Laws - They Are A-Changing

During a recent conversation with a legal beagle, I discovered some interesting facts that will impact employers, HR professionals, my clients, and employees as well.  I call them the 4 Rules of Understanding ADA.

Here they are:

1.  According to the law, we are ALL disabled (with very few exceptions) because of all of the bodily functions covered under the Act,  and how impairment is defined.

2. When an employee claims they have a disability, employers must engage in an interactive process.  That means talk to the employee to find out what they need to accommodate them.  The employer must not assume that all cases are the same or every employee will need the same solution for a similar impairment.

3.  Employers are expected to make reasonable accommodation for the disabled employee so that employee can perform his/her responsibility on the job.  If the employers does not accommodate it must be because a. it was cost prohibitive and/or  b. doing so would cause harm to the employee or others.

4.  Temporary and intermittent condition that create an physical or emotional impairment are considered disabilities.  Even conditions, such as migraines and high blood pressure, that are controlled/managed by treatment/medication, can still be a disability if it impairs the employee physically or emotionally.  This might also include pregnancy, allergies, depression and numerous others.

What this means for employers:  Know the law.  Be prepared and willing to accommodate. 

What this means for employees:  Know your rights.  If you feel you have an impairment that affects your ability to perform a major life function, be prepared to engage in a healthy two-way discussion with your employer, if you need an accommodation of some sort.

A Loyal Generation - Dedicated to their jobs while committed to their lifestyles

Taking off the Boundaries

27-year-old recruiter, Matt Powers, declared to his managers at a staffing company that he wanted to take the summer off.   Powers had been with the company less than a year, but he explained to his managers the he had taken every summer off since he graduated from college five years earlier.  His bosses scoffed at him and told him there was no way that would happen.  They told him that he could quit his job and then re-apply for a job when the summer was over.  Being re-hired would not be automatic or assumed.  They further stated that this would set a dangerous precedent amongst his colleagues.  What would happen if everyone wanted to take the summer off?, they wondered.  How would be business survive and who would do the work?, they questioned.  The managers at that staffing company did not understand the needs and expectations of Powers’ generation.  Work-Life balance is a critical issue. Had Powers worked for Austin Texas-based software company, HotSchedules, he would have had no problem convincing his higher-ups to give him the summer off.  In fact, HotSchedule offers unlimited paid vacation to it’s full-time employees.  That’s right: unlimited paid vacation.  The software company is focused on creating an environment where people want to come to work, have fun at work, and feel appreciated. 

Who They Are

There are roughly 50 million people between the ages of 18 and 30.  They are known as Generation Y, or millennials.  It is believed that Generation Y cannot be expected to stay with the same company for their entire careers as many other generations have.  But, in my own non-scientific research, I’ve found that is not entirely true.  I spoke to 15 Gen Y-ers across the state, all working Fortune 500 organizations.  12 of 15 told me a different story than many psychologists and career strategiests.  These Milliennials say that if they work in a fun, engaging environment where their needs are being recognized and met, they could see themselves staying there until they retire. 

They have a common upbringing, as well.  They watched their parents work hard, show great loyalty to organizations, and have very little time for family.  In return, their parents either got laid off, were forced into early retirement, or left their organizations after 30 years to collect their minimal pensions.  The Gen Y group I questioned does not want the same life their parents had.

With these lofty expectations, why would anyone want to hire the millennials (Gen Y)? 

Here are some great contributions they can make:

They want to make a difference and leave a legacy.  This mean hard work, dedication, and determination. 

They are going beyond the status quo, which translates to new ideas, innovation, and creativity. 

They speak up when they see something that can be improved.  They are not ‘yes men and women’.  I think this means they can move organizations from good to great.

They are the leaders organizations should be grooming.

Research shows that this generation is on course to become the most educated group our world has every known, and the largest group as well; even bigger than their parents, the Boomers.  The statistics show that within a decade they will make up more than 30 % of the workforce.  We as business owners and leaders need to prepare to hire and engage them, if we are not doing so already.  If you can capture and keep their attention, they can be wonderfully productive employees and great assets. 

Values that drive successful businesses

I’ve been traveling all over the Americas coaching and training leaders and future leaders in organizations.  I’ve worked with teams and individuals in government, private business, non-profits, fortune 500 companies, and faith-based organizations.   In the past 15 years, leaders have shared with me these common foundational values that drive successful business. 

