Three months into the New Year and I have successfully eliminated the regular intake of deep fried foods from my diet. I must admit that I miss french fries and deep fried foods like chicken tenders! As a result of my new good and improving eating habits I occasionally reward myself with “deep fried Friday.” (I do this for Chinese food.) In conjunction with fried foods I have also eliminated random acts of cheese from grilled burgers and sandwiches. So after one year of no cola, and two months without fried foods or cheese, I find myself pondering… Who Moved My Cheesy Fries?
Well, the answer is… I did. I had no choice, my past eating behaviors have caught up to me and my cholesterol really needed my Cheesy Fries to move!! This unwanted change is the result of a poor diet for nearly two decades. Seriously, this change has been hard! I have learned that change is especially hard when it moves me away from the tastes of life I really like - say - cheesy fries and Cokes!
America’s Cheese
Speaking of change, I am sure you are aware of Spencer Johnson’s book “Who Moved My Cheese?” The story is based on four likable characters Sniff, Scurry, Hem and Haw. 
They live in a maze where they are fed cheese every day, in the same place, over and over again. Their life is quite good. One day they wake up to find out that their cheese is gone! In fact, it remains gone! Undoubtedly, their lives change. As the tale progresses the focus remains on their ability, or in some cases their inability, to adapt to change as they search for their cheese. Obviously the “maze” and the “cheese” are metaphoric of the real world and the change that happens on a daily basis. The story highlights what I believe to be universal truths that both individuals and organizations face when unwanted change occurs. Undoubtedly you know them. Perhaps you have experienced some of them yourself. To list a few: fear, anger, sadness, reluctance, blame, self-pity and the like. No doubt, change is difficult, especially if it is unwanted.
As I write this article change is occurring at breakneck speed. The economy, the political world view, previously successful business models and solid operational paradigms are adjusting all around us. Many businesses are closing their doors, some are restructuring, the government is setting new global spending records, unemployment is rising, housing is in the tubes and Americans are scared. Undoubtedly this is a very difficult time for many people. This is change that many people have neither seen nor thought possible. Needless to say, the American cheese (no pun intended) is moving!
Questions from a Conference
This past November I presented a leadership workshop at the IAAPA Conference and Expo in Orlando, Florida. Ironically, one of the topics was leading with an ever changing workforce. The audience was primarily entertainment and hospitality industry executives and management professionals from across the globe. At the conclusion of my presentation someone ask me a very simple question… “How do we lead with all the change the world is giving us?”
Since most of you that are reading this article are leading in some capacity, you may be struggling with the same question. Considering that, what are you to do in these uncertain times as the people you lead look to you for answers?
My answers might surprise you.
Consider Ike
I live in the greater Houston area and in September of 2008 we faced a rather large storm that radically moved our cheese. On Saturday, September 13th about 1:30 AM, hurricane Ike made landfall on the Texas coast near Galveston Island. Living 65+ miles inland offered us some protection, but nonetheless the damage all around us was significant. By 3:00 AM we were experiencing wind gusts at our home ranging from 35 mph to 100 mph. In the peak of the storm the winds were sustained at roughly 90 mph for almost 6 solid hours. It sounded like a freight train bearing down on our home. Needless to say it was frightful and the damage to our community was immense. Our neighborhood lost power for 7 days with many homes in our area sustaining horrendous damage that you would have to see to believe. Some people in the Houston area lost power for 30+ days – talk about moving cheese.
Planning for the Storm
My three children were the most concerned about the storm. Me - not so much - as I had experienced Hurricane Alicia in 1983 and had some idea of what to expect. Nonetheless I respected what the storm was about to bring to our home. Although all of our children were somewhat concerned both prior to and during the storm, our youngest child had the most apprehension. He knew the storm was approaching and that we needed a plan. As a result, he gained valuable life lessons as he watched and participated in a time of crisis and uncertainty. The beauty of this problem was that we knew the storm was coming. We had time to forge a plan. We had time to prepare. We took steps to reduce risk and minimize loss. We took steps to maintain the quality of our life the best that we could at the time.
In comparison, Hurricane Ike and the current economic state of our country are very similar. You know there is a storm. You know you need a plan. You know you need to reduce risk, minimize loss, and maintain quality! From my own life experiences of weathering not only Ike, but other life storms, I encourage you to consider the following ideas as you lead during these next few months:
- Be prepared. You know the economy is rough. You know the times we are facing are going to challenge the paradigms of how you function and operate. Take the necessary precautions you need to keep your business afloat and your employees employed. Do all you can to insure that both organizational and product quality is not lost - as once you lose it, it becomes difficult to recapture.
- Be honest. The people you lead depend on you to maintain integrity and honesty. My grandmother used to say “honesty is the best policy.” The people you lead want to know what is happening and how you are planning to safeguard them in these uncertain times. If you want honesty, be honest. If you want loyalty, be loyal. The people you lead also want to know both the good news and bad news. Minimize surprises and give people options through honesty, loyalty and integrity. Don't play games.
- Be courageous. Courage is putting off your fear when you should be scared to death. If you don't know something, say “I don’t know.” Ask for help. Seek out and form alliances that in the past may have seemed unusual or not needed. Step out of your comfort zone! If you can move ahead with your organizational growth goals be cautious, not stubborn. Keep improving and above all do not forsake the growth of your people. It is this type of courage that will have you poised for the economic rebound. If you are moving forward with caution while others are receding, you will have a head start to sprint into the future expansion.
- Be flexible. Be ready NOT to do business as usual. Difficult times call for difficult solutions. Consider gathering more input directly from your people. Sometimes the greatest answers to problems are at the base of your organization.
- Be creative. Get out of the box in how you think. Reduce salaries and raise commissions or raise salaries and reduce commissions. Shake it up. Use your leverage wisely in negotiations. Work to capture long term incremental profit, by reducing margins if needed. Create long term relationships to reduce costs over time. Look to give others benefit as you receive reward. Create mutually beneficial relationships not mere business arrangements.
- Be proactive. Refuse to participate in the recession. Move money!! Consider it to be like karma, what goes around comes around.
- Be careful. Take nothing for granted - neither your customers nor your employees. Don't assume the lights will stay on!
- Be ready. Work hard to protect what you have and be prepared to help your neighbor. Above all, don't wait on the government!
Final Thoughts…
As the cheese moves, and rest assured it is moving, your leadership skill and ability will be tested, tried and refined. I encourage you to rise to the occasion and lead. I want to close with a quote from Zig Ziglar, the great motivational speaker and best selling author of “See You at the Top.” I believe this quote represents a principle that is needed more now today than ever before. I challenge you to consider its application into your life as well as your business mindset.
Ziglar says: “If you help enough people get what they want, then you will get what you want.”
And I say, start helping - don't wait.
As always, if you need my help operators are standing by!
