Water Cooler Conversations

I am sure that you will agree that the CAVS’ season and post season successes on the court have been thrilling.  It has been a wonderful ride and one that I would like to see last for some time.  What a great experience watching this team, which includes the basketball players, front office and coaching staff.  Their organization is where we all should be – players to management all on the same page.  They are all in sync – from a business perspective, this is simply poetry in motion. 

They preach and teach a singular focus on excellence.  They are goal oriented and understand that acquiring and retaining top talent at every organizational level is critical to winning their league’s championship.  Yep, this team is something special and they represent our region well.

Beyond rooting for the CAVS, we can show our support by following their lead.  It’s the same stuff we see over and over again with NorthCoast 99 organizations.  Top talent acquisition and retention rules! 

My hope is that by watching the CAVS, many CEOs in our region will take note of what it takes to be an organizational winner. Perhaps the end of the CAVS season (after their championship) will signal a new “season” for our region’s businesses.  Maybe the CAVS success will light some fires in our collective business bellies.  It will be our turn to RISE UP.  Once the CAVS accomplish their goal, it will be our turn to take it up a notch and nail a few “three pointers” of our own.

Thanks CAVS for a fun season, a great post season and for leading by example. Swoosh!

Written by Pat Perry
President, ERC 

In the movie Polar Express there is a wonderful scene between the conductor of the Polar Express and the main child character.  The scene involves a discussion between the conductor and the child relative to the existence of Santa Claus.  The conductor mentions to the boy that sometimes “it’s the things we cannot see that are the most real”.  How true.

I was recently in conversation with the top marketing person for a very large professional service organization.  He was mentioning that he would not pursue any form of advertisement unless he could show upper management the “ROI” resulting from the advertisement and new sales.  I cringed.  Radio, billboards and television were certainly out as there would be no way to provide an exact correlation between any new sales and the advertisement.  Perhaps the marketing person never heard of the power of branding.  I’ll bet if I looked in his medicine chest, it would be filled with all name-brand advertised products.

The same belief is unfortunately held by some CEOs who feel that investment in employee training must have an ROI to be approved.  I cringe again.  The “we’ll train them and then they will leave” syndrome is still alive in some organizations.  Interestingly what will most likely happen in these organizations is that good people will leave if they are not provided training and career development opportunities.

Last but not least I was very impressed by a comment that Dr. Richard Lang of the Cleveland Clinic’s Executive Health program mentioned at a program this week relative to executive physicals - with all the challenges besetting organizations this year, it seems that some organizations are considering cutting expenses relative to health, wellness and executive exams - at a time when these programs are probably needed more than ever given the stresses related to the challenges business are facing this year.

Time and time again, some organizations seem to stub their toe during tough times.  There tends to be knee jerk reactions relative to expense reductions which sometime have long -term impacts to the organization as a whole.

“Tug” McGraw was a pitcher for the 1973 New York Mets.  He coined a phrase during the Met’s title run that year - “Ya Gotta Believe”.  No ROI mentioned - just a plea to the team and the fans that seemed to move an entire City and team. 

Sometimes Ya Gotta Believe. 

I agree with the Polar Express’ conductor’s view on believing.  It’s a great “train” to be on.  There are things you just know work - TV ads, employee training and wellness are just three examples of initiatives that work.

Time to get on the train, otherwise your company may be waiting at the station a long time for the next journey to success.

All aboard!