May 22, 2007

Live Your "Way"   What do Nordstrom, Disney, and A-dec have in common? They each have their "Way".  What is the "Way"?  It is the way they take care of their customers or guests, the way they take care of their employees, they way they exemplify their mission, and all the other "ways" of their business.   The "Way" is significant, even for those who have a small business.  It is your guiding light and represents who you are in the workplace. The "Way" is your business philosophy.   I experienced the A-dec "Way" during my visit to their dental company (www.a-dec.com) and want to share with you some of their philosophy. You may find pieces that you can incorporate into your own business culture.   Concern For People:  This includes all people, the employees and their families, customers, vendors, and those in the surrounding community.  They maintain a positive, motivating atmosphere and treat everyone with respect, equality, and fairness.   Provide ForOpportunityAnd Assist in Self-Development:  Create an environment that encourages and assists each person in developing to their highest potential. In other words, stretch your employees to become the best that they can be.   Provide An Atmosphere Encouraging Self-Satisfaction And Pride:  Maintain a quality workplace and organization of which all can be proud and enjoy.    Encourage Team Effort:  Provide a mutually supportive and cooperative atmosphere. Listen to your employees.  The boss is not the only one who brings ideas to the table.   Maintain Complete Fairness, Honesty, and Integrity:  These values are a must for any business.   Maintain Open, Consistent And Regular Communication:  Consciously seek open, clear, two-way communication establishing effective and satisfactory personal relationships. Yes, relationships matter!!   Encourage Public Service:  Be a good citizen and neighbor to the public we serve.  Serve your community.   Encourage Creativity:  Encourage receptivity to creative change and practice techniques of positive reinforcement and constructive criticism.    Commitment To Productivity and Quality:  We recognize that productivity with quality is the only real security for a company and its people in the American enterprise system and that quality is everyone's responsibility.     Dedication to Improvement:  Change for needed improvement, not for change itself.  "Find what's wrong and fix it."   Keep Things Simple and Basic:  Satisfy the need without complication.  I'll toast to that!    Great as these principles are, you must keep in mind that they are so much more than just words in a brochure or on a plaque.  They must be embraced by everyone in the business and then lived by, every day.   What is the "WAY" for your business?  Moreover:  What is the "WAY" for your life?         "That business purpose and business mission are so rarely given adequate thought is perhaps the most important cause of business frustration and failure."             Peter Drucker   "A business that makes nothing but money is a poor kind of business."             Henry Ford   "Everyone feels that he or she makes a difference to the success of the organization. When that happens people feel centered and that gives their work meaning." Warren G. Bennis   "To open a shop is easy, to keep it open is an art."             Chinese proverb        I had a fabulous time inPortland,Oregon.  The A-dec facility is on lovely landscaped grounds, simply another way the company portrays its "WAY".  While there the executive board of AAWD toured the plant and exchanged ideas with members of the A-dec team.  It was a give and take of how best we can help each other.    We experienced the A-dec "WAY" and their 5 Star service throughout our visit.  Paula Vogel and Peggy Fisher were gracious hostesses.  All work and no play gets old, though, so play we did.   Following our visit to a spa, we barrel tasted and bottle tasted our way through two wineries tucked away in the countryside.  The Pinot Noir was in abundance.  The afternoon was topped by a visit to a llama ranch and dinner overlooking the skyline of downtownPortlandwas marvelous.   I am home for a few weeks and committed to getting my book to the publisher by the end of this month.  I'll keep you posted.   Have a fantastic week and live your "WAY".   Stephanie        We grow by "word-of-email" so please feel free to forward this newsletter to anyone whom you think might benefit from and enjoy it. Thanks so much! Contact Us: stephanie@7steps2abalancedlife.com