In this time when 'psychology trumps the economy,' our Group embarked on a research project that involved interviewing a number of executives.  In short, we wanted to know, "How 'ya doin'?  How's the morale, the focus, the organization at large?"

Though not particularly surprising, the findings are certainly interesting and instructive for many of us.  The results are trimodal, with three distinct 'camps' emerging within this representative sample.  Some of the organizations are:

1. COUNTDOWNERS.  These leaders and organizations are fixed on the countdown clock as it ticks to Zero.  They perceive an organizational-apocalypse of sorts; the end is near.  They hope to divest, sell, be acquired... and are meticulously dismantling their organization for bankruptcy or closure.

2. TREADERS.  These businesses are treading water; biding time.  They hope to emerge healthier one day, but don't know if... how... or when.  They are hopeful yet realistic, and are exerting a great deal of energy to survive.  They describe battle fatigue, a bunker/siege/foxhole mentality, and difficulty leading through ambiguity.

3. GROWERS.  These organizations are engaged in due diligence.  They are reorganized, lean, and hungry.  They are searching for and gobbling up as many weak competitors as possible for pennies on the dollar.  Their leanness will morph into plumpness as they continue to hire and expand their proverbial 'footprint.'

I'm not sure which of these three camps most adequately describes your organization, but I wanted to offer a few thoughts for all of us in these Turbulent Times.  Think of these ideas as a sort of People Prescription to Foster Resiliency:

1)First, during turbulence and severe negative stress ('Distress' or 'Crisis'), we generally see 10% of the population ascend to lead.  In other words, they take charge.  We see another 10% of the population panic.  And we see 80% of the population waiting for leadership.  Those individuals who possess a Plan always fare better than those lacking a plan or waiting on leadership.  So regardless your position in an organization, be engaged, have a plan, and collaborate with others to execute.

2)Second, understand that most 'survivors' (whether experiencing PTSD or more benign distress) share six common characteristics.  They are (a)Hardy, (b)Interested & Alert, (c)Confident & Expectant, (d)Goal-Oriented, (e)Joyful, and (f)Peaceful.  A very interesting mix, indeed.  Both goal-oriented and expectant yet peaceful.  This, by the way, is also indicative of mature adults.  And by that, I don't mean age.

3)Third, the most resilient people behave in four particular ways during distress.  (a)They exhibit a 'Sense of Coherence.'  This means they perceive that crises make sense, they understand them, and though they may not like them, they remain rational.  (b)They believe they possess the Skills and Capacity to adapt to distress.  (c)They are Engaged and Accepting of Change.  And (d)they participate in Active Problem-Solving.  They participate and create their solutions and options, rather than wait longingly for a rescuer.

4)Fourth, and as important as anything mentioned thus far, great survivors and performers on the battlefield (a)have strong Support Mechanisms (e.g., Friends & Family) and (b)purposefully Refresh their Life Objectives/Goals on the return to normalcy.  In other words, they don't curl into a fetal position indefinitely; instead -- they RISE.

5)And finally, leaders and employees who survive and ultimately thrive often experience a supportive organization that is (a)Accessible, (b)Collaborative, and which (c)Creates Transcendent Goals that put the business's crisis in perspective and provide a rallying stake for all.

In summary then, whether your Employer is 'Countdowning' or 'Treading Water' or 'Growing,' we can all be wiser and more successful by studying the behavior of those in Crisis.   

It’s a blustery day across North America, and for this reason, Christopher Robin has crossed my mind.

Our saga begins happily enough…

Winnie the Pooh, one of my all-time favorite book series, was a gift by A.A. Milne to his son, Christopher Robin Milne, who adored a bear at the London zoo named Winnie.  He ultimately purchased a stuffed bear he named after him.  In 1925, this affection set Papa Milne (writer) and E.H. Shepard (illustrator) on a timeless path to describe Christopher Robin and his growing collection of stuffed animals in a setting they named the 100 Acre Wood (the surrounding area near Milne’s home in Sussex, England).

Fast-forward 71 years…

Christopher Robin passed away in 1996.

And correct me if I’m mistaken, but as I recall, Randy Pausch alluded to both Eeyore and Tigger in his beautiful Last Lecturepresentation.  Indeed, some of us are Eeyores, and some of us are Tiggers.

But there’s more. 

Let’s review by returning to a profile of Christopher Robin’s stuffed animals:

1.     Eeyore = The modest pessimist who’s always losing his tail, his house, and his hope.  He’s pleasantly surprised when people remember his birthday.

