A Relationship Story
Igniting the Creative Spark
Creativity is the fuel source for innovation and growth in successful businesses. It’s true for me in my McDermott & Bull retained search practice and it’s equally true for major enterprises like Ingram Micro, The Capital Group, and The Irvine Company. For all of us, unleashing success could be a function of unlocking creativity. So how does it work?
After doing some reading on this subject, I realized this could be a perfect opportunity to learn what our community thinks about igniting creativity. Recently I asked all of you:
“Think about creativity in organizations. Do you believe that creativity is better maximized in organizations through a culture that strongly encourages individuality or one that strongly encourages teaming?”
I received a staggering 575 responses, and I thank you all for that. The community response was a whopping 75% majority believing creativity is better fostered in organizations that emphasize teaming versus individuality.
Also, 10% of the people wouldn’t or couldn’t answer the question. Of course, it’s obvious the question was limiting and simplistic, but it wasn’t a trick question. You see, during my reading on this subject I had a hunch about what most business people might believe about this. Yes, in fact, the experts disagree with our majority. I thought it might be fascinating to juxtapose the prevailing perceptions against the empirical evidence. Here’s what I learned:
First, my friend Bertha Masuda, Founder and Principal of the Compensation Solutions Consulting firm Vivient Consulting, had shared an article with me called “Igniting the Creative Spark” by Professor Barry Staw from the U.C. Berkeley Haas School of Business.
Staw’s 15 years of research on creativity contended that, by every measure, groups that encourage individualism proved more creative than groups emphasizing teaming, and the advantages of an individualistic culture are especially important when innovation is the explicit goal. Now don’t think I’m suggesting there is no value in teaming, just stay with me here…
Soon after reading this article I read a fascinating book called The Wisdom of Crowds by James Surowiecki. It describes how the solutions derived from the collective wisdom of the crowd are always better than the solution of even the most prestigious expert. However - and here is the most compelling learning - the members of the crowd must be sufficiently independent to allow their individual creativity to combine into a “perfect” answer. Answers from teams that lacked member independence proved ineffective.
Surowiecki suggested that issues such as peer pressure and “groupthink” can significantly stifle the expression of individual creativity in a team setting.
An example of valuing the individual can be found in one of our most iconic modern institutions – Google (a McDermott & Bull client, by the way). The bright Googlers get to spend 20% of their time free to pursue projects of their choice, and many of Google’s best ideas have been generated as a function of this unique practice.
Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that 75% of us are wrong. Teaming is highly valued by all of us. No one would question that great ideas are fueled by people working together. However, a zeal for teaming as a panacea for every approach and solution may dilute the extraordinary power of individual creativity in organizations. So test the experts! Here’s an idea you could try with your teams:
For your next brainstorming, instead of people attending without thinking in advance, try asking them to work on ideas individually. Even consider asking them to send ideas in anonymously, especially if people might be unwilling to share their thoughts in a group. Just imagine the power of a brainstorming if you really had all the ideas instead of just the ones people will blurt out in a meeting. If the experts are right at all, maybe the team’s true potential might be realized.
Thank you for sharing time with me. I welcome your thoughts and comments. I would be pleased to serve as a speaker for your companies or groups on subjects pertaining to acquiring and keeping the best talent, and of course, please let me know if I can assist with the talent acquisition needs of your company or others you know. Thank you.
Links and References:
Bertha Masuda – Vivient Consulting www.vivient.com
www.ingrammicro.com www.capgroup.com www.irvinecompany.com
Article Reference: “Individualism-Collectivism and Group Creativity” by Barry Staw and Jack Goncalo, published in Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, May 2006.
Book Recommendation: The Wisdom of Crowds by James Surowiecki.
Sincerely,
Jeff Black
Principal Consultant, McDermott & Bull Executive Search
Cell: (714) 356-1949 Office: (949) 753-1700 ext. 310
2 Venture, Suite 100 Irvine, CA 92618
black@mbsearch.net www.mbsearch.net http://www.jeffblackmcdermottbull.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
A Relationship Story - The Entrepreneur in Us All
A Relationship Story
The Entrepreneur in Us All
What does it really mean to be entrepreneurial? It’s easy to think of “entrepreneur” from a narrow-view perspective – the business person running his own show. I can relate to this view, as I never thought of myself as entrepreneurial when I was in my corporate life, and I truly feel like I’m now “running my own show” (even though I am part of a wonderful firm) since it’s really up to me to build my own business.
