tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9533912.post8603243772617251542..comments2023-10-30T08:58:17.723+00:00Comments on Simplicity: ‘Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing’ - Albert SchweitzerUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9533912.post-27587039453632569392008-04-11T15:55:00.000+01:002008-04-11T15:55:00.000+01:00Hi John – thanks so much for that superb story. Yo...Hi John – thanks so much for that superb story. You have given us a perfect example of why I have such great faith in front line employees and so little faith in power mad managers whop don't listen. Front line employees have all the answers - they just need to be asked and LISTENED to. It is no good asking and then ignoring. <BR/><BR/>As the immortal Peter Drucker said: “Ninety percent of what we call ‘management’ consists of making it difficult for people to get things done.”<BR/><BR/>Mr Drucker's quote sums up that supervisor perfectly don't you think?Trevor Gayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01148705981847576706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9533912.post-36793927541758576662008-04-11T15:00:00.000+01:002008-04-11T15:00:00.000+01:00Spinhead & Trevor, your comments remind me of a ti...Spinhead & Trevor, your comments remind me of a time I was working with frontline workers to redesign workflow in an Ontario sawmill. When we solicited cost-saving suggestions from one worker and learned of a simple and quick fix that would save the operation millions of dollars, we asked him why he didn't mention it before. He replied, "I did 10 years ago, but my supervisor told me to just stick to my job, so I did."JOHN O'LEARYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13224573243221385179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9533912.post-90491197355683134312008-04-11T14:53:00.000+01:002008-04-11T14:53:00.000+01:00You are very kind Troy - thanks :-)You are very kind Troy - thanks :-)Trevor Gayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01148705981847576706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9533912.post-53581730748345891722008-04-11T13:53:00.000+01:002008-04-11T13:53:00.000+01:00Fantastic post, Trevor. Thanks!Fantastic post, Trevor. Thanks!Troy Wormanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06544953925910205966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9533912.post-86592855589964851762008-04-10T13:59:00.000+01:002008-04-10T13:59:00.000+01:00Wise words David thanks I don't know why so many m...Wise words David thanks <BR/><BR/>I don't know why so many managers believe that 'top down' planning ever works - in my career it was always better to allow front liners to lead improvement. A no brainer as far as I'm concernedTrevor Gayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01148705981847576706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9533912.post-30726547389448040012008-04-10T11:11:00.000+01:002008-04-10T11:11:00.000+01:00Well done for your ‘award’ Trevor. I agree that th...Well done for your ‘award’ Trevor. I agree that this is a great topic. The benefit of asking the locals or the frontline is something we all seem to agree about. Involving them in the solution to problems is a very powerful way to give them ‘ownership’ as demonstrated by the story below that I have copied from my April Random Ramblings newsletter.<BR/><BR/>“I read a story about an American guy who set up a charity to help build schools in remote mountainous areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan. The whole operation was very low key and relied on engaging the support and physical help of the local villagers to build the schools. This being in marked contrast to the big charities and state aided programmes, where help often arrives in Land Cruisers rather than by donkey, and rather takes over proceedings.<BR/><BR/>When the Taliban and local war lords get a bit frisky and anti-western, they trash the schools, hospitals and other structures built by the big operators, but the schools built by our man and his helpers are left untouched because the locals have taken ownership of them in every sense of the word.<BR/><BR/>This is a simple example of how beneficial it is to involve the people who are actually affected by a project, whether it is a school in North West Pakistan or a new business project. If people are involved with something they will always be more committed to it than if it is imposed from above.”David Wikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10971753336104484341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9533912.post-7846134150874664092008-04-10T00:48:00.000+01:002008-04-10T00:48:00.000+01:00Spinhead-thank you for the tip on the Enchanted Va...Spinhead-thank you for the tip on the Enchanted Vagabonds book. I just ordered it and I'm sure it will provide many terrific stories and examples to use in the training that I do. "Always ask the locals"...truly words to lead and live by. Thanks again!