2.     Tigger = The excitable bouncer.  Assuredly, "the only one."

3.     Winnie = Our beloved protagonist; always searching for "the honeypot" and his friends.

4.     Piglet = Though diminutive, Piglet is brave and hopeful.  "I wonder what’s going to happen exciting today."

5.     Kanga = Roo’s doting mother.

6.     Roo = The inquisitive.

7.     Gopher & Heffalump = Disney’s newer and posthumous additions to Milne’s work.

And then, of course, there are the ‘real’ characters:

8.     Christopher Robin = The inimitable steward of the cast of the 100 Acre Wood, replete with mismatched socks.  A true pacifist.

9.     Owl = The wise.

10.  Rabbit = The organized, linear, and task-focused.

What a beloved and well-rounded cast of characters.  (Christopher Robin’s real stuffed animals remain on display in the Children’s Room in New York City’s Public Library at Fifth Avenue and 42^nd Street.) 

I believe that as any one of us reads about these cute critters, we think of ourselves – or others we know.  There are certainly times I feel like Piglet, wondering what exciting things may happen today… and other times when I feel, in turn, like Rabbit, Roo, or Eeyor.

I presume you can say the same. 

But alas, returning to the subject of our saga, some unhappy news now…

Christopher Robin’s life was, in his words, "a disappointing affair."  He was reared primarily by his nanny, and his parents spent a strikingly limited amount of time with each other and with him.  They generally saw one another for short periods just after breakfast, at tea time, and in the evening right before Christopher went to bed.  As he grew, he spent more time with his parents, but because of their estrangement, his time was divided between each.

Though he enjoyed the Winnie the Pooh series early in his childhood, it soon became a source of taunting and adolescent difficulty.  By adulthood, he and his father had become estranged as well.  "It seemed to me almost that my father had got where he was by climbing on my infant shoulders, that he had filched from me my good name and left me nothing but empty fame."

Ouch.

Equally disappointing, he did not visit his mother in her final fifteen years of life.

Ouch again.

Christopher Robin died an atheist, despite an innocent enough line in one of his father’s works, "Hush!  Hush!  Whisper?  Who dares?  Christopher Robin is saying his prayers."  Schoolmates teased him ceaselessly about this and other lines from his father’s enormously successful series.  (My mind’s eye can imagine such taunts and how their seed was the beginning of adolescent resentment.) 

And so, one of the tragic ironies of Christopher Robin is the life he lived at the feet of his parents.  The life lived outside the very constellation of creativity and possibility and imagination that swirled within the fertile world of the Winnie the Pooh series.  A life surrounded by brilliance but deficient in love and affection.

Here is a case of a timeless band of brothers, set in motion within a palpable, rich environment – the 100 Acre Wood – launched into quaint adventures and odysseys by the kind and curious Christopher Robin.  But fast-forward and fade upward; gaze upon the life and times of Christopher Robin and the Milne family, and we see lives undone and bitterness in full bloom.

All the wisdom of Alan Alexander Milne, and yet both his – and his immediate family’s lives were set unalterably on a course of difficulty and disappointment resulting from success.  (This is an ageless narrative: sour grapes that are the fruits of the vine of success.)  All his life, Christopher Robin sought to distance himself from his parents and Winnie the Pooh, his childhood friend who had originally brought him such joy.

-----------------------------

Fade to present... 

Today being January 26, 2009, my six-year-old daughter has handed me a flier for the Valentine’s Father-Daughter Dance at what will likely be a local discotheque.  In hopes of learning from Papa Milne, I shall make this dance the highlight of my week – and ensure that Lauren knows it.  I will pause, turn everything off, unclutter my mind, and carry her in full regalia to what will surely be a special night, despite my dancing (which is only slightly less disturbing than Elaine Benes’s). 

Furthermore, I will continually strive to be present in all the tiny moments, and remind my family of their primacy in my life.

Despite our instinctive drive to overwork (the natural reaction to an economy riddled with unemployment, underemployment, and a high Suffering Index), our work must never swallow-up our families as it might have in our "unwiser years."

And I will commit myself anew to reminding each of you the lesson Christopher Robin taught Winnie when he said those ironic words: "Promise me you'll always remember – You are braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."

To which he might have added, "And I love you unendingly."

Years ago, I heard the phrase 'Organizational Intimacy' from a colleague, Michael Kroth.  I did a double-take; perhaps you did too.

Long story short, researchers and writers (from William Bridges and Steve Buchholz and Richard Leider to many others) have long-written about the importance of 'fulfillment' and 'meaningfulness' at work; the importance of purpose, and so on.

