Okay we’ve all heard the little idioms, like “perception is reality to those who perceive,” or even just “perception is reality.” My personal favorite is “my perception is my reality.”
What the hell does all that mean? Well for you, leaders, it means that how people perceive your leadership is infinitely more important than what you intend for your leadership to be. It means that what you say means little, compared to the actions that you take (or words that you write).
This isn’t rocket science, right? Goodness knows we’ve heard all this before, that our actions are more important that our words. But do we really get it? In my experiences, the answer is no. And here are some examples: (more…)
Travis Kalanick is a jerk. Got it. His behavior was often juvenile, sometimes egregiously so. Got it. He got whacked because of that harassing and intimidating behavior. I got it—he’s a tool. But what does all that mean?
I’m reading all these articles and newly-minted pundits jump on the Uber-is-dying bandwagon. “The culture is shot.” “The entire management team must go.” “No way they can recover.” The list of attacks is endless, and helps us all understand the real meaning behind “blood in the water.” Some people smell it, and they want to help that alternative reality materialize.
Yeah, rotsa ruck with that.
To paraphrase Mark Twain, methinks the rumors of Uber’s demise have been greatly exaggerated.
Yes, some things need to change—as is true with all large organizations, particularly in the tech space. A brief google search reveals current lawsuits and EEOC claims for sexual harassment (and other employee transgressions) against Apple, Microsoft, Tesla, google, facebook, twitter, and just about every other deep-pocketed company, many of those name some very senior (C-level) executives.
This doesn’t normalize or excuse Kalanick’s boorish (and potentially unlawful) behavior, but frankly, Silicon Valley doesn’t have the best reputation for stellar employee treatment. Their diversity records suck, women and minorities are routinely marginalized, and I believe they routinely hide behind outlandish peripheral perks and a designer office environment (oops, I mean “campus”) to mask otherwise toxic behaviors and cultures. Kerry Flynn, writing for Mashable, says it better:
Silicon Valley’s worldview tends to applaud when founders move fast and break things. To this crowd, issues like gender discrimination are acceptable roadbumps for companies that are going to change the world. That’s why much of the industry tends to treat discrimination and harassment claims with a sense of dismissive detachment.
Props to Kerry – perfectly stated. All of this just goes to say that Kalanick was a tool, his personal behavior certainly didn’t represent Uber well, and his transgressions were neither new nor unique to the seemingly outraged observer community. Unsure why that translates into a complete destruction of an otherwise fast-growing company. Frankly, it shouldn’t.
Some things to consider…
Kalanick led the commercialization of real-time ridesharing. No, he didn’t actually invent the concept, his partner did (the obscure partner), but Kalanick is the one who made it viable and a household name. Who knows Ted Dabney? No one. He founded Atari Computers, but everyone knows Steve Jobs, who came along well afterwards and made it work. Similar to Kalanick.
Has he screwed up some of that? Hell yes. He’s had to change course with drivers, cities, legislators, et al, a dozen times. But he kept Uber growing.
Uber employs over 12,000 with revenues exceeding $6B. It’s currently worth nearly $70B. Kalanick did that, like it or not.
Michael Wolff in USA Today called Uber the Tech Company of the Year in 2013.
This allegedly evil company consistently (even today) outscores Lyft, Tesla, twitter and facebook on glassdoor.com. Whouldathunkit??
Uber ranks 4th in LinkedIn’s Top Companies 2017 Global Edition list, published just one week ago; trailing only google (actually “Alphabet.” who thought of that moronic name?), Facebook and Amazon. In fact, they improved their position from 5th in 2016. The Human Rights Campaign named Uber in their Best Places to Work 2016.
The company still has zero problems recruiting… People self-select where they want to work, oblivious to punditry and hater attacks.
It is – and remains – one of the most valuable startups in the world. 10 times larger than the nearest competitor, it’s growing rapidly in unchartered waters within a space being developed as we go. They are cutting edge, in almost every part of their approach and technology.
It’s a kick-ass company, and it’s not going anywhere.
Kalanick was a problem, no doubt. I don’t often support a founder in high-growth leaving, under almost any conditions, but I do understand it in this case. Not ideal for the business, but poorly managing media, PR and affected stakeholders can be a terminal error, as big as the harassing behavior that created the hooplah.
Anywhoo, he’s gone, Uber’s still here. To those who support, stay the course. To those who think the company has one foot in the grave… well, get used to disappointment.
Take the good, when available. Kalanick is gone, those who remain have a job to do, a company to run and a life to live. Take the good when you can, learn lessons from others, and at the risk of overuse of idiotic idioms, don’t throw the baby out with the bath water…
Onboarding matters more than any other activity for speed-to-productivity and employee retention.
