Top 5 - 2016

Friends -
I have been posting my top 5 albums for nearly a decade on this blog and to you via email in years prior. In 2016, it was all I could do not to post my Top 20 favorite albums. Indeed, the year past may have been the best year in the History of Music!

Kate Tempest, Frank Ocean and Banks & Steelz released hip hop albums that in equal parts dwarfed the industry heavy hitters and simply expounded the craft.

Snowglobe, AJJ, LVL Up & Car Seat Headrest brought the Elephant 6 Collective into the new century.

Our old friends Nada Surf & Okkervil River returned with the best work of their storied musical histories.

Joyce Manor, Modern Baseball, Weezer and The Front Bottoms proved that emo / or pop-punk / or whatever you call it is... awesome!

Radiohead put out the best record of their career... and if they are the best band ever.... this could be the Greatest Record Of All Time!

We lost so many extraordinary legends of the craft in 2016 but I will not place them into an obligatory list simply to oblige tribute... because that would make them puke in their graves.

Here are the Top 5 Albums of 2016:

5. Cardinal by Pinegrove

"... My steps keep splitting my grief through these solipsistic moods... I should call my parents when I think of them... should tell my friends when I love them ... "

My friend Bob Boilen introduced me to Pinegrove while boarding a plane back home for a friend's funeral. This album captured the moment to perfection and stuck with me all year. As a man who seldom sees his high school friends, the sentiment of this entire album is a wonderful reminder if not a sorrowful aside. Most impressive is the maturity of these young men in their lyrical craft and sonic layering. New Jersey could very well be the future of Indie Rock!

4. Kindly Now by Keaton Henson

"Those who hate Los Angeles have never been in love"

This record melts from song to song, the emotion of each pouring into the next. Songs that evoke heartbreak while shining a glimmer of hope. Piano balladry foreshadowing the subtle evocation of Henson's story telling. This record finds a calm place amid all the chaos: a person in a crowded airport feeling completely alone, someone hiding in their headphones on a busy city street, a drive out to the country to get away from it all.

A revelation. A cleansing of the soul.  

3. Ruminations by Conor Oberst

"When it came time to stand with him you scattered with the rats"

The vanguards of Indie Rock seem to be the victim of their own excellence. Bands like Death Cab for Cutie, Band of Horses, Built to Spill and The Decemberists are taken for granted. No one suffers the expectation of perfection more than the moon-faced boy from Omaha. Conor Oberst has been part of the scene in different machinations since his prepubescent years but has always found ways to evolve.

Ruminations is a collection of Piano laments that remind us of Conor Oberst's command of lyrical prose. A much needed reminder of the power of simplicity.  

2. 22, A Million by Bon Iver

"I worried 'bout rain and I worried 'bout lightning but I watched them off to the light of the morning"

It was "Woods" off of the Blood Bank EP that would take us from the cabin crooning of Skinny Love to Kayne West sampling. Today, Justin Vernon has found a way to translate the world's most-annoying studio crutch into a catapult of emotion. This algorithm to the human soul brings sparse landscape highlighted by bold shimmering lightening off in the distance. The journey from the trail gate to meadow leaves the listener wanting more, searching, pleasantly lacking appeasement.

Raw emotion packaged in auto-tune to protect the heart of the innocent bystander in headphones.    

1. Winter Wheat by John K. Samson

"Most of us probably not getting better, but not getting better... together"

Weakerthan frontman, John K. Samson has a way with words. He knows how to weave the complexity of technology through the simple landscapes of his dark, lonely Canadian home... all with a tip of the cap and a heart full of pride. His albums never seem to have a directly intended thread and his avoidance of chorus creation conveys open-road windshield provocation. Winter Wheat is a collection of short stories that touch every part of our day, week, month.... and everyone we meet in-between.

As an aside:
It was difficult not to lose faith in Humanity in 2016, amid the election and the social abuses ignited on both sides of the broken fence. Social & Popular Media were flooded with false information created to provoke hatred in an effort to divide us. It was impossible to ignore and harder not to get upset. Can it then be said that there has never been a more critical time for the influence of the arts(?)

The good news is that after all the machines are turned off and the talking heads eat themselves, we have the opportunity to vacate the grid for a short while. The according soundtrack listed above.

Thank You For Listening!

~ Dave

3 Pearls

Business is growing ever-complex: more vendors doing more things, shrinking company budgets, a workforce starving for opportunity and a quest to find what really matters to those you seek to recruit. There are consultants and technologies and process flows and hierarchies and interactive templates and places to be and people who want to be there.

It's All Pretty Exhausting!

So there you are in an airport bar, hanging your head in your beer, trying to understand how after two decades of professional experience you still haven't mastered your trade.

When the devices are turned off, the consultants go home and people stop telling you what you HAVE TO DO; only one thing matters:

Human Compassion!

If you reflect on the key points in your career you'll be reminded less of some mind-blowing gadget and more by advice you have received.

Having been in technology sales for nearly 20 years I am ever-surprised by humanity's inexhaustible ability to rear it's head when we need it most.

Follow me as we reflect upon the Human Stuff:

Don't Go Getting Insecure
My Boss had flown in for a major presentation. I got my suit dry cleaned, my car washed, my hair cut and shaved my pretty little face. I picked him up at the airport eager to impress. I was excited to show off how awesome I was in front of our customers.

We arrived to the appointment to discover our contact was not there....

As we walked back to the parking garage, I searched for an explanation for a circumstance that was out of my control.

When we got back in the car I offered 30 sentences deflecting blame in an effort to save face.

My boss put his hand on my shoulder and said:

"Don't Go Getting Insecure On Me"

We tend to scramble when times get tough, when our back is against the wall, when our production isn't perfect.... That's the worst thing we can do!

The minute you start doubting yourself, you empower the irrelevance of the unknown. It's a fools game!

You Are Not Going to Change Them, You Are Going to Become One of Them
The progression as far as I knew was simple: perform exceptionally well as a representative, get promoted to manger.. then director... then VP. I was more talented and more determined than anyone around me and I wasn't going to relent until I landed in the C Suite.

... I was ill-informed ...

The most-talented people didn't always get promoted & determination was often perceived as selfishness.

