Recently, complaints about powerful men (and women) committing sexual harassment and abuse in the workplace have gone from a trickle to a torrent. After years of victims remaining silent about their mistreatment, they are finally speaking out in great numbers and I say bravo. It’s about time! But one has to ask why these victims… Read More >>
Open Door Policy = A Lame Excuse for Cultivating Honesty
In an insightful article in the January-February 2016 issue of the Harvard Business Review titled, “Can Your Employees Really Speak Freely?”(1) authors James R. Detert and Ethan R. Burrus discuss the importance of leaders maintaining a culture of honesty so they can get the feedback they need to know what’s going on in their organizations. They… Read More >>
Tom Selleck’s Lesson For Corporate Culture
Regarding corporate culture, there is a famous quote in Time Magazine from Warren Buffet that goes: “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it.” Never has that quote been more appropriate than in an age where social media can have a huge impact on an employer’s reputation. Do something… Read More >>
Not My Fault: Nurturing Employee Responsibility
Shun Fugimoto was a perfect example of employee responsibility. “Monteal 1976 – After severely breaking his kneecap during the floor exercise, Japan’s Shun Fugimoto ignored his injury as long as possible, knowing such news could shatter the confidence of his teammates. The injured gymnast continued to the pommel horse routine, miraculously scoring a 9.5 out… Read More >>
Conflict Management – Check The Facts Before Blaming Others
This past Saturday I learned a thing or two about conflict management. My wife, CJ and I pulled into the parking lot of a local camera store where I was picking up some prints. CJ is wheelchair bound, so we drive a wheelchair ramp van with handicap plates. Unfortunately, the only handicap spot was occupied… Read More >>
LESSONS FROM BRIAN WILLIAMS ON BUILDING A TEAM CULTURE OF HONESTY AND INTEGRITY
Last week, we learned that the NBC anchor person Brian Williams lied in 2003 about his involvement in a Gulf War helicopter raid, saying that he’d been riding in a Chinook Helicopter that was hit by an RPG fired by Iraqi ground troops. It turns out that he was in a helicopter that night, but… Read More >>
Avoiding the Naked Emperor Syndrome: Lessons on Corporate Culture from the Secret Service
On September 19, 2014 Omar Gonzalez, a 42-year-old knife-wielding Iraq war veteran, jumped the White House fence, ran across the lawn and entered the mansion through the front door. The door was supposed to be locked but unfortunately it wasn’t. After entering, Mr. Gonzalez overpowered a secret service agent and made his way to the… Read More >>
The Kumbaya Syndrome
By Larry Johnson & Bob Phillips (This blog was adapted from Larry and Bob’s book, Absolute Honesty: Building A Corporate Culture That Values Straight Talk And Rewards Integrity, (AMACOM Books) While demonstrating a rapid assent procedure for some VIP civilians off the coast of Hawaii, the nuclear submarine USS Greenville collided with the Ehime Maru,… Read More >>
“Sanford and Friends: Honesty and Integrity??? NOT!”
Richard Nixon told us he wasn’t a crook. Bill Clinton said, “I never had sexual relations with that woman.” Baseball star Jose Canseco admitted to using anabolic steroids. John Edwards had an affair during the Democratic primary races. And Governor Mark Sanford (R-SC) disappeared from his post for five days with no word of where he was. Upon returning, he… Read More >>
Difficult Conversations Require Creative Strategies
I presented a tele seminar last month on dealing with difficult employees from which I received several questions. Here’s one I thought interesting: Dear Larry, On Wednesday, March 11, I attended your Webinar on Handling Difficult Conversations. I have a question for you on handling a difficult conversation with a direct report of mine. He… Read More >>