"Finding one's music," as Buchholz describes it.

I love that.

Finding my music...

Anyway, I've noticed an interesting trend these last few months.  Many employees who used to groan about their employer are now moaning their praises.  Occupational Intimacy indeed. 

In preparation for several upcoming presentations, our team has conducted a number of phone interviews in recent weeks, and the pattern is undeniable.  Here are some common quotes:

"I used to HATE it around here.  Now, I'm THRILLED to be employed."

"Sure, we could improve, but heck -- I'm just happy to have a job!"

"Oh, the grass used to be greener on the other side, but I'm delighted to be where I am.  THIS SIDE pays the bills, the checks don't bounce, and I sleep well at night knowing my industry is practically recession-proof."

"I've received more thank you letters in the last month than I have my entire career.  People are singing our praises and saying, 'Thank you for this place.'  They're simply joyous to be gainfully employed right now."

Yes they are.

From government to healthcare employees, many individuals are indeed THRILLED to be employed these days.

And oh, what a change this is.  Several years ago -- at the peak of our Economically Caligulan Era (or, the ECE... the 'easy' era one might say) -- when unemployment hovered around 4.6%, anyone who wanted a job could have his/her pick of the litter, executive salaries were obscenely high, materialism reigned, and 30-somethings were surfing the dot-com bubble and everyone presumed he would be driving a Lamborghini by 35 -- no employer could 'do right enough' and many bosses were written off as dullards.  Now, most bosses are luminaries.  After all, their organization remains, they are the boss, and employees still exist... so someone must be doing something right!

Last night I attended a presentation and the speaker described his hand-me-down grandfather's desk.  "I love that desk.  I've been around it my whole life, from the early visits to my grandfather's home to today, where it sits in my office.  As a boy, I'd crawl all over it and under it.  I remember pretending to do important things behind it, pretending to write checks and sign important documents.  But most people, when they walk into my office and see that desk now, they just see all that's wrong with it.  The wood's cracking and peeling, there are cigarette burns here and there, one of the legs wobbles.  'That's pitiful,' they'll observe.  'You need to get a new desk, man!'  But I never notice these things, because to me -- that desk is INVALUABLE; it represents my history, my childhood, my youth, my grandfather, and all the things I loved about him.  I'll never get rid of that desk, and hopefully my boys won't either."

For many, this desk is representative of their employer.  For too long, they only saw what was wrong.  Broken.  Peeling.  From the rattly fax machine stand or squeaky chair to the curling carpet by the water fountain.

But perhaps these days, we're starting to think of our employer like Grandpa's Desk.  Sure, it could use some restoring.  But I value it, love it as it is, and frankly, consider myself privileged to sit behind it and do important things.

Today, I encourage you to send that email.  Deliver that handwritten note.  Or personally look your employer in the eyes and say, "Thank you.  It's my honor to be here; what more can I do to support this organization?"

Cuz cigarette burns or not, all good desks need caretakers, and you might just be surprised how much fulfillment and meaning will result from your appreciation and engagement. 

What a fascinating example of the Pygmalion Effect (people rising or falling to the expectations of others).

And through American football, no less.

I don't want to give away the story, so I'll leave it up to you whether you read it or not.  It'll take about four minutes if you're interested.

http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/Story?id=6530495&page=1 

Tomorrow is Inauguration Day, January 20, 2009, and while I am no Presidential scholar, I sense the weight and significance of the day deep in my bones.  Perhaps more importantly, I sense the promise.

I know that many are hanging great hopes on President-elect Obama, hopes that are unlikely to be achieved by any mortal.  Likewise, many others write derogatorily about him, continuing the whispering campaigns that began 2+ years ago now.

But my comments today are apolitical and apartisan.  Instead, I mean to reflect on the forthcoming Obama Administration from a Leadership perspective.  Admittedly, when I watch the news at night, as I did last night, there are so many nuances to the political machinery that is the United States that I periodically find myself recalling the words of Oscar Wilde, who once wrote, "I am not young enough to know everything."  Regardless, there are things I do understand -- that we ALL understand deep in our souls.  It is a few of these understandings that I wish to mention, however briefly, today.

First and foremost, on January 15, 2009, Martin Luther King, Jr. would have turned 80 years old.  He gave his infamous, I Have a Dream speech 46 years ago.  A number of people were interviewed on TV last night describing the significance of this Presidency, and as tears flowed and the history of slavery in the United States was recounted from the year 1619 forward, the profundity of Inauguration Day was palpable.  By now, we all know Obama's history quite well... white mother, distant father, raised by Grandparents, Hawaii, Harvard.  Arguably, this arc could become as well-known as Lincoln's one day. 

