HSM Inspiring Ideas BLOG

New release: Free Digital eBook "Best of HSM Inspiring Ideas 2009"

For the final issue of the HSM Inspiring Ideas newsletter for 2009, we have prepared a special end-of-year digital edition of the newsletter featuring some of the best content from the past 12 months.

Just click on the link or image below and you´ll be able to experience our new interactive digital flip-page format featuring tips, videos and articles from a whole range of thought leaders.

Enjoy the content right now on your computer, share with a colleague or download in PDF version to read at your leisure.

Best of Inspiring Ideas 2009

Wishing you happy holidays and a successful 2010!

Chris Stanley
Editor - HSM Inspiring Ideas

HSM launches "5 Key Lessons for Success" DVD Set

HSM has just launched a new 5 DVD set called "5 Key Lessons for Success" featuring the very latest theories, key lessons and real-world experiences from some of the biggest names in business. For full details and how to get the series, visit: http://www.hsmglobal.com/us/DVD

The collection focuses on the following five key business issues: 1. Marketing & Sales, 2. Innovation, 3. Globalization, 4. Strategy & Profitability and 5. Leadership

Featuring professionally-produced, highly informative and entertaining documentaries on each subject along with exclusive, insightful interviews with ten of the world's foremost thought-leaders and experts - this five DVD set is a very affordable and convenient way to gain access to the most current strategies and training that can help executives maximize their perfomance.

Dov Seidman at the EHRM lunch #wbf09

Today I attended the second meeting of Executive HR Managers at the 21 Club. Dov Seidman was our featured guest. He is the author of HOW: Why How we do Anything Means Everything. . . In Business (And in Life).

“Companies are standing for humanity," said Dov, as he asked the room full of HR leaders, "What does this look like operationally? How do we teach values that are sustainable?

According to Dov Seidman, behavior can be instilled through these three approaches:

1. Coerce
2. Motivate
3. Inspire

Having studied Michel Foucault in graduate school, when a conversation references power structures, I am engaged and eager to hear more. Dov Seidman explains, “Whereas land ownership and capital were once a source of power, ideas, knowledge, and creativity are power now. We cannot have power over people but through people. We need inspired behavior.” As Gary Hamel said this morning, “The great accomplishment of management in the 20^th century: turning free thinking human beings into robots.” Dov Seidman believes we need to bring humanity back into organizations; and it’s only through the value of inspiration that a business can make progress. 

Dov Seidman used this dichotomy:  He said, “The last four superbowls won by teams with coaches who do not scream at their teams.” Mr. Seidman then referenced Bill Marriott, Chairman and CEO of Marriott International, how Mr. Marriott is transparent and communicative; he has his own blog called, “Marriott on the Move.” Mr. Seidman asks, “Why is the 77 year old blogging and the screaming football coach becoming quiet?” Dov Seidman explains, “In a connected world, nature of the connection will be exposed. Because carrots and sticks have reached their limit. That’s why we need inspiration: that is the value.”

I highly recommend Dov Seidman's book, How, and I cannot wait to read it in its entirety! You can visit Dov Seidman's blog here.

 

Natural gas is the energy of the future: Breakfast with Peter Voser #wbf09

This morning, I had the pleasure of attending the breakfast with Peter Voser, CEO of Shell, where Mr. Voser illuminated Shell's position on climate change and energy security. Mr. Voser reiterated these two points: the significance of natural gas as the future of energy, and the crucial position that governments must play in regulation and progress.

Mr. Voser commenced the discussion with a summary of Shell's position:

• In the next 40 years, global energy consumption will double.
• Energy consumption per capita in the developing world will stay low.
• On the supply side, we need to refine technologies and make products more sustainable.
• On the demand side, we need regulations, and need to work on efficiencies: i.e. how you insulate your home, how you power your vehicle.
• There is a challenge on how fast we can develop our resources--like natural gas, the cleanest burning fossil fuel--for countries like China, who will be forced to use more coal.
• We need to work fast. These technologies need to be developed over the next few years.
• On natural gas: by 2012, Shell will produce more gas than oil. Natural gas is the energy of the future.