However, there is a more universal meaning of “entrepreneurial” that can be identified with by so many more people…
Here’s what I mean. Think about the choices you face every day relative to: (1) doing things the way they have always been done, or (2) trying something new. Just being brave enough to envision new possibilities is really entrepreneurial.
The creativity to envision new ideas, coupled with the nerve to step out and try them - key elements of an entrepreneurial life. You don’t have to run your own business to be a difference maker. You just have to broaden your view of possibility.
Here are some great examples:
“Entrepreneur” is: The ability to see things differently from others and help them learn.
“Entrepreneur” is: Finding ways to waste less and less of your time (and life) by doing things smarter all the time.
“Entrepreneur” is (even this): Proactively solving a problem between yourself and another person, thereby making the relationship work productively versus counterproductively.
Many of us who do not qualify under the conventional definition of entrepreneur may really be: (1) changing ourselves and others for the better in behavior or thought, (2) adding significant value to people and circumstances through creative energy, or (3) living bravely by trusting our own instincts and doing what we think is right.
People who do these things are entrepreneurial just like business owners. They take risks, they are passionate about their ideas and beliefs, and they care about themselves and others enough to try and make a difference. If you are one of these people, give yourself a gift by recognizing these as achievements, give yourself credit for them, and look for ways you can help others see the value they bring to their own life by doing the same.
In the inventive and enlightening marketing book for entrepreneurs, First, Best, or Different by John Bradley Jackson, a wealth of ideas are shared about how the entrepreneur can best position for success. While the book is designed for business owners under the conventional definition of “entrepreneur”, its simple and straightforward thinking offers insight to us all about enriching ourselves in our new and broader definition of living entrepreneurially.
Thank you for sharing time with me. I welcome your thoughts and comments.
Book Recommendation: First, Best, or Different - What Every Entrepreneur Needs to Know About Niche Marketing by John Bradley Jackson. View John’s Blog at http://firstbestordifferent.com/blog
Sincerely,
Jeff Black
Principal Consultant, McDermott & Bull Executive Search
Cell: (714) 356-1949 Office: (949) 753-1700 ext. 310
2 Venture, Suite 100 Irvine, CA 92618
black@mbsearch.net www.mbsearch.net http://www.jeffblackmcdermottbull.blogspot.com/
The Entrepreneur in Us All
What does it really mean to be entrepreneurial? It’s easy to think of “entrepreneur” from a narrow-view perspective – the business person running his own show. I can relate to this view, as I never thought of myself as entrepreneurial when I was in my corporate life, and I truly feel like I’m now “running my own show” (even though I am part of a wonderful firm) since it’s really up to me to build my own business.
However, there is a more universal meaning of “entrepreneurial” that can be identified with by so many more people…
Here’s what I mean. Think about the choices you face every day relative to: (1) doing things the way they have always been done, or (2) trying something new. Just being brave enough to envision new possibilities is really entrepreneurial.
The creativity to envision new ideas, coupled with the nerve to step out and try them - key elements of an entrepreneurial life. You don’t have to run your own business to be a difference maker. You just have to broaden your view of possibility.
Here are some great examples:
“Entrepreneur” is: The ability to see things differently from others and help them learn.
“Entrepreneur” is: Finding ways to waste less and less of your time (and life) by doing things smarter all the time.
“Entrepreneur” is (even this): Proactively solving a problem between yourself and another person, thereby making the relationship work productively versus counterproductively.
Many of us who do not qualify under the conventional definition of entrepreneur may really be: (1) changing ourselves and others for the better in behavior or thought, (2) adding significant value to people and circumstances through creative energy, or (3) living bravely by trusting our own instincts and doing what we think is right.
People who do these things are entrepreneurial just like business owners. They take risks, they are passionate about their ideas and beliefs, and they care about themselves and others enough to try and make a difference. If you are one of these people, give yourself a gift by recognizing these as achievements, give yourself credit for them, and look for ways you can help others see the value they bring to their own life by doing the same.
