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Post by tyancey on Sept 29, 2013 13:31:56 GMT -6
INSTANT MBA: 'Be The Leader Who Hops In The Delivery Truck'
I love this advice. I think it is fantastic and that everyone business person in the world should take it. A businesses employees are so important and many CEOs and company Presidents forget that the employees are the ones that are doing all of the dirty work and see how everything works. The CEOs may implement ideas and processes, however the employees are the one that see how they turn out. Therefore, companies should learn to listen to their employees and should be willing to hear their ideas. In order for the employees to feel comfortable enough with management to be able to tell them ideas and problems, they must make themselves available and not take offense to the comments. Many CEOs and management take offense to criticism, but they need to realize that it is not about them but about the good of the company.
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Post by stephaniemeyer on Sept 29, 2013 19:26:41 GMT -6
INSTANT MBA: 'Be The Leader Who Hops In The Delivery Truck'
One of my favorite television shows is "Undercover Boss" in which the CEO of a company goes undercover to see what it's like to be an employee for his/her own company. The CEO has an eye-opening experience and, many times, is changed in ways he/she would never have imagined. I strived to be that kind of boss when I was at the fast food chain. I wanted my employees to know that I felt I was no better than them in most ways and that I could and would get down and get dirty when necessary. It was not uncommon to see me working the drive thru window at my store during rush hours. Did this demean me in the eyes of my employees? On the contrary, I think it earned me more respect. They saw that I'd do whatever it took to get the job done and to keep us at number 1 and, in turn, I expected the same from them, as employees. Nine times out of ten, I received and earned the utmost respect from my employees by showing them I'd "stoop to their level" in their eyes...........even though I was in management. Yes, I think it's of utmost importance to lead by example.
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Post by katiebourgeois on Sept 30, 2013 7:27:07 GMT -6
Instant MBA: Be the Leader Who Hops In the Delivery Truck
Although asking your workers how they feel you are doing may sometimes be hurtful or upsetting, I truly believe it is important. As an athlete, I am use to getting constructive criticism. It would be similar for a manager because that manager could take the criticism they received and work on the things they were struggling with. If you don't know what you are doing wrong, how can you fix anything? Spending a day in your workers' shoes can be beneficial also. You would know what they deal with everyday and could see through the eyes of your inferiors. Standing in their shoes can help you see how they look at you as a manager, and you could better understand how to deal with them without making them feel inferior to you.
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Post by lana.guay on Sept 30, 2013 15:42:12 GMT -6
This is great advice. Everyone should learn to take some criticism in a positive way and learn that's the area you need to improve. You shouldn't take the criticism personally. It's a great idea to have a talkative relationship with your employees and let them know they can be honest with you about the business. Let them know you want to learn what you can do to help improve on certain areas.
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Post by chadraziano504 on Oct 1, 2013 8:18:42 GMT -6
INSTANT MBA: 'Be The Leader Who Hops In The Delivery Truck'
I totally agree with the article and believe more CEO's should follow those steps and in return they will gain more knowledge, on how their business operates on a daily basis. If I become a CEO or upp level management I would use this article and grab lunch with the lower level workers and mabye tag along while they perform their activties during the day. I think you would be able to learn much more about your workforce and how tasks are completed every day.
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Post by trey on Oct 1, 2013 9:32:54 GMT -6
INSTANT MBA: 'Be The Leader Who Hops In The Delivery Truck'
I agree with this article in a sense but I also think it very rarely happens. Everybody wants the CEO that gets on the ground level and walks in the "laborers shoes" so to speak, but I honestly think they will not make time for that. Other than start-up service industry companies, I do not believe a company leader will allocate time for these type of activities.
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Post by zekesonnier on Oct 1, 2013 14:39:28 GMT -6
INSTANT MBA: 'Be The Leader Who Hops In The Delivery Truck'
I like Seinfeld's idea of spending time in employee's shoes. CEOs can do many things to collect data for eventuating their company. They can perceive first hand knowledge with their own opinion. Plus, it would make the employees feel better to know that the CEO cares enough to communicate on their level. The problem that I can see with this is the CEO talking to the wrong people and receiving information that may not be the general consensus of the majority of staff.