Happiness is not dictated by your organizational title. Some of the most-miserable people I know have high profiles and big pay checks.

When I stopped worrying about the status others assigned me, I started carving it out for myself.

You Seem Like You'd Be A Good Dad
Every morning I would get in early to chat with our Operations Manager. He had no influence on my career development, was not a vanguard for organizational advancement and would be fired a few years into my employment at company X. But he could really weave a story! We talked about PEOPLE in all the places he had been. We talked about music and movies and sports. He spoke with a voice that mirrored a journalist. He could make any topic seem worthy of pursuit and we never talked about work.

It was not the big bonus paychecks I received at the company, the onstage accolades for sales performance or the trophies that would soon gather dust in my mothers house that ended up being important. When the reality of my sweetie being pregnant arrived in our morning conversations, the man who meant nothing to my career development, told me the most important thing I needed to hear:

"I don't know where this company is going or any of the things you'll achieve in the next 50 years, but you seem like you'll be a good dad"

He was right... in so many ways!

Don't Forget to Remember!

Dave

The Fishing Rod Dilemma

I never liked the phrase Employee Recognition; it just seemed to affiliate pats on the back with showing up... a benefit more than a measure for compensation, a "nice to have" more than a critical measurement of success. It should also be noted that the concept of Employee Recognition was created by fulfillment houses and "off the shelf" technology activators.

Recognition evolved into Engagement when organizations sought to understand the return on their investment in a bunch of trophies. 

The question emerged: how can we replace trinkets with platforms for skill development?

We've also learned that incenting just revenue or individual product movement can inspire manipulation while ignoring opportunity for Behavior Change.

But, there is still hope for Employee Recognition.....

Look not at what you see in the open field. Turn to the forest to identify a pathway through the trees.

More than giving a logo-ed lamp for showing up, we need to focus on three key areas:
1. Individual Development
2. Visibility of Achievement
3. Flipping the Process

The Lone Wolf
After great research Adamson & Dixon identified 5 personality types in sales professionals that amplified (or deterred) success. They found the best contributors exhibited behaviors synonymous with informing the process and collaboration. They called out reps with a "Lone Wolf" mentality as determined but not fully formed.

What if self-determination is all you need?

Any honest Manager would tell you that they seek to recruit people who require as little attention as possible. Self-sufficient and confident are key traits of The Lone Wolf. People develop the Lone Wolf mentality when they have experience, self-confidence, an extended personal network and intense solution-based knowledge.

In truth, we've overlooked the fact that the Lone Wolf could indeed be our greatest asset!

Your best reps may not want to take a trip to Hawaii, they'd rather be DOING their job than talking about doing their job.

If we can give them the tools, trust them to execute and provide self-administered tools of Recognition... everyone will be happier, more productive and less distracted by the obligatory.

SCARF
Where Employee Recognition has evolved into Employee Engagement, Performance Management is the next wave in recognizing successful behavior traits.

The SCARF methodology was created to give Employees that ability to stack rank their individual preferences for advancement. These personality types range from those seeking public validation to those who simply want to be left to their own accord (there's the Lone Wolf again).

The S in SCARF stands for Status. Here, we're detecting a characteristic that directly rivals The Lone Wolf (a distinctly different, but eqaully effective, avenue for Recognition).

More than money, organizational purpose or flexibility; there are those who want to move up the ladder. Their thirst for recognition thrives in the publication of their achievement and the opportunity said publicity may create.

Commercial Insight
There was a time when sales people wore suits and attended seminars on "how to sell". Turns out, the best way to convince someone to do something is by showing them how it works and why it is important to them.

How do you know what's important to them?

Replace sales training with research!

You could reward your revenue producers with incentives on products or by revenue increase but recent case studies have revealed a danger in game less-than-fool-proof rule structures.

Its time to revisit Autonomy (see SCARF methodology).

When people are entrusted to develop expertise, they create a knowledge base that cannot boxed or sold:

• This turns salespeople into consultants
• Takes the commodity out of the equation
• Creates irreplaceable value

... The concept of Commercial Insight is another from the pages of Adamson & Dixon that empowers employees to develop a path to their own Engagement.

Independence can indeed be more important than collective effort!

The challenges we set forth for ourselves can be more demanding (and therefore rewarding) than any cookie cutter corporate objective.

With Big Wins rooted in personal development, Employee Engagement becomes Employee Euphoria!

The Power of Reciprocity
If you are still struggling to understand if the intent of your effort will yield results....

Throw a Boomerang into the Wind!

Organizations have for so long been in the mindset of commanding that they may have failed to notice they get back what they give to their employees....

Good for Good & Bad for Bad!

Instead of forcing employees to buy into the mission why not let them create for themselves?

Don't Forget to Remember!

Dave

It Can Happen

It's been a strange year.......

• The Presidential election has created bewilderment, dismay and frustration across our United States.  
• Seems all of our heroes are dying.
• People who influence ours lives probably shouldn't.
• Everyone is now a cyber journalist.

So what can we do? 

Ignoring the world around us may calm our spirits temporarily but lack of information can stunt progression.  

We could consume said information with vigor and fight everyone who is less-informed.

Or.... Maybe..... 

We should concentrate of creating the future. 

Do you genuinely enjoy your job?

Do you surround yourself with people who make you a better human being?

What if you replaced your anger with uncompromising positivity?

It's Not "Just Work"

I remember being caught up in a mundane dispute at work to which my boss finally replied, "it's just a stupid sales job, who cares?"

I care! A Lot! ... and you should too. 

If your career lasts 40 years (which is entirely possible) you will spend 100,000 hours at work. Why spend it doing something you don't like? Or at a company with which you are not morally synchronized? Or working for a boss who does not respect you?

These are the BIG questions that we seldom ponder.... and then we die!

Yes Men (No Ma'am)!

I know people who acquaint themselves with a passive audience to validate the bravado that protects them from success. Those around them will only cheer their belligerence, they will only help fuel self-hatred and mask it as enlightenment. 

Don't do it! 

I love my wife because she reminds me that I am acting like an idiot when my better judgment takes a nap. A great boss will listen to your concerns but remind you of the task at hand. Even God will show you the err of your ways when you are ignoring life's challenges.

Never Give Up!