Which brings me to a second observation.  As Obama stood in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial yesterday and addressed the crowd, those who had just moments prior tuned-out U2, Shakira, Stevie Wonder, Beyonce, Usher, and other musicians, the contrast was stark.  When Obama took to the podium, all eyes were fixed on him and the crowd grew silent.  All of us who have respected and read Lincoln with admiration could not help but be moved by the fulfillment of Lincoln's aspirations in our soon-to-be 44th President.  It took us long enough to get here, but we're well on our way now.

And so, a third point.  There are many in the halls of academia, politics, popular culture, the media, and the streets and halls and churches and synagogues across America who are dialoguing about the progress we have made on the battlefield of racism.  Or, as some argue, the lack of progress still.  Indeed, the battle is far from over, as one cannot help but notice as he traverses this country.  Bigotry has always and will always exist.  It is a symptom of the hardships of life.  But indeed, Inauguration Day will mark a turning point and will serve as a beacon for many.  As Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, "If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do, you must keep moving forward."  It was said yesterday that Lincoln crawled so King could walk so Obama could run so our children could fly.  My goodness.  If that doesn't bring tears to your eyes then you're not alive.

Fourth, it is against this canvas of history that we see HOPE in all its radiant glory.  The American people have a history of electing the right leader for the time, and as has been said before, "Hope beats Fear in most elections."  I'm sure that Tuesday's Inauguration Speech will be a blend of Lincoln, Kennedy, Roosevelt, and yet be uniquely Obama.  He will predictably describe the difficult years ahead, the trade-offs and sacrifices that must be made, the Grand Bargains and dampening of expectations we must accept, and then plant seeds of soaring hope and rhetoric that can only be fulfilled if we all join together.  The past few years have been difficult for all Americans, and many lives have been lost protecting our borders and citizens.  A complicated inheritance lies at the feet of Obama and his circle.  A Pandora's Box if there ever was one.  We cannot expect that Guantanamo Bay, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Economy, Healthcare, Education and a myriad of other pressing challenges will be resolved to anyone's satisfaction within one Administration.  Indeed, I'm certain these issues are a complicated morass that is worsened by bureaucracy and the gunk that retards any democracy committed to choirs vs. soloists.  As we learned in grade school, "Any number times zero equals zero."  So tape-up and suit-up; we've got to take the field together if we stand any chance of winning the war on mediocrity, failure, and stagnation that has strangled our K-12 public education system, our worldwide reputation, our ability to create and implement progressive reform across industries, technologies, sciences, and social infrastructure.    

And finally, an observation on the importance of listening, curiosity, and remaining a lifelong student.  In the months leading up to the November 2008 Presidential Election, as we all engaged in bipartisan debates about the candidates, anyone who stood far enough back from the fray to observe the behaviors of Obama couldn't help but be impressed by one singular distinction: his approach to problem-solving.  For decades, I have been disillusioned by politics, having seen elected official after elected official who failed to keep his campaign promises, who lived a life of hypocrisy and absent-integrity (by preaching 'family values' while involved in a debaucherous lifestyle), but most importantly -- by seeing the absence of an 'abundance mentality.'  Like the racoon in Where the Red Fern Grows, our elected officials seem to latch onto their party's shiny silver object, whatever that object is, and never let go.  They conduct closed-door meetings, they exclude others with potentially brilliant insights, they do what their gut tells them, they remain committed to their personal convictions and ways of thinking, however shallow or poor they may be.  Sure, all great leaders demonstrate a courage and fortitude, but only ignorant leaders presume they know all or perhaps even enough.  If we are to know anything, we must often exit our inner-circle and seek wisdom wherever it may be.  

I've commented to my wife (often after seeing luminaries like George Will and others who have such a broad grasp of the body of knowledge of politics), "I wish our President would just go to dinner with a bunch of folks like George and treat them as a Think Tank.  It could only help to get a more well-rounded perspective."  And so, with great delight, I watched the footage of Obama at an intimate dinner party at George Will's house no less, along with nine other conservative intellectuals.  What I would have given to have been a fly on THAT wall.