Onboarding employees today has taken on a new significance. No longer just “new employee orientation,” It can set the stage for long-term success, engagement and employee retention.
A recent SHRM report stated that Onboarding has four distinct levels, called the Four C’s: Compliance, Clarification, Culture, and Connection. The problem is the order—that model needs to be stood on its head, in exactly the reverse order.
Connection comes first. First employment days are wasted with forms and compliance… stop that! Spend that first day—the entire day—connecting with the newbie in a fun, meaningful way,
Make onboarding fun!
that lends value to the new employee first, the organization a distant second. Create an environment that someone wants to be a part of… demonstrate values today that will be reinforced tomorrow. Early connections are lasting connections. Later connections are just that—late.
Culture. Speaking of values… Included in that non-compliance first day, and possibly many more, is the weaving of culture norms and organizational values in demonstrable form, so that words and actions are immediately congruent, and new employees don’t have to wonder what things like “we value innovation” really mean.
Clarification starts assimilating that new employee into the organization and their specific role. Here we help these new folks understand their place in the company, their contributed value, and their significance in the long term for doing the job they were hired to do. It also reinforces their career direction and potential path—something critical for newer employees today.
Compliance events only occur after we have produced distinct connections, shown demonstrable culture and values, and provide some real job and career clarification. Compliance is an organization-only need, and as such brings up the rear in establishing long-term value to an employee. It’s important, but only to us. The employee doesn’t need it to realize his or her value. It must be done, but minimize its significance and distraction.
Onboarding today is the real deal. This is a challenge that can allow Human Resource professionals to play an absolute critical role in the long-term success of new talent. But you’ve gotta do it right, and focus on what’s important for the talent first.
I have a client where we just implemented a rigorous onboarding effort, that includes recruitment, orientation, and also the first several weeks of after-orientation employment. It’s already had a positive effect on retention and engagement, and both of those translate into significant organizational results.
There, I said it. I’m Kevin Berchelmann and I’m not a Packers fan.
“Hello, Kevin.”
It’s not that there’s anything wrong with the Packers as a football team; as a matter of fact, I actually think they’re pretty cool. I’ve even been to a game at Lambeau Field, and there’s no question that was an experience for a lifetime.
It’s just I’m from Texas, which causes a couple of problems. First, we have a couple of football teams here (maybe you’ve heard of them), and second I’d likely lose my Texas card if I bypassed two local teams in support of <gasp!> the Green Bay Packers. Anyway, let’s move on.
Photo by Mike Morbeck
I am, however, a fan of Aaron Rodgers. The guy is a class act, and he shows it in so many different ways. On the field, he’s one of the best. Ever. His record stands alone, and I won’t repeat all the stats here. Suffice to say, he does his job pretty damned well.
But even better than that, he’s a solid leader. For example, Aaron recently bought his offensive lineman personalized ATVs for Christmas. It was a big deal for four really big guys; green and gold ATVs each painted with the lineman’s jersey number and initials on the sides. And no, I’m not five months late in posting this. Those ATVs took a while to be custom-made, and they were just delivered this week.
Now look; the purchase price of all four of those didn’t put a dent in Aaron’s net worth. And frankly, those linemen could likely afford those ATVs on their own, even though the $20 grand would have a bit larger impact on their budget than Aaron’s.
That’s not the point. The point is, these four guys are the ones most responsible for Aaron Rodgers’ success. We use the phrase “blocking and tackling” all the time. These guys, however, actually no-shit block all the time. And Aaron knows that, appreciates that, and recognizes that. That’s what real leaders do — take care of those people who take care of them. Respect and recognize those who embrace our vision and help us succeed.
And these are the people who do it every day, day in day out. Not the prima donnas or elites who are already well rewarded for their efforts. No, these are the guys who get up in the morning and get the job done, though most people don’t even know their names. Except Packer fans of course, because those folks are bat-shit crazy, and likely know every thing about every player.
So… I’m not a Packers fan. I’m not even a recovering Packers fan. But I respect leadership well done, and Aaron Rodgers exemplifies that.
It just seems to permeate everything we do today. And not, necessarily, in a good way. “We the people” have seemingly become unable to have common conversations about so many issues.
Leaders… Don’t fall for it. This communication impasse, this idiotic inability to have constructive dialogue, this desire to be “right” about all things partisan that will forever be based in opinion (no matter how strongly you believe), cannot become part of who you are. Not in your professional leadership role. (more…)