In life there are creative people and smart people and people who know how to command a situation. You should strive to master all these things... and commit to work your ass off! Hard work is the only human process that directly correlates to success. 

The people who have learned to work smart learned from the experience of working hard. No one ever went into anything half-ass-ed and created anything worth emulating.

Life is short and fragile and you get to a certain point where you determine what is worth fighting for. Spending your time on anything other than that which you would die for is really just meandering in the waiting room.

Don't Forget to Remember!

Dave 

Employee Recognition: Picking Up The Pieces

As I enter my 10th year in the Human Capital Management space, I figured it would be beneficial to my readers to reflect on how our industry has (and has not) evolved over the last decade's time.

* The following scenarios are built on real life business engagements. The names have been changed to protect the innocent.

Case Study #1: A Story of Manipulation
Employee A (Let's call him Carl) had worked for Company X (let's call it Pied Piper) for a calendar year. After 3 failed endeavors at Bay Area start ups, Carl was looking for something more stable. He had a single motivating factor: MONEY!

Work at a Large Corporate Technology firm was different than the start up world: Bureaucracy was thick, rule structure was more intense and cashing out was trumped by climbing the ladder. So how could he climb the ladder?

Achieving sales results did not come as easily in an Enterprise role at a large company and Carl struggled in this first year. The results weren't there so he needed another tool to help get him promoted. Then it hit him like a lightening bolt..... his company had announced the end of the annual performance review process to be replaced with a high touch performance management system (even large corporations cannot refute common sense). The performance management process was positioned as a pro-active measure to build the internal talent pool.

Carl's bargaining chip? Employee Recognition would be leveraged as part of the Performance Management system. Carl's job was simple, he sent an email to roughly 100 colleagues asking them to participate in an experiment (he even went-so-far as to title his email "An Experiment In Human Compassion"). Carl asked each of his colleagues to send him a recognition through their peer to peer system. He offered to return the gesture. Carl was a fun guy at happy hour so getting his peers to buy-in was no problem. Within a week, Carl shot to the top of Recognition Leaderboard. This flagged him as an 'up and comer' in the system and garnered him an opportunity to apply for a Management position.

Carl was promoted to Management, 8 employees left under his reign and he was fired less than a year later.

The company lost great performers and the recognition program was tarnished.

What's worse? The company was sued by an employee who was passed over for promotion sighting leadership development as a popularity contest. (Carl's "Human Compassion" email was submitted into evidence).

Lesson Learned: Using Recognition as a Performance Lever is Dangerous Business!

Case Study #2: A Shattered Cookie Cutter
The message was simple, "we need to cut costs so any programs that are not mission-critical are to be discontinued". The CEO was very clear in her directives so the formal recognition program was removed. This program had operated with over 90% adoption for nearly 10 years (CRM adoption hovered at about 38%).

With the program removed a caveat was dangled. Keeping our employees engaged is job one so we are reconstructing programs that will streamline appreciation:

1. Employees would go to dinner with their supervisor if they qualified as a top quarterly achiever.
2. Employees who hit a tenure milestone would receive a letter from the CEO and a gift card.

When Employee A (let's call her Nancy) hit her 20 year anniversary with the company, she received a form letter from the CEO and a $250 gift card. She tested the signature on the letter but it did not smudge. Then she pulled out her i-phone to use the calculator.

$1.73 a month. That's what her contribution to the organization was worth.

She flipped over the form letter, wrote two words on the back, grabbed a picture of her kids from her desk and headed out the door.....

I QUIT          

Lesson Learned: No Recognition is Better Than Thoughtless Recognition!

Case Study #3: Leadership Jumps on the Manipulation Train 
The VP of HR sent out the annual employee survey at the tail end of the 7 paragraph diatribe. The message offered a proverbial laundry list of all of the "perks and benefits" of working at Company X. Benefits packages, non-guaranteed pay increases, company functions and education aid were all mentioned as the things that made Company X a "Great Place to Work". Mr. HR Guy included a mention of half day Fridays during the summer months if the company hit their revenue goal.

Filling out the survey was mandatory. Managers received bonuses for "5" rating across the board and were regulated for examination if any of their team dipped below last year's survey results.

The survey structure was based on the following:
1. Make the Great Place to Work list and Senior Managers receive a bonus.
2. Managers who average a "5" receive a bonus.
3. Managers who's average scores wavered were consulted by HR as to what to do to ensure employees "no longer seemed discontent".

The leader of the Human Engagement process allowed his greed to override a prime opportunity to receive feedback from the trenches. He did not receive his bonus.

Managers were subjected to adversarial relationships with employees: meeting with each of them to guess who used what comment to berate them while urging employees to keep their comments in-house.

The results of the survey were skewed. Employees who wished to stay in their managers good graces "marked 5 to survive". Those who saw through the hypocrisy of the exercise gave lower scores than they otherwise would have to mock Leadership's misunderstanding of workforce engagement!  

Lesson Learned: Surveys Are An Opportunity to Identify Areas of Improvement not a Meter for Compensation!

The Recognition industry was built by fulfillment houses who's strengths lie in purchasing & distribution. Times have caught up with them. It's 2016 and systems of feedback and leadership development are far more important to today's employee than a logo-ed lamp.

Surprises:
1. Companies are still investing heavy dollars in catalog-driven Service Anniversary programs (because employees still like them).
2. Performance Management has not replaced Employee Recognition.
3. Social Recognition has proven effective for a limited time if there is not a reward within the process of participating.
4. Results compensation programs are up to 100x more-invested than Recognition programs in the majority of companies.

Opportunity:
1. Diversify budgets to create more high touch, immediate recognition opportunity
- I've beat this horse to death since 2006 and I'm not giving up.
2. Make recognition initiatives performance based.
- It's incredibly simple to program technology to reward mission critical behaviors instead of off-the-shelf catch phrases.
3. Use Social Recognition to attract employees to a platform that offers a variety of performance-based programs.
- Consolidation enhances engagement and saves significant dollars.
4. Replace revenue improvement incentives with behavior-based development programs.
- Compensating the bottom line is easy to measure and easier to manipulate. Creating programs that promote responsible behavior geared toward relationship development will strengthen long-term organizational stability and improve revenue.

