Xenophobia?

13 July 2010

The World Cup is won, but the Legacy is yet to be tested.

We can already see the infrastructure – which would not have been prioritised otherwise. We know the tourism – and other – benefits will start to be felt, within the next few years. And Spain is now inexorably linked to South Africa.

We have hosted visitors well. Even foreigners living in our country have felt welcome, many for the first time. Before, every dark-skinned person unable to speak isiZulu (read isiXhosa, seTswana etc, as appropriate) was viewed suspiciously and treated disrespectfully. Having corrected this national bias briefly, may we maintain the correction? Siyacela! What’s the worst that could happen?

May I also encourage exposing and abandoning the racism inherent in the misconception whereby “black  foreigners” receive different treatment to “white tourists.”  We need to know our own history – none of us is from one, “pure” heritage -and need to embrace the challenges of constant change. I am South African:  English, Afrikaans and isiXhosa-speaking. Yet my family is originally German and English. Fully “rooinek”.  I cannot blame anyone for being born in Nelson Mandela Bay, globalisation, recession nor a lack of clarity on my unique value proposition.  Neither are individuals to blame for national policies or porous borders.

We have a responsibility. To our own potential, and purpose. If we are true to these – and embark on our own journey of discovery – we will not be threatened by others, but rather create new opportunities and invite the valuable perspectives that “outsiders” bring.

Posted in Change, Person to Person | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

I’m with the Workers!

10 June 2010

It’s easy to see how striking workers have lost the plot sometimes, when seen from a commercial standpoint.

Yet if one considers how top management in the self-same organisations measure their benefits – and salaries – in millions, I believe there is another view.

In Jim Collins’s ground-breaking book “Good to Great”, he mentions how Nucor Steel survived the previous recession:

Top management took a 75% pay cut, middle managers chose 50% and the “workers” only lost 25% – the equivalent of short-time – for a season. Unsurprisingly, they were soon back on track, and remain highly productive, as well as profitable, as they engendered a sense of trust, and unity of purpose that makes for brand engagement. No-one is denying that “a worker is worth his wages” – and that paying “peanuts” only gets you “monkeys”. Who wouldn’t admire such courage, though, and a tangible commitment to staff retention?

I don’t see this kind of sacrifice in the leadership of any of the organisations that regularly face strike action. There is a commitment, but it is not to the organisation, or the nation.

And it makes me wonder.

Posted in Branding, Leadership | Comments (0)

One Day Only!

16 May 2010

I am amazed at the difference a day makes!

Last week, I was disappointed by the fact that the urgency I felt was not shared by my client. I had done everything in my power to make progress simple and – I thought – natural. Yet the phone didn’t ring – even when I stared at it – and the email didn’t arrive. My expectations were too high, perhaps, and I found myself sinking into negative thought patterns.

My lack-lustre Wednesday – spirit down, hands-in-the-pockets – was partly a result of realising that progress was no longer within my locus of control, but nested in the hands of others.

One day later, I received the call that all was well, and I could begin my new role. What a joy! And how remarkable that a little bit of good news could literally transform my week. I found myself sporting a spring in my step, a smile on my dial and noticing the needs of others more.

I really believe that we should not “despise the day of small beginnings,” but rather delight ourselves in every piece of positivity.  Celebrate even little successes – and keep encouraged. If we allow ourselves to be taken in by the atmosphere of cynicism that so easily surrounds us, we will cease to be effective catalysts.

By also being with “encouragers”, and praising others for acts of excellence and endeavour, we will find ourselves more relaxed, more productive and less volatile.

We are, perhaps, only one day away from our breakthrough.

Posted in Person to Person | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Brand Meek?

12 May 2010

While desperately seeking alternatives to a Proteas cricket match – to maintain self-control – I recently began watching the 2003 movie Anger Management.

I was struck once again (if you’ll excuse the pun) by a particular scene, where Adam Sandler’s character is hoping to be relieved of his need for therapy, but instead finds himself really worked up.

With apologies for the occasional misrepresentastion, it goes something like this:

The context is Jack Nicholson’s polite facilitation of the request, “Tell us who you are.” Sandler begins with the standard “I’m (insert name) and I work at…” and is interrupted by Jack, who says, “No, not what you do; who you are”. Sandler tries again, this time with, “I’m a people-person…” or such-like, which is again shot down. “Not your personality; who you are.” An outburst was almost guaranteed to follow, wasn’t it?

The reality is that most of us have defined ourselves by our work, our spouse, our personality, our status, culture or some other important aspect of our existence. It’s difficult to separate what I do, where I do it and why I do it from who I am. Yet this is an important distinction, for who I am needs to drive the other domains. Who I am should inform my choices.

Bob Buford, in Half-Time, shares a metaphor he was given. A mentor told him that there was a box in his lounge / living room, containing the most important thing in his life. The question is, of course: what’s inside the box? Is it God? Is it family? Business? Really? Evidenced by what I spend my time, energy and money on the most?

Why not join me in the search for better answers to the Big Questions?

We can only become more of who we alone can be, and achieving more of our wonderful potential.

Posted in Branding | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)