Mr. Voser then opened the floor to questions. Jackson Vanderhode, of Edmonton, Canada, asked Mr. Voser, "Where are the largest growth markets?" According to Mr. Voser, these are: Brasil, Australia, Kazakhstan, Russia, Africa's West Coast, Iran and Iraq. Canada is the second biggest oil resource, next to Saudi Arabia. 

Another attendee asked a question in conjunction with what we learned from Jeffrey Sachs' presentation, regarding the reduction of consumption. This attendee asks, "Should there be a price of carbon?" Mr. Voser replied, "We are working in conjunction with the European Union. There is a market driven system that will lower CO₂ consumption over time." He continues, "We need to invest in technology and innovation to meet these challenges." Mr. Voser added that the US is the only nation that can "build green energy with a somewhat decent return."

Richard Bound, of the NY Academy of Sciences comments "There is not a robust community formed, and that is what typically makes scientific breakthrough happen. How do we do this--form a community to work with science?" Mr. Voser advocates for academia, government and investors to work together. He says, "We need to get a clear legal framework [in which to] operate. We need to make a policy going forward that must be sponsored by governments. So far in the US, Shell thinks the talks with the administration are very encouraging, although some other oil companies might not agree with us." Most importantly, "We will not get to a solution without government," Voser declares.  

An attendee from the Ukraine asked Mr. Voser to speak to corporate social responsibility and global social responsibility. Mr. Voser replied: "[Social responsibility] is very high on our priority list. We are applying social responsibility across the world. We help developing countries develop an energy responsibility policy. [We are helping developing countries] get both of their legs firmly on the ground, giving the developing world time to manage per capita energy consumption and climate change." Mr. Voser reiterates the significance of government participation as he continues, "We [Shell] can never replace the government, we can never replace social systems...we can only hope to help and influence legislation."

Mr. Voser concluded the breakfast with these closing remarks:

"The challenge [of the global energy crisis] is enormous. China, at this stage, is much further advanced than we all think...on the gas side, it is easy to sell them a supply for the next 20-30 years. We need to make all of the energy technologies that we have and bring them to China... Shell has been selling clean coal technologies to China. This does not solve the issue immediately, but helps to drive the right technologies, and helps us [apply] innovation."

He issues this caveat: "The worse that can happen is countries moving into isolation without regulation. We need a common base to work on energy resources."

Still dark inside Radio City Music Hall and getting ready for day 2... #WBF09

I'm currently sitting at the Bloggers Hub on the 3rd mezzanine of Radio City Music Hall and watching the final preparations before Day 2 kickoff.

The theater is still dark and the technicians are running video spots as they balance the audio on the massive sound system.

Last night I had the opportunity to have dinner with many of the great featured bloggers at the event. We discussed many of the things we had heard and seen from the speakers and more importantly, what we got out of each session.

As we talked, I realized how the World Business Forum really was not a single event but rather, a moment in time for all the people present. As we spoke about what was covered, I was able to see and understand many of the concepts in ways that never crossed my mind while all the action and excitement of Day 1 was going on. Only after getting together with such an eclectic and brilliant group of bloggers, each bringing to the table their knowledge and viewpoints, was I able to really grasp many of the elements of what was said and what may have remained unspoken.

I'm sitting and going over the wide array of published blogs from yesterday and the extensive Twitter stream from bloggers, attendees and people from all over the world who participated in "creating day 1 of the World Business Forum" and I am amazed at what the Bloggers Hub has accomplished.

I feel very fortunate to be in the company of such incredible voices who have so eloquently and generously shared their views and opinions on what took place on the first day. I don't know what will happen on Day 2 and as I watch the stage crew finish their setup, I wonder what the Bloggers Hub will create today.

"DO you know what an economist is? An economist is a guy that did not have the personality to be a CPA." #wbf09

T. Boone Pickens jokes. I remember being very excited when HSM booked Mr. Pickens a while back. Probably because he's difficult to categorize--a Texan, an energy investor, a geologist, and maybe a little green? In the few photos I've seen of him, he donned a cowboy hat. To my dismay, he did not wear one today at the WBF. (Being from New York, cowboys hats still have a little of that charm for me.)  

Back to World Business Forum--this session was moderated by Alan Murray of the Wall Street Journal. As I'm trying to get my mind around how Mr. Pickens would identify himself, Murray asks, "Are you an environmental activist?" T. Boone Pickens replies, "I'm not (pause, upward gaze to the ceiling) I'm a geologists." He continues, "I've always had a shade of green in me, and I'm a steward of the land...The issue for me is a security issue for America."