I believe the Human Capital Management industry (or whatever you want to call it) has the greatest opportunity for growth of any:

- Human Resource professionals need to continue a Change Management focus.
- Vendors should shift from reward fulfillment to active behavior change consulting.

Don't Forget to Remember!

Dave

The Future of Work

For those of you who are unaware, the Society for Human Resource Management ( #SHRM ) holds a weekly chat on Twitter. Every Wednesday over lunch we hop into interactive idea sharing of what we can do to usher change into the Corporate World. It's called #NextChat and you are free to participate in (or just troll) the conversation. I do not know of a better place for HR Professionals, Advisers & Business Partners to gather such a candid glimpse into the profession.

For over a decade, we've been tackling the Generational Life Cycle that is exercising it's inertia in the Corporate World. We've pounded our heads into the theoretical wall strewn with post it notes marking the topics of succession planning, knowledge capture and leadership development.

When I first entered the workforce, I was elated to be chosen for a Mentorship Program our company was conducting. Top Performers were to engage with V Level business leaders to have their questions answered and to be given direction. I was paired with a VP to whom I did not report for the sake of ensuring transparency and reservation of judgment. The premise was simple, the opportunity was paramount.

It Was The Greatest Opportunity of my Young Career!

... then the program started!

I got on the conference call bridge to chat with my assigned mentor, after 30 minutes of dead air, I sent him an email asking if he needed to reschedule. He never replied. A member of our HR team responded to my inquiry a few days later assuring me this person would honor their commitment next mouth. My excitement was replaced with disappointment. A month later he was kind enough to email me from his blackberry, "I'm unavailable for our call today, I've heard great things". As my peers touted the incredible insight they had gained from the program, my disengagement continued to grow. When I voiced my disappointment to my unit Vice President, she explained to me that I had to respect the fact that those in her position seldom had time for programs that didn't benefit their bottom line (those were the words used). I was encouraged to hang in there....!

What could have been the company's greatest opportunity to vitalize their internal talent pool became an example (of many) HR positioned programs that were poo poo-ed by Senior Managers.... ultimately causing a mass exodus from the company.

I've heard HR Leaders profess that they offer training, but not too much, for fear that the participants would take their skills elsewhere.

Two Reasons #Mentorship Fails:
1. Mentor Does Not Respect Mentee as an Equal
2. Mentee Challenges without Intent to Progress #nextchat

— David Kovacovich (@DavidKovacovich) August 24, 2016

In the same way I had been failed by my mentor, many extraordinarily busy people who had dedicated their time to our Mentoring program were burned. Mentees used the opportunity to bitch about the company vision, ask questions to prove they knew the answer and to challenge every word of advice the Mentor extended.

Several years later on the aforementioned #NextChat I was able to articulate the virtue (and potential draw backs) of Mentoring Programs.

A4 - Those in the Twlight of their Career Now Embrace Tomorrow's Leaders - Knowledge Share In Exchange for Adaptable Skills #nextchat

— David Kovacovich (@DavidKovacovich) August 24, 2016

When asked how Mentoring programs have changed we need only understand how the workforce has evolved. Mentors can now benefit from interactions with up-and-coming stars as much as said aspiring leaders can from those they look up to. The opportunity for Leadership to express humility may possibly be the key to Employee Engagement across the Global Spectrum.

A5 - Idea Sharing Social Technology is Allowing Mentors/Mentees Connect on a Group Level: Organization Wide Instead of One-to-One! #nextchat

— David Kovacovich (@DavidKovacovich) August 24, 2016

Where I was let down by an assigned Mentor in the past, now people can seek out advice without having to wait for it.

How Cool... to find social alignment with people you admire without waiting for an introduction.

The True Definition of #Leadership Is To Be Over-Joyed When One You Have Taught Moves Up From Under Your Wing #Mentorship #NextChat

— David Kovacovich (@DavidKovacovich) August 24, 2016

Business Leaders who seek to control based on tenure are soon to face a certain future: Early Retirement!

If you fail to realize that leadership is an act of servitude, you never were a leader!

To deter the leadership development of the next generation is no different than keeping your child from playing baseball for fear that they might be better than you were.

Don't Forget to Remember!

Dave    

The Single Most Important Lesson I've Learned

When I graduated college I was so incredibly pumped to get a "real job". Some of my friends struggled to find purpose, but I loved working! I was the first to show up to work and the last to leave. I volunteered for new assignments and always participated in team meetings. I had new ideas and I wanted them to be heard. I was intent upon moving up the ladder. I meant well but I was an enormous pain in the ass!

...Here's Why...

Despite ones intelligence or willingness to work hard, timing and respect are equally important. If you are the fastest player on the field but you don't know when to run, you will fail!

My early career could characterized by misunderstanding. I did not understand the process and my superior officers could not delineate my intention from my purpose. I wanted more than anything to succeed, not for the money, but to contribute to the world. It didn't come off that way.

Don't get me wrong, I was successful! I made a lot of money, my effort and ideas were recognized and people enjoyed working with me. I had far more positive advancements than missteps.

...But, there is one thing I could have done better.

The greatest lesson I've learned in 2 decades in Corporate America:

Do Your Fighting In The Ring!

Over time, I learned to use the word WE more than I (and to mean it). The most successful people I know always put others before themselves. Those who surround themselves with diverse skill sets and invest themselves in developing others are called leaders. I used to think promoting one's self was an act of Leadership....

Leadership is an Act of Servitude

It is so much more beneficial to your career to be a good listener as opposed to a big talker. People gravitate toward people who make them feel welcome. People want to work with people who they know they can trust.

Every great leader I know accepts their role with a certain measure of support; creating a path means walking it first.

Actions Speak Louder than Words

Most people I know who talk a lot do so to mask their insecurity. They cannot stand silence because they fear uncertainty will creep into the mind of their audience. They fill every second with noise as if to validate their uncertain thoughts through verbal white boarding.

Each person who walks into a new occupation does so with the intent to prove their worth. NO ONE wants to receive an email, hear a question or take advice from someone who has achieved nothing.

Spiking The Bullshit Meter

I can tell within 10 minutes of meeting someone if they are working an angle. Most people with whom you interface will be overwhelmed if you verbally tackle them upon introduction. People like people who ease their way into conversation. Most people like people who wait until they have something to say before they open their mouth.