Transparency - create simple easy to understand strategies, processes and communications.  Make the purpose and importance for all of them clear.

Warning:  Don’t assume people already know your intentions.  Tell them. 

Continual Learning – encourage the sharing of ideas.  DURING the sharing of idea, receive them without judgment.  Look for opportunities to improve.  Share lessons.  Teach others what you know.  If you are a leader, delegate.  Give people access to external and internal learning opportunities as well.

Warning:  Don’t limit learning opportunities only to a favorite few performers.  Share the wealth.  How else with the good get to great and the mediocre get better?

Fiscal Responsibility – look for ways to achieve maximum results with minimum resources.  Seek the highest quality parts, materials, and supplies you can get with the most economical expenditure.    Use time, energy, and talents in a way that reduces/eliminates waste.

Warning:  Don’t be cheap; be frugal. Get the most value for your dollar without sacrificing quality.

Be Competitive – know the competition.  Know what they are doing – good and bad.  Benchmark against the best.  When you have successes, celebrate them, acknowledge results and recognize accomplishments.  Then set new goals and reach for higher (realistic but challenging) heights. 

Warning:  Don’t compare yourself against the average.  Sometimes businesspeople look at mediocre competitors and say,  “at least we’re better than them”.  You don’t want to be better than the average.  Strive to be as good as the best. 

What businesspeople can learn from the NBA finals.

 Teamwork is key. 

                             

I, for one, am not a Dallas Mavericks fan.  In fact in this year’s final series, I was cheering for the Heat.  However, I can appreciate a team who individually and collectively plays with excellence.  The Mavericks have a set of skills, attitudes, talents and working styles that forge a winning combination. 

Work Together.

LeBron James often talked about sharing the ball.  He clearly understood the importance of playing together and utilizing the strengths of others.  But, ultimately, it was difficult for him to practice it, when it was time to do so.  The statistics don’t lie. Mavericks are #2 in the league in assists.  The Heat is close to the bottom.   Mavericks know how to executive collectively.  Synergy = Success. 

Know your role.

The Mavericks also know how to execute individually. Each team member knows his personal strengths and seems to have a clear understanding of his role on the team.  Each player knows what is expected of him.    You can not deliver on expectations if you don’t have a clear vision of what they are.

Practice the winning combination.

The Mavs obviously had the ultimate goal in mind.  Win the franchise’s first championship.  In order to get there, they had to achieve the smaller objectives that make the ultimate goal possible.  They practice that winning combination repeatedly.   Drive.  Pass.  Assist.  Shoot.  Recover.  Block.  It becomes a rhythmic chorus that the team has masters through practice.  Begin with the end in mind.  Set a plan for how you will get there. 

Finally, the six-game series re-affirms an adage I learned years ago.  Together we can do much more than the sum of what we can do separately.  Here’s what that means in a business setting.  Say Jane, Tom, and Megan are tasked with building widgets.  In an hour, each person can build 10 widgets respectively.  That’s 30 widgets total.   However, if Jane, Tom, and Megan work together, each taking on a role in the widget building process, they get more done.  Jane sorts, Tom assembles, Megan packages - they now can build 50 widgets in an hour.  Their collective total is greater than the sum of their individual totals. 

Work Together.  Know Your Role.  Practice the Winning Combination. 

Adversity - A Poem

What in the world my dear are you clinging to? -- some propaganda stating you’ve gone as far on your going to.

That your skies are finite and limited, that you’ve dreamed the impossible dream; your future inhibited.

Oh please, they’ve been shoveling that lie since the 60s.

No one can decide what you can or can’t move thru

This is your challenge, your life. What is it that you want to do --

Sit and be still and not shine the way your light was meant to.  

Oh, I pray that ain’t true, I pray that ain’t true.

Please… don’t fall into the abyss because something negative once rules you

Please… understand I’m from where you are and I got to fight my demons too

Please… don’t give up because somebody broke your heart and some things fell thru.

Please… This is life, you own it, it does not own you.

STIR UP THOSE GIFTS!!

