disasters. Thankfully most of us no longer do.  As the simple weekly collection of recyclable items in many Australian neighbourhoods demonstrates we can save our planet if we work together.  All businesses have a clear obligation to obtain and dispose of resources in ways that protect and sustain our environment.

Universal Harmony:  We are living in a global village.  The Internet in particular makes it possible to do business with almost anyone, almost anywhere, almost any time.  We are also at war in many places despite the obvious fact that war never leads to peace. As businesses we must ensure that what we make, sell and deliver does not, in any way, contribute to local or global disharmony.  Organisations increasingly have a role to help bring about and sustain universal harmony. 

Spiritual Validity:  In survey after survey what we repeatedly find is that people want, above all else, to be genuinely valued.  For a business this takes much more than being socially responsible.  At no previous time in history has there been such a search for meaning.  Many people are searching outside of the church for spiritual answers. The workplace can no longer be a place where people are treated as mere commodities, or God forbid, resources. 

We must build workplaces that are uplifting for the human spirit.  A bottom line that honours and values the spirit of all people leads to greater performance in all other areas. Organisations who ignore this do so at their peril.

These five bottom lines must be our targets."

Friday 26 January 2018

What values are really

The drum I beat continually is that values aren't words on walls or words anywhere else. Values are behaviours.

So I love this from the Netflix culture deck which you can view here.


Be remarkable.
Ian



Wednesday 24 January 2018

H2H Performance Catalyzer

Very soon H2H Performance Catalyzer will be available to you to support our work together.

Please view the slideshare below or via this webpage and respond accordingly.




Be remarkable.
Ian

Monday 22 January 2018

The two great questions to begin each day with

Experiment with writing down your answers to these questions in your journal every day for a month.

If you don't yet have a journal experiment with this too!

Be remarkable.
Ian

PS I'd love to know what difference undertaking this experiment makes in your life. Please let me know by email ian@ianberry.biz or text +61418807898.

Friday 19 January 2018

The 5 most valuable skills you need to thrive in the new world of work


I wrote about the great Metaskills book by Marty Neumeier here.

In this equally great book (learn more about it here) the author suggests the following as the 5 most valuable skills of the 21st century: empathizing, collaborating, creating, leading and building relationships.

What 5 skills would you nominate as must have's for you to thrive in the new world of work?

Be remarkable.
Ian

PS Great food for thought here (10 future skills from Institute for the Future for the University of Phoenix Research Institute.

Wednesday 17 January 2018

Who to be in a world of three zeros

These are two of the books that I completed reading over my summer break.



Both books tackle the current challenges of our world in different yet complimentary ways.

I've added both these book to my recommended reading list which you can download here.

You can read my Amazon reviews for three zeros here and who do we choose to be here.

Who will you become? What will you do next?

Be remarkable.
Ian

Monday 15 January 2018

Appreciation, Accountability and Algorithms

I recently updated my full recommended reading list. You can download it here.

One of the books added was 'Adults in the Room' by former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis. I've become a fan of Yanis and noted below in one of his recent blog posts

"We can not subcontract the discussions about what is proper, what is just, what is fair, what is right, to some algorithm, to any algorithm - even to the most fascinatingly brilliant algorithm. These are always going to be the result of debate, of dialogue, of ‘agora’ in the ancient Greek tradition. Of sitting around and discussing until the cows come home - there is no escape from that.” 
Yanis Varoufakis

The rage is everything digital. I believe it's overrated. Yes digital has an important place in the future yet only in my view if it enhances the human experience and solves human problems.

Most of the talk and the reality is about making more stuff. Most of us don't need anymore stuff!

The future I want to co-create is about being better humans. Debate and dialogue referenced above about this in person is far more valuable that anything online.

All human beings have aspirations. New world of work leaders know intimately the aspirations of their colleagues and therefore can have both appreciation and accountability conversations. These are foundational to healthy debate and dialogue.


Knowing your own and other people’s aspirations is the edge of two sides of the coin of appreciation and accountability. One without the other doesn’t lead to performance improvement. Appreciation conversations in harmony with accountability conversations leads to performance improvement.

Here’s the first of 45 simple yet profound communication techniques that I teach my clients.

The Double A Technique

Ask: “How are things going?”

When you get a positive response:
 
Ask: “How does that make you feel?”
(be quiet and pay attention)

Then say, Great, Brilliant or whatever is appropriate.