We are all insecure. We all sit up at night thinking about what needs to be done to validate our existence. We all just want to contribute.

So.... Why not just perform as well as you can and allow for your results to speak for you?

I can tell you from experience that producing before you promise will help you sleep easier.

Don't Forget to Remember,

Dave

Employee Engagement: Behind The Curtain

It started with a lamp... a logo-ed lamp....

The guys who used to sell class rings out of the trunks of their cars began imprinting corporate logos to belt buckles as a side business. If you performed well, you got a trophy, literally. People appreciated the recognition ! My Dad still has every logo-ed ash tray his company gave him.... even tough he never smoked a single cigarette his entire life.

Times have changed, not as rapidly as one would have expected, but times have changed.

The Starr Conspiracy recently release a comprehensive overview of the "now referred to as" HCM space. The report will serve as a necessary wake up call to some and an astounding "finally" to others. In all their perceptive excellence, SC has spelled out today's reality:

Employee Engagement exists in sub-categories!

The guys/gals who made lamps went on using their purchasing power to buy electronics and such. No one has ever poo poo-ed a pat on the back but a logo-ed lamp never Engaged an employee. Vendors in the space protective of their bread and butter have relentlessly banged the engagement drum without the strategic capital or systems to create it.

Like the Starr Conspiracy, Rodd Wagner entered the Employee Engagement debate with the objectivity of a news beat reporter.

Wagner's research has revealed the hidden truths of employee engagement that those in the warehousing business have failed to consider.

Get Inside Their Heads
The recognition industry circles the manager/employee drain by distributing gift cards as a pat on the back. Poor managers mask their incompetence through micro-management and provide "recognition" to keep their relationships manageable.

Employees don't leave companies they leave managers.

Make Them Fearless
Have you ever hated your job? Boss is reactionary. Strategy is fragmented. Organizational direction is uncertain.

Your stomach turns on Sunday evening dreading the week ahead. You dart to Happy Hour as soon as quitting time comes around. You attend industry events, not to promote your organization, but to look for an alternative.

Life is too short to hate your profession!

The best companies are not concerned with promoting their workplace culture, they allow for organic growth. Internal promotions and word of mouth referrals save companies millions. You don't need to be voted a great place to work... all you have to do is be a great place to work.

Uncertainty kills employee engagement.

Help Them Thrive
People will work for less money if you provide them the autonomy to manage their work schedule.

If we are being honest: results are all that matter.... not where you work or when you work.

TRUST is the #1 driver of Employee Engagement.

If you allow your employees to manage their work/life balance. They will be more productive, healthier and less stressed out.

Knock Down the Silos! Flatten the Hierarchy.

Be Boldly Transparent
What is the future of Employee Engagement?

Picture this:

An employee chooses his/her areas of emphasis: Production Goals, Soft Skill Development, Leadership Development and the ability to find projects that will challenge them to transcend their comfort zone.

Employee Engagement is not about a prize, a platform or a paycheck. There is not a single solution that will make all of your employees happy.

Organizations need to embrace a conglomeration of tools, programs and opportunities for advancement.

It comes down to an employee admitting one universal truth:

I Can Do More Here Than I Can Anywhere Else!

Don't Forget to Remember!

Dave

In Commencement

To The Class of 2016 -
As the world changes you will see opportunity before you and come to understand that YOU can change the world.

There may be things in your mind that seem overwhelmingly important at the moment, they may not be. The minute you walk from the stage and flip your tassel, people will begin to tell you what is not possible, if you listen to them too intently, you will not achieve a thing.

More important than material success, you should hope to find love.

Hope?

Find?

Yes, love may be the one aspiration before you that you cannot will yourself into. It may happen over time or you may miss it because you pretended that someone else was good enough. Life is full of compromises, who you love should not be one of them.

You will put in 70 hour weeks which will create a greater appreciation for the afternoon you ditched work to go to the beach. Practice taking in the sunset for all its simple glory.

Know that people will give you advice because they genuinely care about you... and that others will give you advice to marginalize you... because they are envious of your youth.

If you find a job that you love, your life will be much easier to manage. If you find a job that you hate, you should quit before you get pulled into a life of doing what you dislike out of convenience. Convenience is the enemy!

The life events you have experienced in the last few years may seem trivial but you will look back on them fondly. Life is about to speed up with whiplash intensity. The good news is, you will find a way to slow life down when you learn how to manage your personal and professional priorities.

There are a few things that I've learned since I was your age that have resonated with me:

Just Because People Don't Say "Thank You" Doesn't Mean They Are Not Listening
We are always looking for validation, not necessarily a need for love, but the assurance that we are chasing the right rabbit. The certainty I have discovered is that supporters have a way of remaining silent. I encounter young people who thank me for a seminar I conducted three years ago, people mention blog posts without commenting on them and that guy who challenged me in a meeting may have left that meeting with a lifelong respect for me.

You cannot wait for validation from others to determine if your time is well spent. When you exhibit an unflappable belief in your purpose, your words will discover a life of their own.

What a divine opportunity... to influence others through a well-researched belief in yourself!

Be Humble in Victory and Accountable in Defeat
There are times I've been over-confident at the behest of others, such actions are shameful! There are times I've blamed my lack of results on the inefficiencies of others, equally unacceptable!

The most important lesson I have learned in life is that preparation and skill create victory. Win and celebrate peacefully when you do. There will be times when others let you down, they know they screwed up, don't rub it in!

Find Someone to Love
Your barometer for success should hinge on the hugs you receive. No one will remember the games you won, the deals you crushed or how much dough you made; they will remember the hug you gave them when their mother died.... and how much you meant it.

Find a way to care for people you do not know as much as you care for yourself.

Being in love is hard and each day has it's fair share of challenges. If you avoid the challenge, you might spend your life in the waiting room.

Life is too difficult to brave alone. The measure of your influence will determine to length of your legacy.

Hold the Door for People

Go An Entire Day Without Talking Shit About Another Person

Don't Get Too Big For Your Britches

Eat Healthy

Get Sufficient Rest

Exercise

Lay Off The Sauce

Treat Women With Respect

Allow Your Husband Some Alone Time

Listen More Than You Talk 
Never Let Anyone Put a Finger in Your Face

Don't Forget to Remember!