In the inventive and enlightening marketing book for entrepreneurs, First, Best, or Different by John Bradley Jackson, a wealth of ideas are shared about how the entrepreneur can best position for success. While the book is designed for business owners under the conventional definition of “entrepreneur”, its simple and straightforward thinking offers insight to us all about enriching ourselves in our new and broader definition of living entrepreneurially.
Thank you for sharing time with me. I welcome your thoughts and comments.
Book Recommendation: First, Best, or Different - What Every Entrepreneur Needs to Know About Niche Marketing by John Bradley Jackson. View John’s Blog at http://firstbestordifferent.com/blog
Sincerely,
Jeff Black
Principal Consultant, McDermott & Bull Executive Search
Cell: (714) 356-1949 Office: (949) 753-1700 ext. 310
2 Venture, Suite 100 Irvine, CA 92618
black@mbsearch.net www.mbsearch.net http://www.jeffblackmcdermottbull.blogspot.com/
A Relationship Story - Leadership Part II, The Servant a Team Deserves
A Relationship Story
Leadership Part II - The Servant a Team Deserves
I want to thank you all for an extraordinary response to my recent story entitled “Shining the Hot Lights on a Leadership Lesson”. I received 200 responses from you with great feedback and strong feelings about leadership. If you missed this story, it’s pasted in below so you may review it if you wish.
That story discussed an intentionally limited view of what makes a great leader – the gift of trust and creating a “community” in the team. Many of your observations addressed other tools that make a great leader, and those thoughts are absolutely correct:
(1) Be strategically visionary
(2) Choose the right people
(3) Ensure ideal business processes
(4) Set appropriate goals
(5) Measure accountability
(6) Drive execution
Of course, a great leader has to ensure all of these things happen.
Now here I go again with my deviant approach. I believe a leader can be effective with all 6 of these tools and still fail to build a great business. These 6 tools themselves cannot serve to build loyalty and passion in people; they do not create the synergy among passionate people that makes a business great. I learned this lesson (a bit painfully) during my own experience leading businesses.
For 10 years, I led Hughes/Raytheon Services businesses of up to 1000 employees and $130M in annual revenue. These 6 leadership tools were required in the business, and we employed them well. However, 360 reviews showed there was a lack of passion and commitment among the team, and this was hard for me to understand or to control.
Also during these years, I noticed how extraordinarily well people related to my friend, mentor, and senior staff advisor, retired Navy Captain Ed Whelan. There was a natural comfort level everyone felt in working with Ed; he seemed to bring the best out in everyone. As a mentor Ed tried to help me see the way my leadership behaviors affected the feelings and commitment of the people on the team. I didn’t get it.
As my leadership career developed and expanded, I took on new challenges and solved big problems, but I didn’t find the key to earning the heartfelt passion of the teams I led. There was something missing.
Fast forward to early 2005; I was beginning my 3rd year with McDermott & Bull after having decided to leave my corporate life behind. I was feeling increasingly comfortable and effective as a search consultant and had built a strong practice. About this time, I was loaned a book called The Servant by James Hunter. The book described what I believe is the essence of true leadership – selfless, authentic, genuine, and passionate commitment to serving those you lead.
Up to this 2-year point I believed the difference between my old and new lives was that consulting matched my strengths so much better. While this is true, The Servant showed me the real biggest factor was that I had not sufficiently understood the keys to successful Servant Leadership. This was a big hole in my leadership skill set. While I could use the 6 tools above intellectually, Servant Leadership just isn’t intellectual.
Looking back, I now understand what was so special about my friend and mentor Ed. He naturally understood the role of Servant to others - the essence of true leadership. He would have the right answer for these key questions: Do those you serve grow as individuals? Do they, while being served, become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous and more likely themselves to become servants?
I think people deserve a leader who is a true servant, and for the business, there is no replacement for the passion, loyalty, and commitment this can build inside those who we lead.
Thank you for sharing time with me. I welcome your thoughts and comments.
