AUGUST 2022

As summer ends, more companies are preparing for an extended economic downturn. Well-known CEOs are sending blunt messages to their employees -

“It’s clear we are facing a challenging macro environment with more uncertainty ahead. There are real concerns that our productivity as a whole is not where it needs to be for the head count we have.” Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet (Google)

“Realistically, there are probably a bunch of people at the company who shouldn’t be here” Mark Zuckerberg at June “all-hands” meeting 

“Everyone at Tesla is required to spend a minimum of 40 hours in the office per week…If you don’t show up, we will assume you have resigned. The more senior you are, the more visible must be your presence.” Elon Musk to Tesla employees 

Some new trends are beginning to emerge -

1. The “great resignation” is losing steam - hiring freezes, offers being pulled, etc. tend to make employees think twice before leaving 
2. Efficiency and productivity are back in vogue - it’s the only way to protect margins and profitability in a downturn (see Google’s “Simplicity Sprint”)
3. Attitudes about “office-based”, “hybrid” and “remote work” are shifting - companies likely to set (and stick) to role specific guidelines that best enable results 

Companies are encouraging transformative (vs. transactional) leadership. Episode 72

AUGUST LISTENING 

EFFICIENCY & PRODUCTIVITY GAINS REQUIRE CONTINUOUS PROCESS IMPROVEMENT 

• To “work smarter”, define what smart work looks like Episode 87
• Map key processes into a value stream Episode 88
• Hunt the efficiency killers: wasted “resources”, “time”, “energy”, “opportunity” and “talent” Episode 89 

CHANGE MANAGEMENT IS A NEVER-ENDING PROCESS 

• Prepare your team for surprises, by ruining the surprise upfront Episode 81
• “Act”, “adjust” and “communicate” your way to daily incremental progress Episode 82 
• Address the employee’s basic psychological needs Episode 84

EMPLOYEES NEED MORE COACHING AND COUNSELING 

• Stop enabling your “high-performing, underachievers” Episode 90
• Help employees find their “why” Episode 80
• Promote the acceptance mindset Episode 85
• Encourage people to “think out loud” (Socratic Coaching method) Episode 79 

RETURN TO OFFICE (“RTO”) EFFORTS CONTINUE 

• Ultimatums don’t work, but choices do Episode 91
• Remote workers share a common reality Episode 92

OPPORTUNITIES TO SELF-COACH 

• The difference between amateur and professional management is… Episode 83
• Conserve and manage your attention Episode 86