But this is promising, regardless of your political viewpoints, because it demonstrates what unquestionably worked so well for Lincoln: the surrounding of oneself with counter-views and disparate thinking.  Through divergent thinking, we then converge on a solution that is robust, well-rounded, and ultimately the most informed.  Indeed, it will be Obama's Presidency and Administration, and I have no doubt that he will make his own decisions and perhaps periodically, 'from the gut.'  But his process of arriving at those decisions will be a rigorous one, inviting skeptics and naysayers and conservatives and the like to the table for a healthy debate and dialogue.

You gotta love that.  It's what this country is predicated on and, like any great democracy, it's what's required to move forward.

Like it or not, we're off to the races now.  We've got many hurdles ahead, lots of water-jumps and perilous conditions, fierce competitors, a rowdy crowd, and more saboteurs than we can count.  As for my prediction regarding our placement in the upcoming photo finish, I like what they say... "Whether we think we can win or think we can't, we're right."

I attended a networking-lunch-workshop-session today to learn what's happening 'on the front lines' and encourage job seekers.  We are all just a hair's breadth away from unemployment at any time, whether it's due to illness, injury, a lost contract, a fragile employer, a national disaster, a scandal... nearly anything can obliterate whatever illusory sense of security one hopes to amass.

The lowest tracked unemployment figure for the U.S. is 4.3% (achieved during WWII); we reached 4.5% a few months ago... but as you well know, the sky has fallen, the bottom has fallen out, and -- if we include the wind chill factor -- unemployment is currently hovering as high as 9%.  In downtown Detroit it's 12% and expected to reach 20% by year-end.  (Which reminds me, Thank You, Mitch Albom, for your dynamite article that reminds us to show more empathy for others: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/the_bonus/01/07/detroit/index.html.  Also, to Clint Eastwood, for filming the beautiful Gran Torino in metro Detroit -- your contribution to the economy is noticed.)

But back to the numbers.  9%.  That is a HUGE number; one with untold tragedies behind it.

The times, they have already changed.

Alas, a number of folks are pounding the pavement searching for a job amidst the worst market since the 1930s.

By way of encouragement, I am sharing a resource I learned about today that helps candidates 'do better' in job interviews.  Yes, sometimes 'information' is the greatest -- and only -- gift one can give.  These come by way of "Denham Resources," but I located them at YouTube.  If you intend to interview anywhere anytime soon, you might review a few of these to 'study and learn,' in hopes that you won't fall prey to a poor interview and become your own achilles heel.

Watch on, and whether you are gainfully employed or searching, be thankful for all you DO have, and count your blessings daily.

God speed, 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1D9uu8pZwo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qR-IhZJOq3U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoK8FiNXBJc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDhbLdFJAF4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6ttwYpA50U

This afternoon, a client asked, "Do you have any clever recommendations for how I might go about finding coaches for all my managers?"

Ah so, indeed I do.

Try here: www.29000feet.com

I know the company well, and they're great.  Though they chide me for it, I refer to them as "e-Harmony for Coaches."  Specifically, they'll hook you up.  Customers (whether 'coaches' or 'coachees') simply complete a few fields about themselves and the computer algorithm matches "those in need" with "those who can help."  And vice versa.

Pretty slick.

Enjoy! 

A business associate forwarded this to me, and I found it worth sharing.

I remain amazed at the treasure trove that is the world wide web.

If you are an entrepreneur, you should check this site regularly.  You never know what great ideas may stimulate your brain:

http://springwise.com/

Here's an interesting story shared by a reader just this morning.  Amazing things are possible, indeed, especially when we don't allow what otherwise might stand between us to stand between us. 

In a zoo in California, a mother tiger gave birth to a rare set of triplet tiger cubs.  Unfortunately, due to complications in the pregnancy, the cubs were born prematurely and due to their tiny size, they died shortly after birth.

The mother tiger, after recovering from the delivery, suddenly started to decline in health, although physically she was fine.  The veterinarians felt that the loss of her litter had caused the tigress to fall into a depression.  They decided that if the tigress could surrogate another mother's cubs, perhaps she would improve.

After checking with many other zoos across the country, the disappointing news was that there were no tiger cubs of the right age to introduce to the mourning mother.  The veterinarians decided to try something that had never been tried in a zoo environment.  Sometimes a mother of one species will take on the care of a different species.  The only 'orphans' that could be found quickly were a litter of weanling pigs.  The zookeepers and vets wrapped the piglets in tiger skin (I’m not certain where they got this ‘skin’) and placed the babies around the mother tiger.  Would they become cubs or pork chops?

See for yourself:

A fun little snippet about Texas Tech football coach Mike Leach, and how he has revolutionized college ball.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/12/31/60minutes/main4694714.shtml