Regarding oil dependency in the US, Pickens says, "We have not been tasked in this country to sit down and solve how we will deal with energy in the future...the reason is because we have had cheap oil...We aren't smart about how we manage energy in America, because we have had cheap oil for the past 40 years."

Pickens said in 30 years of lobbying in Washington, going there alone as a "rich man from Texas," he influenced nothing. He cares about the future of energy in the US; which has prompted him to locate a following: he has a 1600 person "army." It's the New Energy Army, and you can join at pickensplan.com.

Kiss up, kick down #wbf09

Embracing the numbers, not the values, or "Kiss up, kick down"--an employee who makes the numbers, but does not fulfill the values of the company. This is something that has consequences, Bill Conaty says. If your values do not match your company's values, then it might be time to consider a breakup. Conaty advises us to develop a full assessment process. Have open, honest feedback with your employees. At GE, HR is a legitimate business partner.

Only about 30% of employees in the US are fully engaged. In this economy, it's time to redefine success and redefine winning. We don't need to treat everyone the same. Differentiation breads meritocracy.   

For me, Conaty's speech is a great compliment to what I've learned from listing to Jack Welch over the past few years: to evaluate holistically. I am reminded of one of my favorite Jack Welch comments: "Don't confuse education with intelligence."

I had the pleasure of attending the Executive HR Managers luncheon, here are some takeaways from Mr. Conaty:

-A good relationship with your CEO will only take you so far--about a year. You need to develop solid relationships with your employees
-Brutally honest feedback is essential. If you are not giving your employees completely open feedback, all you are giving them is false kindness.
-In these times when you cannot offer raises and promotions, you must tell your employees that you value them within the organization (only if it's true!).

 

Get in the playing field

Welcome to the World Business Forum  '09! Bill George kicks off the WBF, and speaks to what makes a real leadership.

In a crises, true leaders will emerge. In today's economy, Bill George tells us we need to focus not on saving jobs, but creating them. There is nothing like the entrepreneurial spirit in the US. Shed your weaknesses. Stick with your "True North;" your values will guide you. "This crises may be your opportunity" says Bill George.

World Business Forum 2009 is just about to get underway #WBF09

As I sit at the Bloggers Hub on the "Press Mezz" of Radio City Music Hall, I am watching the last minute preparations of the event. This year's event will be different from those before as we open the WBF09 to the world through a  great group of bloggers who join us in sharing the best ideas and concepts of WBF to the world. I am very proud to be in the company of such great minds and looking forward to "kickoff" at 9 a.m. Eastern time. Join us for all the activity at http://www.wbfny.com/BloggersHub

#wbf09 Lost your way? Never. You build the track.

And time is now. Or I should say time is always now. We shouldn't wait for turning points or critical crossroads. We just need to learn to be on the alert... Aware and perceptive, open and candid... free from prejudice or judgement... Today at lunch, I came up with another powerful image of people getting ready for a difficult challenge. Alluring as the warm-up lap in a race can be, it has a component that's preset, conveniently "planted" with hazards and chicanes, with warning flags: a neatly and well designed circuit.

When I heard William Ury, Harvard's negotiation expert, explain the rationale of his project The Abraham Path, I realised this "path" idea adds a passionate, sensitive approach to the whole idea of facing your challenges.  The Abraham Path is a route of cultural tourism which follows the footsteps of Abraham / Ibrahim through the Middle East. By retracing this journey, it provides a place of meeting and connection for people of all faiths and cultures, inviting us to remember our common origins, to respect our cultural differences, and to recognize our shared humanity. 

I realised then how enticing it felt... tracing your own track... There is a personal commitment, a future aspiration built in the present, step by step. And the inevitable change we bring, the difference we make with each and every small action... In this time of re-foundation, of re-creation we are living, this emerging journey strategy is much more suitable than a circuit. It's our call ...  we can choose to fix the scars of the last race, ut the same starting lights on once again  and get ready to again leave rubber stuck on the pavement that will need to be removed .... or sink our footsteps on the sand and let them be gently swept by time and stay deeply engrained in our memory and the memory of those who shared the path with us or of those who followed...