Photo Credit: Richard Chicoine iCopyright 2009
Chatter? Nope, RANT!
When Re-Imagine, Tom Peter’s revolutionary epic about the new business order was released in 2003, I thought I’d gone to heaven. Finally, a respected management guru who had the courage to Rant, and the power to Rave about what was happening in organizations. I applauded his rants about radical leadership and raved about his 20 ways to self-destruct.
The love affair with the unconventional Peters must have died along the way, because I, like many others, forgot about ranting and raving while just trying to survive the chaos. Perhaps it is the state of the economy, or a chance encounter with a frustrated Executive Director, that inspired me to re-pull Re-Imagine off the shelf, and peruse its technicolor wisdom one more time. In the six years since publication, are the words and advice still relevant?
Peters said, “Buckle Up - We’re In For A Bumpy Ride”. He was referring to white collar employment, and continued, “The Transformation may be Ugly And Painful. But it’s on, with Unimaginable Fury.” He says we’ve become “cubicle slaves”. He declares: “Imagine a world where work matters, where Dilbert is denied, where we learn something new every day and brag about what we do.”
Did we pay attention? Well, not really, did we?
All too often, employees who rant are silenced through the power of compliance with outdated rules. We haven’t heard their wisdom, because it’s traded in coffee shops and in the back corners of the parking lot, not in meeting rooms where new plans are formed.
When Re-Imagine, Tom Peter’s revolutionary epic about the new business order was released in 2003, I thought I’d gone to heaven. Finally, a respected management guru who had the courage to Rant, and the power to Rave about what was happening in organizations. I applauded his rants about radical leadership and raved about his 20 ways to self-destruct.
The love affair with the unconventional Peters must have died along the way, because I, like many others, forgot about ranting and raving while just trying to survive the chaos. Perhaps it is the state of the economy, or a chance encounter with a frustrated Executive Director, that inspired me to re-pull Re-Imagine off the shelf, and peruse its technicolor wisdom one more time. In the six years since publication, are the words and advice still relevant?
Peters said, “Buckle Up - We’re In For A Bumpy Ride”. He was referring to white collar employment, and continued, “The Transformation may be Ugly And Painful. But it’s on, with Unimaginable Fury.” He says we’ve become “cubicle slaves”. He declares: “Imagine a world where work matters, where Dilbert is denied, where we learn something new every day and brag about what we do.”
Did we pay attention? Well, not really, did we?
All too often, employees who rant are silenced through the power of compliance with outdated rules. We haven’t heard their wisdom, because it’s traded in coffee shops and in the back corners of the parking lot, not in meeting rooms where new plans are formed.
When leaders ask for input, they receive sarcasm, partial answers or comments that test the trust factor instead of what's in the hearts and minds of employees. All of this leads to fractured decision making and a cycle of non-compliance, union grievances and wasted energy. Perhaps even corporate demise.
Leaders who direct Strategic Planning Processes, forge ahead without checking assumptions and values across the board. They often forget about the customer’s perspective, leaving the front line details to the wizardry of the marketing department to squeeze the relationship into shape.
Leaders who direct Strategic Planning Processes, forge ahead without checking assumptions and values across the board. They often forget about the customer’s perspective, leaving the front line details to the wizardry of the marketing department to squeeze the relationship into shape.
As Peters writes, “A lot of people work for Harley-Davidson. The good news...none of them are so silly as to believe that they make “motorcycles”. What? They make experiences. The Rebel Lifestyle.”
Now that’s checking assumptions!
So it was an amazing wake up call, to hear the leader of a not for profit organization rant the other day. She said “Why would mental health organizations insist on calling people “consumers”. They are NOT consuming anything!”
So it was an amazing wake up call, to hear the leader of a not for profit organization rant the other day. She said “Why would mental health organizations insist on calling people “consumers”. They are NOT consuming anything!”
It’s all about how we name our purpose, our strategy, and our clients. What we say, and more importantly, what we ask, drives our direction.
Spring Rant Challenge 2009
Spring Rant Challenge 2009
Since we are entering a season of change, a literal spring of renewal, I’d like to challenge you to express your organizational rants. Alter your perspective with each rant, and write in the “imagine if” turnaround. It's the second part of the rant - the turnaround - that needs our ultimate attention.
For example, one of my favourite rants is about pot-holed corporate parking lots: what does this broken state of affairs say about how you treat your customers and staff? Do you really give a darn?
Imagine if the pride you take in your work was perfectly mirrored in the physical environment. What if the dollars you spend on preventative maintenance showed up in customer and staff satisfaction? What would Walt Disney do?
For example, one of my favourite rants is about pot-holed corporate parking lots: what does this broken state of affairs say about how you treat your customers and staff? Do you really give a darn?
Imagine if the pride you take in your work was perfectly mirrored in the physical environment. What if the dollars you spend on preventative maintenance showed up in customer and staff satisfaction? What would Walt Disney do?
It’s about values, assumptions and listening to the frustrations and rants at all levels. Amazing what part time summer students notice!
Rant on Tom Peters. Join in, leaders and frustrated workers. Rant on. Let’s get some change happening!
Rant on Tom Peters. Join in, leaders and frustrated workers. Rant on. Let’s get some change happening!
PS You Are Invited:
Send me your RANTS + Imagine If's - I will post them anonymously.
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Maggie Chicoine is a professional writer, keynote speaker and master coach specializing in Strategies to Think Ahead. She is known for her twists of ingenuity and innovative approaches to corporate and personal renewal. Reach Maggie at 1 800 587 1767 or www.theideasculptor.com.
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Maggie Chicoine is a professional writer, keynote speaker and master coach specializing in Strategies to Think Ahead. She is known for her twists of ingenuity and innovative approaches to corporate and personal renewal. Reach Maggie at 1 800 587 1767 or www.theideasculptor.com.
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