I’m a youth group leader and recently had the privilege of working with a group of  12 pre-schoolers.  These little ones are 3- and 4-years old.  As with most pre-schoolers they are busy, inquisitive, energetic and exploratory.   One little girl in particular stood out to me that day.  No matter what activity we tried  – painting, puzzles, reading, singing, a pretend marching band – she said “ But, I can’t do it”.  I began to tell her repeatedly that she CAN do it; she can be ANYTHING.   I encouraged her to keep trying.  I told her not to give up.  Eventually, as the afternoon went on, she stopped saying she could not do things and started trying harder.  She didn’t even know she had some of those talents and abilities because she hadn’t even tried.  Some of the activities did not come easy for her;  But with some guidance, practice and experience, her skills and abilities grew.

I started thinking:  just because something doesn’t come naturally, immediately, or automatically, doesn’t mean we can’t be gifted and talented in that area.    Then, I thought about Moses, who didn’t think he could be an eloquent speaker.  He had a speech impediment, after all.  Therefore, when God told him to go speak to Pharaoh on His behalf, Moses said “But, I can’t”.  Yet, in reality he could.  He hadn’t tapped into that talent.  He was sure that because of his condition, he surely could not.  But, he could and he DID.  He stirred up his gift. 

Let’s take an example from more recent (secular) history.  Everyone knows Michael Jordan as a great basketball player; some say the greatest player EVER.  However, he didn’t have an automatic or immediate gift in the game.  In fact, Jordan was cut from his high school team.   He could have given up then.  He could have said “it’s not for me.  I’m not good at it. It’s not meant to be.”   He stirred up his gift and... well, the rest is history. 

Sometimes it takes time and hard work to realize our gifts and talents, but that doesn’t make them any less real.   If anything the abilities we work hardest to cultivate might be the most valuable.

Why should you have to work at it if it’s a gift? Shouldn’t gifts come naturally?  Well, maybe sometimes they don’t – maybe that helps us to appreciate our gifts and talents more.  Maybe we will take them more seriously if we have to work for them.  Maybe we will be willing to share them with-  and teach them to others.    

I have a friend who owns a beauty salon.   After several failed attempted, she finally found the right combination and made it work.  She too could have said “It’s too hard, it must not be meant to be.”  But, she had a fire in her heart and passion in her soul and she remained faithful.  As a result she now has a thriving business; a legacy to leave her kids; and a great story of encouragement to tell everyone.  

To realize the gift or talent, sometimes you have to stir it up… and keep stirring! 

Leadership. Worthiness. Life -- Lessons from Oprah

“You are responsible for your own energy and the energy you bring to others.”  Oprah’s words during her farewell  finale today.   As a training professional, I teach about trust and my audiences discuss legitimate leadership.  Legitimate leadership is what a person has when others follow them because of trust and respect, not because they have to or because they are afraid not to.  That’s the kind of power Ms Oprah has.  Her followers buy the products she recommends, read the books she likes, and go to the places she prefers, because they trust her judgment.  The believe that her motives, her intent, and her honesty.  Why would millions of people put their trust in a journalist, an actress, a talk-show host,  a stranger?  Well, I would imagine they believe Oprah to be transparent, respectful, loyal,  ands straight-forward.  In addition a true leader is willing to admit when she’s wrong, she rights those wrongs, and she practices accountability, I believe.  That's the kind of leader I strive to be continually.  No, I don't aspire to be the richest woman in the world, I don't desire fame.  But legitimate leadership is a great honor, and privilege.  It is purposeful and driving.  It helps me stay focused on what is most important to me.  What I know for sure is:   Each of us is responsible for our own life.  Don’t wait for someone else to save you, fix you, or complete you. 

Worthiness is your birthright.  Oprah says.  I believe you are worthy because you were chosen to be here.  We were born for a purpose and as I say repeatedly, you have a duty to find it.  When you know you're worthy, you make decisions accordingly.  You know your price tag.  You know you're in the glass case, not on the clearance rack.  Oprah says that you’re life is whispering to you.  Will you hear it?  I know my life is whispering to me.  It whispers warnings, complaints, encouragements, advice,  and directions.  When I don’t listen my life uses other people to speak to me.  I appreciate those messages  my life gives me because even when I’m not quick to listen, my life remains consistent.  Life continues to tell me things that save me, and protect me sometimes in  subtle, funny, and creative ways.  You see for me, Life is God.   As Oprah said “The grace of God is closer than your own breath.”