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
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