Book Recommendation: The Servant by James Hunter
Sincerely,
Jeff Black
Principal Consultant, McDermott & Bull Executive Search
Cell: (714) 356-1949 Office: (949) 753-1700 ext. 310
2 Venture, Suite 100 Irvine, CA 92618
black@mbsearch.net www.mbsearch.net http://www.jeffblackmcdermottbull.blogspot.com/
Leadership Part II - The Servant a Team Deserves
I want to thank you all for an extraordinary response to my recent story entitled “Shining the Hot Lights on a Leadership Lesson”. I received 200 responses from you with great feedback and strong feelings about leadership. If you missed this story, it’s pasted in below so you may review it if you wish.
That story discussed an intentionally limited view of what makes a great leader – the gift of trust and creating a “community” in the team. Many of your observations addressed other tools that make a great leader, and those thoughts are absolutely correct:
(1) Be strategically visionary
(2) Choose the right people
(3) Ensure ideal business processes
(4) Set appropriate goals
(5) Measure accountability
(6) Drive execution
Of course, a great leader has to ensure all of these things happen.
Now here I go again with my deviant approach. I believe a leader can be effective with all 6 of these tools and still fail to build a great business. These 6 tools themselves cannot serve to build loyalty and passion in people; they do not create the synergy among passionate people that makes a business great. I learned this lesson (a bit painfully) during my own experience leading businesses.
For 10 years, I led Hughes/Raytheon Services businesses of up to 1000 employees and $130M in annual revenue. These 6 leadership tools were required in the business, and we employed them well. However, 360 reviews showed there was a lack of passion and commitment among the team, and this was hard for me to understand or to control.
Also during these years, I noticed how extraordinarily well people related to my friend, mentor, and senior staff advisor, retired Navy Captain Ed Whelan. There was a natural comfort level everyone felt in working with Ed; he seemed to bring the best out in everyone. As a mentor Ed tried to help me see the way my leadership behaviors affected the feelings and commitment of the people on the team. I didn’t get it.
As my leadership career developed and expanded, I took on new challenges and solved big problems, but I didn’t find the key to earning the heartfelt passion of the teams I led. There was something missing.
Fast forward to early 2005; I was beginning my 3rd year with McDermott & Bull after having decided to leave my corporate life behind. I was feeling increasingly comfortable and effective as a search consultant and had built a strong practice. About this time, I was loaned a book called The Servant by James Hunter. The book described what I believe is the essence of true leadership – selfless, authentic, genuine, and passionate commitment to serving those you lead.
Up to this 2-year point I believed the difference between my old and new lives was that consulting matched my strengths so much better. While this is true, The Servant showed me the real biggest factor was that I had not sufficiently understood the keys to successful Servant Leadership. This was a big hole in my leadership skill set. While I could use the 6 tools above intellectually, Servant Leadership just isn’t intellectual.
Looking back, I now understand what was so special about my friend and mentor Ed. He naturally understood the role of Servant to others - the essence of true leadership. He would have the right answer for these key questions: Do those you serve grow as individuals? Do they, while being served, become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous and more likely themselves to become servants?
I think people deserve a leader who is a true servant, and for the business, there is no replacement for the passion, loyalty, and commitment this can build inside those who we lead.
Thank you for sharing time with me. I welcome your thoughts and comments.
Book Recommendation: The Servant by James Hunter
Sincerely,
Jeff Black
Principal Consultant, McDermott & Bull Executive Search
Cell: (714) 356-1949 Office: (949) 753-1700 ext. 310
2 Venture, Suite 100 Irvine, CA 92618
black@mbsearch.net www.mbsearch.net http://www.jeffblackmcdermottbull.blogspot.com/
A Relationship Story - Goodwill Commitment, a Tribute
A Relationship Story
Goodwill Commitment - A Tribute
2006 was a great year in many ways for me and I hope for all of you as well, and this note will serve as my version of a New Year message, but for me it’s much more.
2006 also brought a couple of extraordinary new challenges to my life. During this year of great experiences in my family, my business, my volunteer activities, and many personal highlights, I also suffered the loss of dear loved ones including my own “Pop”, Charlie Black, and my closest friend in my business life, Chris Cottey.
My Dad squeezed every drop out of his wonderful 84 years, and there are really no regrets. I’m proud to have served on his ship. Losing Chris is a lot different, and there is no way to feel anything but regret about the great years lost. Yes, this is sad, but I’m not looking for anyone to send me a message of condolence. That is not why I needed to write this story.