Dave

The Real Crux of Our Conversation

"One's greatest fear in professional life is to be in a position of having energy and ambition but no applicable skills" - Anonymous 

I have the good fortune of working with people of every age: I coach kids, counsel college men and interact professionally with people from 25 - 75 years old on a daily basis.

There is a wonderment in the youth that also exists in people who are 75 years old. There is a pessimism in recent graduates that mirrors the disgruntled man at the conclusion of a mistake-riddled life.

I am always surprised at how receptive children are to adjusting their skill set. I am always befuddled by the frustration I see in people who have their whole life in front of them. I've seldom engaged a corporate leader who didn't wish they had more time to spend on personal engagements.

I sat with a young man a few days back, his head buried in his hands. He was a star athlete throughout his youth, a student leader in college and a person who always had a job. Now, with a degree in hand, he was struggling to find employment. In a world where his effort and intelligence had directly produced results, he was now facing a strange uncertainty....

Could it be that life is unfair?

As the young man wrestled in his mind with how he would afford a nice car, a country club membership and a winter cabin in Lake Tahoe...

I offered one piece of advice:

Simplify your lifestyle expectations and your chances for a life of fulfillment will drastically increase.

Here are the reasons why people become unhappy:

• They prioritize their profession over their personal life. 
• They allow themselves to be expendable and are thus delegated meaningless tasks.
• They give up on romance in life to afford for the more-manageable option.
• They forget what they are good at because they spend too much time doing things they dislike.

When you embrace these truths... a funny thing happens....

You realize that in all the time you were worrying about stupid shit, all you really needed was for someone to tell you to put the nonsense aside.... and go get what you really love.... what you deserve!

Create an Affordable Lifestyle
When you create a financial plan that is beyond your means you will always be chasing money.

"Don't Chase The Paper, Chase The Dream" - Puff Daddy

How long has your ego provoked you to believe that the things you have define you?

Is it worth it to look sharp on a Saturday night if you are throwing up on Sunday uncertain of how you will pay for your glamour?

Happiness Is Defined By Achievement
There is a difference between happiness and fun. Work doesn't have to be fun but you should have a job that makes you happy.

If the opportunity to achieve is presented and you care enough about what you do....:

You Will Be Successful!

We don't need happy hours or trophy presentations. All we need are goals, new challenges and the ability to ascend!

Go To The Baseball Game
There is a man who makes $500k a year who has never seen his kids compete in youth sports. They don't dislike him but he will not have a chance to go back. 20 years of blood, sweat and tears for a few more stock options is not worth a mind empty of memories.

He/She who dies with the most toys (does not) win!

Don't Forget to Remember!

Dave

Will They Miss You When You're Gone?

Remember the scene from Jerry Maguire when he leaves his former employer with an inspired speech confronting the firms lack of integrity? ... and as soon as he walks out the door everyone gets right back to work.

"Everyone is Important, No One is Irreplaceable" - Anonymous Corporate Leader

In my 20 years in corporate America, I've never seen a company go out of business because of one employees departure. I've always cared a lot about the work I do, often too much. I've always jumped into each day with the desire to win. I seldom take Mondays off because I cannot relax if I don't feel I am contributing. I work on vacation (every day). 

It probably sounds pathetic, but I've always felt the need to earn my spot on the team, and to contribute (every day). I never possessed natural talent in any trade but I was always willing to work hard. 

Tempering the desire to win with humility can be a challenge. It is also what defines you as a professional.

Captain Mike Abrashoff once told a story of a ship full of soldiers cheering when their leader left the deck for the final time. His departure marked the end of a miserable time in their lives facing meaningless abuse without intent to progress.  

If you were to reflect on your career, or your life for that matter, there is one glaring question you might want to be bold enough to face:

Will They Miss You When You Leave?

Setting the death aside, let's focus of one's professional legacy....

My professional regrets exist not in failure to achieve goals, but the times I put myself before the team. 

I remember every person who has ever told me "no" in the selling cycle. I remember every time someone sighted a personality flaw to characterize my professional potential. I will never forget the times I have been bullied in the workplace. 

I feel sorry for the the Captain who left the ship to thunderous applause. I feel sorry for those who thought they had to use their undeserved place on the mantle as leverage to vomit their personal frustration. 

Will They Miss You When You Leave?

Jobs will come and go, your children will grow up and some day you will die. You will not be remembered for how many times you won but the integrity you displayed in the process. 

At some point in my life a quote came to me:

"Be Humble in Victory and Accountable in Defeat"

... I still fail to live this ideology. But, I'm working on softening the edges. 

Colonel Abrashoff spoke of leaving the same ship as their captain to complete silence... grown men and women whose lives he had protected... in tears. The ultimate sign of respect!

• Will your retirement party be under-attended?
• Will someone whom you had to dismiss from employment hire you years later?
• Will your daughter forgive you for missing her dance recital?

You Have Plenty of Time to Make it Right!

Tell the people you love that you love them (even if in the moment you don't believe it). Hug your kids, they'll get too big to carry to bed soon enough. Drop what you are doing to advise a co-worker. Blow off your board meeting to watch your son's baseball game. Kiss your wife in a room full of people. Sit silently with your kids when they fail, pump them full of positive feedback when they succeed. Never under-estimate anyone. Never walk into a meeting unprepared. Be respectful of retail workers. Tip your bartender. Get a Dog (they will help soften the edges). If you are pissed off put your I-pod on shuffle (Steve Jobs is in heaven and he knows how to slide a forgotten jewel in there). Read a book (an actual book). Call an old friend. Don't take the actions of the past too seriously.... most people are more forgiving than you may remember. 

You will make mistakes! You will fail! The key is to be one who is surrounded by supporters when you do.        

Will They Miss You When You Leave?

The streets will shut down on the day you die.... 

Will They Be Cheering or Crying?

Don't Forget to Remember!

Dave

Without This, Success is Impossible

Every day, we contemplate the best way in which to engage our employees and the metrics to determine the effective nature of the aforementioned.

Should we do a survey, pay for a study or ask an expert for their insight on Best Practices?

