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To learn more about
John Izzo
visit:
www.theizzogroup.com
to order books visit:
www.fairwinds-press.com |
the enlightened
leader
Volume 20 - Aug
2007
Thank you for your subscription to the
enlightened leader we hope that it shares with you valuable information
and brightens your day just a little.
Reflections from Dr. John
Izzo
Why Great Companies Stay
Great
Dear
Colleague,
What do great companies that stay successful have in
common? For many years now, I have been speaking about companies that have
remained successful over time-often because of their corporate culture.
One of those companies, Southwest Airlines, made an interesting
announcement recently that provides insight into the key to sustainable
success. Before I tell you what they announced, let’s put Southwest in
context. They are a very profitable company in one of the least profitable
industries ever created. Running an airline has always been a great way to
lose money, but even in the last six years since September 11th, they have
remained the most profitable airline in the world (and have not laid off
any employees).
So that’s why I was thrilled to see a recent
article in the Dallas Morning News in which Southwest said they were
involved in a “major re-examination of what makes them tick.” After years
of following a very successful model they are now re-thinking almost
everything about their business (except of course their culture). Steps
under consideration are: Assigning seats, in flight entertainment, adding
another aircraft type (for their entire history they have flown only
Boeing 737’s), code-sharing, and possibly adding international
destinations. Anyone familiar with the Southwest story knows that these
are big steps. But therein lies the key to sustainable success: No matter
how successful you have been-you have to keep re-thinking the business.
Complacency is a luxury afforded only to companies that fail.
A few
years ago after my book Values Shift was published (which explored six
changes in employee values), I got a call from a company that was ranked
the third best company to work for in the United States at the time (TD
Industries). They had a turnover rate ten times lower than their
competitors. They asked me to speak to their senior team about what
employees want and how they should respond. For a moment I wondered why
the third best company to work for needed to hear what employees wanted.
Then I realized, maybe they have been successful because they have never
assumed they had it figured out.
In fact, here’s a final thought
to keep in mind: The best time to consider changing your business is
before you HAVE to change it. It is the job of leaders to create a culture
where success is never taken for granted and assumptions) even Sacred Cows
are consistently reconsidered. A friend of mine, Joel Barker, is one of
the world’s leading futurists. For many years Joel has pointed out that
those who are most successful are often most vulnerable when the paradigm
shifts. Take Southwest. When they started there was no such thing as a low
cost, luxury airline (e.g. which has assigned seats and in-seat TV to go
along with low prices) and the major airlines they competed with (like
United, Delta and American) had cost structures much higher than theirs.
Now those large competitors have lower costs (but still higher than
Southwest), often charge the same price, and have more frills. Bottom
line, their very success in the old paradigm could be their undoing now
that things are changing.
But I’m still putting my money on
Southwest. After all, they are the most profitable airline rethinking
everything.
What does your company or business need to re-think?
Be well and do good work,
Dr. John Izzo
Five
Secrets Book & DVD Series:
Dr. Izzo’s newest book, The Five Secrets You Must Discover
before You Die, based on his Biography TV show and upcoming PBS show will
be released in December in time for the holidays. Based on 235 interviews
he conducted with people over the age of sixty who others had identified
as having found wisdom and happiness, the book explores the five secrets
which emerged from these interviews. The book is inspiring and a great
gift for the holidays-for a young person trying to figure life out, for a
mid-life friend in transition, or an older person who has been one of your
mentors. The DVD series is also available which features five hours of Dr.
Izzo before a live audience and clips from the interviews. The DVD series
can be ordered on a partnering bookstore site www.fairwinds-press.com
and the book can be pre-ordered now at www.amazon.com and www.amazon.ca. If you order now, you will
get them in time for the holidays!
Book Recommendations:Read About The World’s Greatest Bank
For many years, Dr. Izzo has been telling
the story of Ray Davis, who became the CEO of Umpqua Bank in Oregon and
who had a vision to create the “world’s greatest bank.” It is an inspiring
story about the power of corporate culture and leadership to create
success. In ten years the bank grew from 6 branches to 144 and from just
over $100 million in assets to Eight Billion!! If you want to create a
great service culture, read this book-Leading for Growth: How
Umpqua Bank Got Cool and Created a Culture of Greatness by Ray
Davis
Stop Procrastinating-Read This
Book
Brian Tracy, has
written a wonderfully practical book on ending procrastination and getting
things done. The book, Eat that Frog: 21 Great
Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get Things
Done. Tracy offers great ideas on conquering
the things that keep us from getting things done. Published by
Berrett-Koehler (the same publisher of Dr. Izzo’s last two books), it is a
must read for those who want to get more done.
New book release.
Values Shift: Recruiting, Retaining & Engaging the
Multigenerational Workforce - Second Edition
Dr. Izzo’s book on winning the changing
workforce and leading the multigenerational workforce has been completely
revised. It includes lots of practical information on the changing values
and needs of employees and how leaders can manage the four generations.
Order your copy today
at
www.fairwinds-press.com
For more
information on Dr. John Izzo and his colleagues
www.theizzogroup.com |
In this volume:
Dr. Izzo’s September public
program in Edmonton, Alberta. go
there…
Leaders Ask Good
Questions
…go…
NEW
RELEASE!
“The Five Secrets You Must Discover Before You
Die”
book pre-publication orders and The Biography Channel’s
DVD
…go…
Book
Recommendations
…go…
Dr. Izzo’s New
Program
…go…
Dr. Izzo gives
a
Public Program in Edmonton, Alberta
Awakening the
Spirit of Our Work and Life
Dr. Izzo will be presenting a full-day public program in Edmonton,
Alberta on September 21st, 2007. The program title, Awakening the Spirit
of Our Work & Life: Staying Purposeful and Balanced will focus on how
we can keep a sense of purpose and spirit in our work and life. Based on
his forthcoming book, “The Five Secrets”, this is all new material and the
session goes from 8-4pm.
Please contact the
Good Samaritan Society at
780-431-3780 or
Renita at rfalkenstern@gss.org
The Best Leaders
Ask Questions:
One of the perennial challenges for leaders is how to empower
others and create a stronger ownership mentality among their people. One
of the simplest ways leaders create more ownership is to ask more
questions instead of giving answers. If someone comes and asks for your
advice, first ask them what they think should be done and why. Coach the
answers to come from within them instead of always being the answer
person. The same thing can be done in larger meetings. Begin by putting a
challenge out there and ask people how they would respond. When you get
the answers, make sure to affirm their suggestions before offering
additional ideas. Also, watch the natural reaction which is what I call
the Not Me syndrome. The “not me” syndrome is where you react to the ideas
of others (especially those who report to you) based on the fact that you
would not do it that way. Instead ask yourself: Is this a “right way” even
if I might have done it differently. So next time you are tempted to give
an answer, ask a good question instead.
New
Program:
Return on Life
Living Life with
Intention
Dr. Izzo just created and delivered a new program for the top 200
people at one of the world’s largest telecommunications companies. The
program Return on Life: Living Life with Intention, is a two hour program
that helps become as intentional about planning their life as we are about
our work. The program includes material from Dr. Izzo’s new book (The Five
Secrets) and leads participants through a process to identify what matters
to them, to identify life goals, and provides tools for more balance and
success in life. 98% of the participants said the program was extremely
relevant, engaging and inspiring. Great for corporate groups, leadership
teams, and associations.
The Izzo Group's
enlightened leader newsletter is produced and
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