Then ask: “Any other areas I can help you with?”
(be quiet and pay attention)


When you get a negative response

Ask: “What happened?” (be quiet and pay attention)

Then Ask: “What do you need to do to get back on track?”
(be quiet and pay attention)

 Then Ask: “Is there anything I can do to help you?”
(be quiet and pay attention)

Finally, Ask: “Anything else?”
(be quiet and pay attention)

How could you do better in having appreciation and accountability conversations with your workmates?

In the video below I demonstrate this technique.

I can promise you this: become an expert at having appreciation and accountability conversations each day and optimum performance will follow.


Today more than ever technological change is replacing jobs. Half of the jobs available today will be gone in a decade or less.

This is because machines will soon do most of the algorithmic work, the simple, routine, and repetitive. I think this is a good thing for it means there's great opportunity for us humans.

Conversations like the above help people to be remarkable and do work that is meaningful for them and highly valuable for others. This is the future of human work.

Who will you become? What will you do next?

Be remarkable.
Ian

Friday 12 January 2018

Being one of the few remarkable communicators and conversationalists

The above is a slide from Google's culture deck which you can view along with those of several organisations here (Hubspot, Nordstrom and Netflix are my favourites).

Sadly remarkable communication and conversations are rare in most organisations.

Here's 3 suggestions drawn from Hubspot's culture deck at the above site and pictured below.

1) When you send a message check in with the receiver/s to ensure message effectiveness.

2) Make it a work it progress to keep on getting better at how you send messages.
Remember it's often not what you say rather how you say it.

3) Get professional help with your presentation skills and particularly the art of sharing stories other people can feel themselves in.

Should you like some help with any of the above please contact me on +61 418 807 898.

Who will you become? What will you do next?

Be remarkable.
Ian

Wednesday 10 January 2018

The number one role of leadership

For me the number one role of leadership is to unleash and enhance your own and other people's gifts.

I have recently put together a new presentation that looks at this from many different angles in order to help you to be the best version of you in your own best way. 

You can learn more about this presentation here or download the details here.
My friends and colleagues Jim Cathcart and Glenn Capelli would say Nurture Your Nature (Jim) and Quiddity (Glenn - see my previous post here).

Stephen Covey said Voice and the Japanese say Ikigai. One of my all time favourite presenters Sir Ken Robinson would say element. The great dancer Martha Graham would have said a vitality, a life force, a quickening.

In the book that has greatly influenced my life, Hero of a Thousand Faces, author Joseph Campbell said Follow Your Bliss.

And in a sentence that sends shivers up my spine every time I say it Steven Farber says Do what you love in the service of people who love what you do.

I love all of these wonderful insights into being the best version of ourselves, that one-of-a-kind human being that each of us is.

Nature Quiddity Voice Ikigai Element Vitality Bliss Love Music Gifts

In my work since 1991 I’ve used Gift because that was how I learned this proven principle from it’s originator and my best friend Terry Jenner (TJ). Learn more about the origins in this short video and this tribute post to TJ.

I sometimes use Music to reference Gfits because it’s deeply personal too as I explore in the short video below.



Premise and key outcomes for you of my new presentation

Learning in your own best way how to unleash and enhance your

Nature Quiddity Voice Ikigai Element Vitality Bliss Love Music Gifts

And helping other people to do the same is the number one role of leadership.

In this presentation I explore tailor-made ways to do this and therefore co-create a workplace where people feel valued, live values and deliver value.

Key messages

A deep understanding that the above is a way of being and that the greatest sustainable success is always about who before do.

This way of being leads to people feeling valued which paves the way for living values and delivering value in ways that are very difficult to emulate, which gives your business competitive advantage.

There is no greater calling than to become a Leadership Valueologist in your own best way, because doing so leads to better business results at less personal cost: Leadership Valueologist (verb) - person fully committed to the art, life-long learning, unlearning and relearning, and daily practice of fully appreciating and getting the best out of themselves and other people, and ensuring people feel valued, live values and deliver value.

You can learn more about this presentation here or download the details here.

Who will you become? What will you do next?

Be remarkable.
Ian

Monday 8 January 2018

In your quest, quirks and quiddity you can see who is the best version of you

In a recent conversation with my friend and colleague Glenn Capelli I learned about quiddity.

And it dawned on me that for the last 27 years of my life I have had the awesome privilege of helping people to find your quiddity (essence). I'm very grateful. Thank You.