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Post by ernestmajoue on Oct 3, 2013 11:09:12 GMT -6
Great article on how to become a better leader. I agree you should be involved with your employees and getting feed back is equally important both positive and negative. Just remember there is always room for improvement. Getting to know who does what in your company as a CEO can boost your employees moral, employees might feel you care more and are working as hard as they are for you and your company.
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Post by beccabourgeois on Oct 4, 2013 10:06:18 GMT -6
This has been one of my favorite articles. I love bosses who wouldn't hesitate to hop in the delivery truck and help out. I have a lot of respect for bosses who put themselves in their employees' shoes. Steinfeld says that in order to really tell how you and your business are doing, you need to connect with your employees. This should happen often, on regular basis, rather than just when company is in trouble or during an annual reviews or holiday bonus time. Asking them direct questions about how things are and how your business processes are is a good thing. Although it may hurt to hear their true opinions, it will only help you and your company. If you are sincere and genuinely want to find out their views than they will open up to you and be honest. In return, your company can really benefit from their suggestions for improvement.
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Post by leetaranto on Oct 7, 2013 9:54:16 GMT -6
INSTANT MBA: 'Be The Leader Who Hops In The Delivery Truck'
Being a leader is the way communication is communicated the best. If there is no leader in the company then the company can not focus on the important goals. One needs to be able to talk and motivate their employees in order for task to get done. One can learn from this article that a leader has to be a leader by example.
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Post by katiesnyder on Oct 8, 2013 13:08:54 GMT -6
Instant MBA: ‘Be The Leader Who Hops In The Delivery Truck’ All companies have their own kinds of strengths and weaknesses. The ones that know where a company needs improvements are the employees. They are the ones that are carrying out the companies mission doing the task hands on rather than overseeing the task. Managers have to understand what the other employees are doing in order to relate to it.
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Post by billyg on Oct 8, 2013 14:56:20 GMT -6
INSTANT MBA: 'Be The Leader Who Hops In The Delivery Truck'
Engaging with employees at all levels to understand how your leadership or business is viewed within the company is something all CEOs should practice. Being able to take this feedback to improve yourself as a leader in the eyes of your employees is difficult yet very beneficial. Do not just resort to asking them when they are to receive money. Instead, make this engagement a common occurrence. invest some of your time in actually doing their jobs with them so you fully understand where their opinions come from.
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Post by wparker on Oct 8, 2013 17:32:46 GMT -6
"Be the leader that hops in the delivery truck"
Many higher paid managers forget what it's like to work in the trenches. I like how the article says that as a CEO you should take time to get to know your employees, whether it's getting lunch with your employees or just working along side them for a few days/weeks. Also, as the article states, don't do it during company review and holiday times. Employees will catch on to what you're really doing, trying to look good. You also need to make sure to get honest feedback from all levels of employees. As the article states, you will get your feelings hurt and it will be personal. Hopefully you will get much needed feedback on areas to improve in your business.
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Post by blaircavalier on Oct 14, 2013 20:02:40 GMT -6
INSTANT MBA: 'Be The Leader Who Hops In The Delivery Truck'
Sometimes the only way to truly understand what your employees are doing day by day is to do their job with them. No manager should be too good to take a day to see exactly what their employees are doing. I think the article gives some good advice. When you really want to know how you are doing in a leadership role, ask your employees. Most will probably lie and not say what they really want to. However, one will speak their mind and a leader should be happy to have that one employee. It may hurt for someone to be honest about a situation, but how else will you really know. To be a good leader, you must know all aspects of the ladder, even the bottom part.
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Post by boris on Oct 14, 2013 22:23:50 GMT -6
INSTANT MBA: 'Be The Leader Who Hops In The Delivery Truck'
Nobody is perfect and a good leader should be able to point out their own flaws. Sometimes executives have no idea what problems need to be addressed with employees working down the line. By actually going at the beginning of the ladder and working with the employees you can have a big overview on what is going on without having HR giving you a summary. This can help the company, because as employees communicate with you you can solve problems quickly and perhaps address any problems with management as well as your own. By doing this you will also gain more loyalty out of your employees which will cause higher job satisfaction.
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