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Monday, May 29, 2017

5 Steps to Creating a 21st Century Organization:

Step 2 of 5

 Click Here for Brad's Most Excellent Previous Article...

2: Create a 'Truth Telling' Environment


Watch Office Space if you really want
to understand the viewpoint of today's workforce.
Too many companies place weight and authority on title and position; ignoring the front line employee who didn’t get an MBA or even a Bachelors Degree.

 The reality is, front line workers KNOW exactly how to make the company more efficient. But if telling the truth can get you fired, why bother speaking up?

Software workarounds are a good example of this. When your workforce is consistently trying to find solutions because the new software is incapable of producing the desired effect, they create a workaround. Which is corporate jargon for "we gotta create a solution that gets the work done without blaming the software."

Some companies have entire workbooks filled with "what to do" when the software fails expectations. If there are 15 different workaround solutions, it may be time to admit the truth; "the software is bad. We need something new."


But what if the software was forced on the company because one of the C-Level Executives plays golf with the CEO of the software company? Well now you are looking at a real problem that will never get solved.

And that is the point of this article...


"For progress to be made, people need to be able to tell the truth; even if that truth is uncomfortable to leadership." — Brad Szollose


I have listened to story after story of employees keeping their mouth shut so they could keep their jobs simply because it was an executive decision. Decisions from the top down will fail when leaders are disconnected from the company culture.

And that is why they hire consultants; to do the icky work of actually talking to low-level workers. If you still believe in this method of leading, go sit in the corner and be ashamed. Be very ashamed.


Create an environment of truth telling and you will see a company that is cutting edge, willing to face facts, and a company filled with employees who are so passionate about what they are creating, they are willing to tell you something so uncomfortable it could get them fired in any other organization.

Think about that for a moment. They would have to love the company more than their job to speak up wouldn't they?

And just an FYI: Millennials get a bum rap in most organizations for one simple reason; they will be the first to call you on your own BS.


That should scare you. It scared me when I had to face facts in my own companies.

See you at my next step...

Brad








Brad Szollose
Global Management & Leadership Development Consultant
Author  •  Workshop Facilitator  •  Executive Coach  •  Keynote Speaker

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Brad Szollose Bio:


__________________________________________________________________

Who Is Brad Szollose?: 

Brad Szollose, host of Awakened Nation®
First things, first. How do you say Szollose?
It’s pronounced zol-us.

From founding partner and CMO of K2 Design, Inc. the first Digital Agency to go public on NASDAQ to international leadership development expert, Brad Szollose has worked with household names like MasterCard, American Management Association and Tony Robbins, to create leadership training programs for a new generation.

As an award-winning creative director, he has been the creative force behind hundreds of high-end corporate events, personal and consumer brands, and website launches. Brad is the recipient of the Corporate Identity Design Award and the Axiom Business Book Award along with various awards for website and print design.

Brad's unique management model was awarded the Arthur Andersen New York Enterprise Award for Best Practices in Fostering Innovation Amongst Employees (Workforce Culture).

Today, the world’s leading business publications seek out Brad’s insights on next-generation leadership development, branding and modern Management Strategies, and he has been featured (both print and online versions) in Forbes, Inc., Advertising Age, USA Today, New York Magazine, The Huffington Post, International Business Times, Le Journal du Dimanche (France), and The Hindu Business Line to name a few, along with television, radio and podcast appearances on CGTN America, CBS, Roku Network and other media outlets.

Brad continues to challenge the status quo with the 10th Anniversary Edition of Liquid Leadership, and his new podcast, Awakened Nation®: a Deep Dive into Extraordinary Conversations.

After 35 years in New York City, he now splits his time between Las Vegas and Denver. In his free time, he enjoys hiking in the mountains, working Star Trek quotes into everyday conversation, and painting and drawing the stunning landscape of the American Southwest and The Rocky Mountains.