Assume you speak into a public address system
every time you label something as CONFIDENTIAL.
People care inordinately about what you have to say - from irritation with coffee in the cafeteria to the next
merger upcoming. You give out cues all
the time. Look outside the company for
friendship and a place to spill your guts.
You are MAGNIFIED.
Be aware of the fact that you have a virtual GRO-LITE on the
top of your head EVERY MINUTE OF EVERYDAY.
Where you turn your head things start to grow - attention starts to be
paid. A
CEO who noticed an ice spot at the entrance and mentioned it only to
have an expensive heated floor installed the next day. Or the Retail ops exec who obsessed about
bananas on the shelf and there were thousands of dollars o shrink in bananas
that no-one cold figure out - until this exec left. When you ask a question tell why. If not, you will have people talking about
the rationale and making up delicious stories not knowing just how boring you
can be.
During times when you are considering acquisitions or
restructures or other highly confidential strategic directives YOU
DISAPPEAR. YOU LEAVE A VACUUM THAT IS
LIKE A NEON ANNOUNCEMENT THAT SOMETHING BIG AND SCAREY IS GOING ON. Even when you are present you are not
present. Your preoccupation is
evident. You look sheepish and asleep at
the wheel. People gossip about you and
wonder where you are and why you aren't doing your job. And it's hard to interact when you are
carrying big secrets. It is your job to
go toward the organization when there is a major transition going on. This is when WHO you are matters more than what you have to
say. Be physically present in as many
places as possible. CEO sitings matter
more than substantial interaction. Your
presence is soothing and grounding. Much more than you will ever know. This degree of truth about this should be incredible humbling. At hese moments you are the papa or mama bear of the organization. Like it or not.