It brings me great joy when you find it. For I get to see a human being fully alive. There’s nothing more remarkable.


You can download my Changing What's Normal book with my compliments here.

There’s no greater quest than to be and become the best version of you.

“To be who we are, and to become all that we’re capable of becoming, is the only purpose in life” said Robert Louis Stevenson.

May the following help you to find your quiddity.

From the Cambridge dictionary

Quest - a long search for something that is difficult to find, or an attempt to achieve something difficult:

Quirk - an unusual habit or part of someone's personality, or something that is strange and unexpected:

Quiddity - the basic nature or quality of something, that makes it different from other things:

What’s unusual (not normal) about you?

What’s odd about you?

What’s uniquely quirky about your nature?

Take time to carefully answer to these questions and uncover your essence.

Then decide how you can best bring your essence to your life, play and work.

The Crayon Song
By Keith McDonald and Glenn Capelli

There are a host of crayons and colours
Inside of you and me
When we believe in our magic
We can set the colours free

We are born with a million crayons
Talents with which to amaze
When we perceive it start to believe it
Beauty comes in every day

 With our love: we can colour it, we can do it
With our love: we have the magic, we are the beauty
With our love: we can do it, ‘me and you’ it
With our love, love, love in a billion shades

We all have a colour-in book
Our journal for our life
We can leave it or we can colour it
We can bring ourselves to life

Each of us has a million crayons
Some of us have room to play
We can share some of our own space
Then others can find their way
We all live with a magical potential
We need to live it well
Things we create can be good for others
And be good for our selves

“Leadership is about making sure the best version of you speaks to the best version of us.”
Matt Church

“I think that the most productive thing to do during times of change is be your best self, not the best version of someone else.”
Seth Godin

Here’s how I can help you to be and become the best version of you in 2018.

In the new world of work technology is rapidly taking over algorithmic work - the simple, routine and repeatable.

This represents a wonderful opportunity for you as a one-of-a-kind human being. You get to be remarkable, and do meaningful for you and highly valuable for others work.

The key to being remarkable is discovering and living your quiddity. I wish you well.

Be remarkable.
Ian

Friday 5 January 2018

Different often leads to better

I was born left-handed. In their so-called wisdom teachers changed me to be right-handed. They we're wrong. Nevertheless I was stuck with it.

Today I write left-handed as a way of meditating. I'm much slower left-handed and need to be deliberate.

I've made some of my great discoveries writing left-handed.

For the next few days try cleaning your teeth with a different hand to so called normal.

In the next few weeks undertake routines in different ways.

I reckon you'll discover that different often leads to better.

Be remarkable.
Ian

Wednesday 3 January 2018

6 talent magnets of a great culture

I value this white paper by OC Tanner. You can download it yourself here.

Here's some extracts:


“Purpose means connecting employees to your organization’s reason for being or the difference you make in the world.

Opportunity means providing employees the ability to learn new skills, develop, and contribute.

Success means giving employees the opportunity to innovate, do meaningful work, and be on winning teams.

Appreciation means acknowledging and recognizing employees’ outstanding work and unique contributions.

Wellbeing means paying attention to and constantly working to improve employees’ physical, social, emotional, and financial health.

Leadership means connecting employees to purpose, empowering them to do great” 

30% of employees say their organization’s purpose does not reflect what is important to them.

More than 1 in 3 employees are ‘often’ bored with their work responsibilities.

42% of employee believe it goes unnoticed when they reach a goal.

Less than half of employees say they always feel appreciated at work.

More than 1 in 3 employees say their job has a negative effect on their physical health.

35% of employees do not trust senior leaders at their organization.

Our research shows focusing on these six areas yields incredible business results. When we compared average companies to companies who do marginally better on purpose, opportunity, success, appreciation, wellbeing, and leadership, we saw staggering improvements like these:

54% more likely to have employees that are Promoters on the standard NPS scale
53% more likely to have highly engaged employees
29% more likely to have employees innovating and performing great work
27% more likely to have increased in revenue last year
22% less likely to have experienced layoffs in the last year
25% more likely to have teams growing in size instead of stagnating or decreasing in the last year."

Be remarkable
Ian

Monday 1 January 2018

The test of first-rate of intelligence

Happy New Year!

May 2018 be your best year yet.

A key will be how intelligent you are when you're making decisions.

Image courtesy of Pinterest
Be remarkable.
Ian