We strive to devise a Total Rewards strategy to encompasses fair pay, sufficient flexibility in schedule, a certain amount of perks and some pats on the back to go along with it all..... in hopes that if we pay well and recognize effort, people will love working for us.

This age-old belief system has been disrupted by the fact that each individual is seeking line of vision to professional advancement. More than rewards, people are interested in charting personal progress outside of departmental silos.

The company has a jar full of jelly beans for all to utilize to appreciate one another. If no one cares for jelly beans the jar will go away... because there are better ways to spend money.

Three Things Matter:
Purpose
Collaboration
Achievement

What Do YOU Care About?
Personal purpose is more important than any professional goal. If your life is full of love, your professional purpose will be amplified, and failing professionally will have less sting.

Being a workaholic doesn't make you a star performer. There are many people who work long hours just to keep up. The best of the best get more done in less time and require little attention.

What do you really care about:
Vacation with your family?
Rock Shows?
Knitting?

If you neglect yourself of personal fulfillment, all the professional success in the world will not make you happy.

Transparent Ulterior Motives
As a young professional, I was intent on proving that I was right. I was less-concerned with the success of our team and more-intent on proving I had done MY job. No one liked working with me because I was pushy, self-centered and unwilling to allow people to be human on the job. I had no life and I expected my co-workers would hold themselves to similar misguided principals.

I see my younger self in so many people with whom I work these days:

• Those who wish to prove their worth. 
• Those who are internally competitive. 
• Those who are unaware that the only measurement for success is that everyone is equally capable.  

The Calm AFTER the Storm 
The greatest moments in my life are when my heartbeat steadies after a victorious occasion.... The rare occasion when I allow myself to appreciate my life.....

Those few moments when the Merry-Go-Round stops and everything feels right in the world.

With every year, I have more of those moments... not because I am better than I was but because I've allowed myself to accept that victory is an imperfect process.

"...you are still the only thing and everything I need in my life..." 
- Brian Sella

Don't Forget to Remember!

Dave

Your Hiring Process Sucks!

A friend of mine recently won the lottery. Well not exactly, but let's just say he lucked-in to a family fortune that put him in a position to never have to work again. He thought about working at the local hardware store, but while the concept seemed compelling, the reality was a bigger headache than staying in corporate america.

He hated his current boss so he quit his high-paying Enterprise sales position. The world was his oyster, he wanted to stay busy, so he figured he'd venture into the world of start up tech.

Pretense: This gentleman had 20 years of sales experience, made Chairman's Club a remarkable 17 times, had worked for just 2 companies over 20 years and knew his marketplace inside out.

So began his experiment of Diving Back In......

Step One: For the first time in 10 years he re-tooled his resume. Unsure if people even read them anymore....?

Step Two: He agreed to work with a sales staffing firm (so his nephew would make $500 when he got hired).

Step Three: He met with one person from his network every day. He knew Senior Vice Presidents from Oracle, Google, Microsoft, Salesforce.com, Workday.... all of which offered him a job on the spot, none of which he entertained.

He was about to delve into something far more entertaining.

To his Nephew's credit, he booked him 3 initial interviews within the first week of having his resume on the market.

The hiring process went like this.....

Step One: Fresh-out-of-Jr-College admin calls to read you back your resume and ask questions like:
- What intrigues you about shit.com?
- Why did you leave your former employer?
- Why didn't you list your percentage to quota by quarter on your resume?
- Why do you not have a Facebook profile?
- What's your greatest strength?
- What's your greatest weakness?

Step Two: Talks to a Sr. Sourcer to answer the same questions.

Step Three: Re-Align with Nephew to understand that they "really like your experience" but if you wish to continue in the process you'll need to do the following:
1. Adjust resume to document quarterly quota achievement.
2. Watch 17 Vimeo videos to understand CEO's vision.
3. Write a blog .... on anything really, you just need to improve your KLOUT rating.
4. Provide 3 professional references.

Now he's in the game.... he actually gets to talk to a Sales Manager.

Douchebag Manager: Before we start, why didn't you document your percentage to plan by quarter?

DBM continues.... because your a friend of Jake's (obligatory nephew name), we're willing to chat you up, but your gonna have to bring your A Game.... Bro!

Step Four: You are invited to a Night Club to "display your social skills".

Step Five: You are brought in to give a "preso" on your go-to-market strategy.

Step Six: You get not a callback, an email or tweet regarding next steps in the process.

... the process just ends. No one is the wiser and Shit.com goes about their business.

Step Seven: You buy out 51% controlling interest in Shit.com for $750k and fire everyone!

* The above is based on a true story, names have been changed to protect the ignorant. My friend liquidated the company as a tax write off, douche bag went back to this high school job at the local hardware store and approximately $40K in office "equipment" was donated to volunteers of america.

Unfortunately, many will be facing this process (without lottery winnings in pocket) over the next 20 years.

What's more disappointing is the fact that many companies continue to devalue the hiring process.

The most outstanding candidates are not begging for employment. If you wish to enchant outstanding talent, stop engaging them as if they were auditioning for the Mickey Mouse club!

Don't Forget to Remember!

Dave

A Ripple Becomes a Whirlpool

Over the past few weeks we have unveiled 4 parts of the Human Development strategy know as Don't Forget to Remember:

Part One: Foundation
Part Two: Deconstruction
Part Three: Re-Composition
Part Four: Unzip Your Soul

... Today we will tie this strategy together.

On May 11th of 2009, I wrote my first blog post thanks to the advising of my friend Darwin Stephenson. I remember hitting "publish", seeing my words on the lap top screen and feeling slightly guilty that I was allowed to share my unedited opinion with the world. I have since published 485 posts on a variety of topics. I've been on a few list of outstanding bloggers but I don't attempt to bring traffic for the purpose of selling anything.

The world is full of hacks and the blogosphere is one of their favorite rest stops. I just enjoy writing about the life I live. I hope my 10 loyal readers have derived some benefit from the grammatically challenged words I've written.

If nothing else, my kids will have a 10 year public journal to reference. I love you Sam & Marley!

I know what it is like to be young and frustrated. I know what it is like to work for people who do not appreciate their employees. I've had so many trials and tribulations in my 20 years in corporate America.... then one day, I decided to do something about it.

