Jack Daly is an expert in corporate culture that inspires audiences to take action in customer loyalty and personal motivation. He delivers explosive keynote and general session presentations. Jack brings 30 + years of field proven experience from a starting base with CPA firm Arthur Andersen to the CEO level of several national companies. Jack is a proven CEO / Entrepreneur, having built six companies into national firms, two of which he subsequently sold to the Wall Street firms of Solomon Brothers and First Boston.
both open and inquisitive, and their search for ideas is never-ending and boundless. Useful suggestions can come from competitors, suppliers, customers, front-line associates, trade groups, and even mentors. Ask yourself,“ How much time did I spend truly listening?” Good listeners practice“ zero-based thinking,” which requires that we forget the way we’ ve always done things and allows us to look at situations in a new light.
3. Philosopher John Gardner has referred to what he terms“ toughminded optimism.” Energizers possess such a spirit, which combines hope and realism as the driving forces in building a business. Focusing on customer needs helps make this happen. A leader is more interested in serving his customer than in worrying about what the board of directors will think.
4. Energizers are forever thinking about and articulating their company mission and values. At least once a year, give a speech reinforcing what you and your company stands for. Nearly every successful leader is concerned about repeating the same message too often. Yet his or her supporting team usually feels that they cannot hear the message often enough.
5. Where procedure manuals give rules, company stories offer morals.“ Storytelling’ s power is timeless,” says author Tom Peters.“ The marketplace is demanding that we burn the policy manuals and knock off the incessant memo writing; there’ s just no time. It also demands we empower everyone to constantly take initiatives. It turns out stories are a— if not, the— leadership answer to both issues.”
6. Energizers know the value of the motto,“ If it’ s not broke, break it.” They work outside normal rules and, thus, stand out in the eyes of customers and their own associates. By unleashing your creativity, you can spark the energy within your organization. Even simple changes can mean a great deal to your unit or company.
7. Great benefits can be found in delegating without abdicating. Remain accountable for your group, but don’ t allow a decision to be made at a higher level in the organization than it needs to be. Your associates know the daily specifics of their jobs better than you do. Foster an environment in which they design their function in a framework consistent with the company’ s mission and values.
8. Energizers understand the Pygmalion effect. People usually accomplish what they believe they are expected to do. If we have high expectations as leaders and mentors, our associates probably will show excellent productivity. Your associates actually will rise to the level of your trust or fall to the level of your mistrust.
THE CHARACTERISTIC OF ENERGIZERS THAT MOVES ORGANIZATIONS TO THEIR HIGHEST LEVELS OF PERFORMANCE IS THAT OF A DREAMER.
9. Energizing and leading people are more powerful tools than managing a process. By building trust with associates and customers, leaders and mentors are able to put together the team described in his or her mission statement. People care more about what’ s in a manager’ s heart than about what is in his or her head.
10. Energizers surround themselves with associates who are positive and realistic, rather than negative. A cando attitude characterizes energized leaders and mentors. It is seen in their unwillingness to take“ No” or“ It’ s never been done before” for an answer.
The characteristic of energizers that moves organizations to their highest levels of performance is that of a dreamer. Fred Smith’ s college term paper was graded“ impractical”— but he used it as the basis for building Federal Express. Steven Jobs acted on his dream of having personal computers in every home and classroom.
Energizers manage their dreams. Each of us has the same capacity with regard to our business. If we resist change, we will only fall further behind. If we merely go along with change, then we will just keep pace with it. But if we create change, we will be the ones who lead it. u
SPRING 2017 | 11