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9533912.post-32287963003988950802008-04-10T00:00:00.000+01:002008-04-10T00:00:00.000+01:00Cheers Wally - I am delighted - thanks for that vo...Cheers Wally - I am delighted - thanks for that vote of confidence!Trevor Gayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01148705981847576706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9533912.post-89584343157263168812008-04-09T23:19:00.000+01:002008-04-09T23:19:00.000+01:00Congratulations! This post was selected as one of ...Congratulations! This post was selected as one of the five best business blog posts of the week in my Three Star Leadership Midweek Review of the Business Blogs.<BR/><BR/>http://blog.threestarleadership.com/2008/04/09/4908-a-midweek-look-at-the-business-blogs.aspx<BR/><BR/>Wally BockAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9533912.post-40369107847594621322008-04-09T18:10:00.000+01:002008-04-09T18:10:00.000+01:00Brilliant comments Joel - I am with you 100% - the...Brilliant comments Joel - I am with you 100% - the 'experts' are ALWAYS local and very much at the front line.Trevor Gayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01148705981847576706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9533912.post-70112709158406783952008-04-09T16:05:00.000+01:002008-04-09T16:05:00.000+01:00Dave, your comment reminds me powerfully of a how ...Dave, your comment reminds me powerfully of a how Thor Heyerdahl learned how the giant stone statues of Easter Island were moved from one side of the island to the other, with a mountain range in between: he asked. When the locals showed him how it was done he asked them why they'd never shared this knowledge before, they said everyone assumed they were ignorant natives so he was the first one who'd ever asked.<BR/><BR/>This point is also emphasized at great length in an incredible and hard-to-find book from the 1930s called "<A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FEnchanted-Vagabonds-Dana-Lamb%2Fdp%2F1590480805%3Fie%3DUTF8%26qid%3D1207753434%26sr%3D11-1&tag=egbdf0c-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325" REL="nofollow">Enchanted Vagabonds</A>", a true story by a chap named Dana Lamb and his wife Ginger. (I'll leave it to you to read it; one of the best management books I've ever read, and has nothing to do with management!)<BR/><BR/>Always <I>always</I> ask the locals.Joel D Canfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15346047838739575447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9533912.post-71453487091298693422008-04-09T07:09:00.000+01:002008-04-09T07:09:00.000+01:00Never apologise for long comments Dave – especiall...Never apologise for long comments Dave – especially when they are so rich with practical experience, wisdom and leadership advice as your comments always are. You have great advice to anyone willing to listen. I love the front line have all the answers position that you and I both promote. I agree that leaders are only as good as their followers!Trevor Gayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01148705981847576706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9533912.post-82202410941698906362008-04-09T02:18:00.000+01:002008-04-09T02:18:00.000+01:00I'm thinking that perhaps every person on this pla...I'm thinking that perhaps every person on this planet who ever held an entry level job has one thing in common. At some point we said to ourselves "If I was running this place, things would be different"....and we each had a list ideas or suggestions that, if implemented would have really improved performance and results. <BR/><BR/>5020 manhours saved per month. $475,000.00 annual savings. <BR/><BR/>This is what my 76 person team's suggestions and ideas saved our work center in 1986 when we lost 25 % of our manpower and 18% of our budget due to the Air Force's post Cold War Force reductions. I did two things, I had been in this position for two weeks so I went to each person and department and asked them "What the hell are we gonna do to make this work" I also stayed out of my office. I put my stuff on a push cart and wheeled it around the building or hung out in the break room. They came up with 78 different suggestions of which we were able to implement 46. None of these ideas involved automation or buying computers to do it. It was nothing but eliminating needless or redundant work, improving existing processes within their areas, improving work between departments and our external suppliers. Yeah...the folks on the frontline can make a difference. It was only later did I realize that what we were doing was actually some basic "world class" management and business practices that are still just as effective and get the same types of results 22 years later. <BR/><BR/>I loved your Leadership Lesson. You hit upon the single most important quality I have found a leader must have...credibility. I asked my team leaders why they hadn't made these changes earlier and they told me " No one ever asked us for feedback". I then asked why didn't they just tell my predecessor about them. Their reply..."Why? That guy was a real *&*%$" (pick your own expletive). My take-away from this...your position gives you some vey limited authority. Your real authority or "power" is earned and can only be given by those who you lead. You can have allies or enemies....it's your choice!<BR/><BR/>Sorry for the length but this is a great topic!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com