For the first 10 years of my career I complained with the enthusiasm of 1,000 men. I loved the company I worked for, I worked 12 hour days and I never stopped thinking about how to improve the organization. But, I couldn't get out of my own way.

When I was at a crossroads in my career there were a few people who were perceptive enough to recognize my motivation.... there were far more people who lined up to tell me what I was doing wrong.

At the peak of my personal and professional frustration, I listened to the album A Grand Don't Come for Free by The Streets. The album concludes with a song called Empty Cans. In this final chapter of the greatest concept album of our time, our narrator plays pessimist and provocateur in two separate breaths. The conclusion.....

YOU control your perception and attitude.... this is determinant of frustration vs. bliss.

Your Fate is Yours to Decide

I stopped blaming other people for my failures, I stopped worrying about being over-looked and I came to realize that life can be unfair (and that's what makes it worth living). The edges got softer and I took control of my success!

People are criticized for their ambition every day... mostly by people who's inability to adapt forces them to halt progress to protect their post.

With success comes comfort. You finally get to breath when you have achieved. It is extremely difficult to get to this stage in one's career. When you get there.... don't allow yourself to get too comfortable.

There are people with extraordinary ideas who will never get recognized for them.

There are idiots who are propped up as leaders through bureaucracy and politics. Don't kiss their asses!

The only measure of success is how true you are to yourself!

1. Remember what you are good at!
2. Challenge the norm!
3. Recreate a self-motivation within a manageable system!
4. Be Kind in the process......!

This is, the all-encompassing process of.....

Don't Forget to Remember!

Dave    

Chasing Empathy

...If people are exceptionally annoying then giving them the benefit of the doubt may be our life's greatest challenge... 

I once heard a CEO speak of how he was certain he could change the world if it weren't for the people in it. You may recall Daniel Plainview repulsed by the people in his business dealings to the point of murder. Steve Jobs himself was always up-in-arms by human beings inability to engage in forward thinking. 

Let's face it... People are annoying. Unfortunately, they aren't going anywhere. 

If you are unwilling to interact with your fellow man/woman you will starve, your roof will cave in and your car will stop running. People need people to survive.... in order to thrive you'll need to get good at dealing with the human condition. 

When we learn to forgive one another's short comings... when we learn to accept that we are all imperfect... when we learn to collaborate...

We Start Moving Forward!

Surround Yourself With People Who Are Smarter Than You
It's easy to dazzle the less-motivated with a critical perspective. You will always find yourself enabled by the less-gifted, hang out with them long enough and you will sink to their level.

You should acquaint yourself with people who challenge you to think differently, try harder and to stop feeling sorry for yourself.

Have A Sense of Humor
When you allow yourself to be offended, you play into your critics plan to derail your progress. If you are brave enough to participate, you subject yourself to criticism.... Better grow some thick skin.

In all moments of adversity it is easy to get yourself so wrapped up in worry that you shut down completely. When you learn to chuckle at your short comings, you learn to move past them!

It's easy if you try!

Be A Person of Trust
Ever notice that you are the last person to find things out? Is that because no one feels comfortable revealing their personal hurdles to you?

Be a good listener. Confirm more than you judge. Remind people what they do well. Help people get out of their own way.

At the very least.... tell a friend it's going to be OK.... even if it's not!

I don't have to remind you that it is easier to stand on the sidelines with arms folded than it is to participate in the game.

Be a Creator not a Destroyer!

Don't Forget to Remember,

Dave 

Re-Composition

In the past couple of weeks we have examined the power of reflecting our our positive achievements along with the benefits of constructive disruption. Once you've realized your good fortune and used it to silence your critics, it's time to rebuild your life strategy.

I often speak to young people who are driven to succeed but unsure of how to navigate the system. Those same people often propose the idea of leaving corporate America ten years later. We all face our frustrations. We question if we are doing the right thing. We wonder if there is a more-beneficial way to live our lives.

The litmus test is simple:

If you look forward to Monday as much as you do Friday you have a great job. 

If you are laughing right now... the joke is on you! I'm not suggesting that we are going to leap out of bed, joyful that the weekend is over, ready to catapult ourselves into 50 hours of work. But, living Sunday evenings under a turning stomach is unacceptable.

You are not performing well because your product sucks.

Your Manager is not supportive.

Your Manager is too involved in your business.

Leadership has no vision.

You are working too many hours for not nearly enough pay.

The solution: Quit!  

If you are laughing again... the joke is still on you!

You don't have to drop out, grow a beard or work on a fishing boat. You also don't have to make money a priority.

You can find work that means something, you can find a Manager you like, you can find a CEO who believes she can change the world....

...You're just too afraid to start searching....

Your lack of happiness in life is directly correlated to your lack of engagement in your job. If you try hard enough you can re-discover the real importance of professional bliss.

My friend Corey Ciochetti recently told me that he has never met a person who put money first that is truly happy.... have you?

There is a prominent law firm that has a divorce pool. Most of their lawyers are divorced before they make partner.

Every blue-haired CEO I have met has told he wished he had spent more time with his kids.

A female business mogul I know once told me that her daughter had grown to mistaken her nanny for her mom.

... what the fuck are we thinking ....

You can exist within "the system" while maintaining your personal identity.

Here's How:

Perform Well
Your odds for gaining audience with your critics drastically increase when you are notably good at your job. Before your hand goes up to contribute, your position on the ranking report is surveyed, and your input qualified accordingly.

Do What You Gotta Do
The easiest way to get to the things you want to do is completing the things you have to do. This means filling out the stupid report, reading the assignment, populating your CRM and finishing your expenses. You would be surprised how much easier your day can be when you get the mundane tasks completed.

Provide Insight 
As noted previously, you are allowed to challenge any idea as long as you have a better one. Opposing the current state without proposing a more-brilliant solution is only complaining. No one likes a complainer.

Be Creative  
We are at a generational impasse in the workforce where former contributors are riding out old methods and leaning back on process to maintain them. The only way to move forward is to have more relevant tactics and real time data to defend the need for change.

We need not storm the tower, stage a sit in or strike. Adaptation is necessary for survival. Why not be the first to try the new way and set the standard for others to follow....?

Don't Forget to Remember!

Dave