I want to share a great learning that I have taken away from these experiences, one that I did not expect. You see, it started when I became the unexpected beneficiary of a wonderful piece of life called hospice.
In case you are unfamiliar with hospice, it is a process that allows people to pass away in the most peaceful and nurturing environment possible – in their own homes among loved ones. Hospice is great for the person who is passing, but our hospice experience offered an unexpected epiphany. You see, the really big impact was not on my Dad, it was on me.
These wonderful hospice people make sure every interaction with family members is as caring and sensitive as possible. Their objective with everyone is to “do no harm”. Their deep and heartfelt caring was clear in how they treated me. It made everything so much easier. And while experiencing my loss, to my surprise, I found that I was being taught an extraordinary lesson about my own personal responsibility in dealing with others.
I realized that I must commit myself to treat others with goodwill at heart; I must do it all the time, one interaction after another.
But being realistic, it’s not as if every interaction is easy and positive. Sometimes news may not be good and tough decisions have to be made. However for me, even when the news is hard to deliver, goodwill from the heart must be the foundation I draw on for both positive and the more difficult constructive/negative interactions.
Living this way will serve as the greatest tribute I can offer to both my Dad and my friend Chris.
So Happy New Year my friends; for me, it’s truly a Brand New Year, and I plan to be a better person for the lessons I learned from hospice.
You know, I really could have learned the same things before, if I had just paid closer attention to the way people were treated by Charlie Black and Chris Cottey.
So, how about you? Are there special people in your life that could inspire you and change you…but it’s not happening? Well, just like me, maybe you need to just pay a little closer attention.
Thanks for sharing time with me. I wish you all an extraordinarily fulfilling 2007.
2006 was a great year in many ways for me and I hope for all of you as well, and this note will serve as my version of a New Year message, but for me it’s much more.
2006 also brought a couple of extraordinary new challenges to my life. During this year of great experiences in my family, my business, my volunteer activities, and many personal highlights, I also suffered the loss of dear loved ones including my own “Pop”, Charlie Black, and my closest friend in my business life, Chris Cottey.
My Dad squeezed every drop out of his wonderful 84 years, and there are really no regrets. I’m proud to have served on his ship. Losing Chris is a lot different, and there is no way to feel anything but regret about the great years lost. Yes, this is sad, but I’m not looking for anyone to send me a message of condolence. That is not why I needed to write this story.
I want to share a great learning that I have taken away from these experiences, one that I did not expect. You see, it started when I became the unexpected beneficiary of a wonderful piece of life called hospice.
In case you are unfamiliar with hospice, it is a process that allows people to pass away in the most peaceful and nurturing environment possible – in their own homes among loved ones. Hospice is great for the person who is passing, but our hospice experience offered an unexpected epiphany. You see, the really big impact was not on my Dad, it was on me.
These wonderful hospice people make sure every interaction with family members is as caring and sensitive as possible. Their objective with everyone is to “do no harm”. Their deep and heartfelt caring was clear in how they treated me. It made everything so much easier. And while experiencing my loss, to my surprise, I found that I was being taught an extraordinary lesson about my own personal responsibility in dealing with others.
I realized that I must commit myself to treat others with goodwill at heart; I must do it all the time, one interaction after another.
But being realistic, it’s not as if every interaction is easy and positive. Sometimes news may not be good and tough decisions have to be made. However for me, even when the news is hard to deliver, goodwill from the heart must be the foundation I draw on for both positive and the more difficult constructive/negative interactions.
Living this way will serve as the greatest tribute I can offer to both my Dad and my friend Chris.
So Happy New Year my friends; for me, it’s truly a Brand New Year, and I plan to be a better person for the lessons I learned from hospice.
You know, I really could have learned the same things before, if I had just paid closer attention to the way people were treated by Charlie Black and Chris Cottey.
So, how about you? Are there special people in your life that could inspire you and change you…but it’s not happening? Well, just like me, maybe you need to just pay a little closer attention.
Thanks for sharing time with me. I wish you all an extraordinarily fulfilling 2007.
Sincerely,
Jeff Black
Principal Consultant, McDermott & Bull Executive Search
Cell: (714) 356-1949 Office: (949) 753-1700 ext. 310
2 Venture, Suite 100 Irvine, CA 92618
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