I should have known. Really…I should have.
I just received an email regarding my previous post about the CEO of BMW Portugal and his effort to be certain his entire team was committed and enthusiastic about their opportunities to grow the company.
The message was from Klaus Kibsgaard, the subject of the post, now CEO of BMW Nordic — and I truly appreciate his kind comments. However, he gently corrected one of the points I made.
In the previous post, I state about Kibsgaard: “He took key people to Munich for a tour of the BMW factory, to see the precise and innovative engineering, the remarkable process by which the ‘Ultimate Driving Machine’ is manufactured, and meet with corporate leaders. However, he also showed them a great time and got his team more emotionally connected with each other — and with BMW.”
I had misunderstood something very important. He did not take “key people” to Munich.
He took EVERYONE to Munich.
From the receptionist to the CFO and everyone in between…he made certain EVERYONE was on board. That is commitment to ensuring your team is engaged.
Klaus wrote me, “It was FANTASTIC…memories of that trip live on even today…six years later it still produces enthusiasm (kept up with regular booster shots)!”
And, there is an important point, as well.
Many organizations will have a huge meeting or motivational program — then, not follow up on the momentum they generate! The “booster shots” — a systematic, on-going effort to advance and grow your results — are critical!
A few years ago, I wrote about Starbucks shutting down every store — systemwide — to reconnect all of its employees to organizational values. A question I asked then…and will ask you again after Klaus’ message…is this:
Are you so committed to your team — and connecting them to what is REALLY important — that you are willing to engage everyone in such a compelling manner?
And…what have you done — or what will you do in 2012 — to PROVE IT with an on-going, systematic approach to engaging and enhancing your people?
Update on making sure your people are sold on what they’re selling…
December 18, 2011 · 1 comment
I should have known. Really…I should have.
I just received an email regarding my previous post about the CEO of BMW Portugal and his effort to be certain his entire team was committed and enthusiastic about their opportunities to grow the company.
The message was from Klaus Kibsgaard, the subject of the post, now CEO of BMW Nordic — and I truly appreciate his kind comments. However, he gently corrected one of the points I made.
In the previous post, I state about Kibsgaard: “He took key people to Munich for a tour of the BMW factory, to see the precise and innovative engineering, the remarkable process by which the ‘Ultimate Driving Machine’ is manufactured, and meet with corporate leaders. However, he also showed them a great time and got his team more emotionally connected with each other — and with BMW.”
He took EVERYONE to Munich.
From the receptionist to the CFO and everyone in between…he made certain EVERYONE was on board. That is commitment to ensuring your team is engaged.
Klaus wrote me, “It was FANTASTIC…memories of that trip live on even today…six years later it still produces enthusiasm (kept up with regular booster shots)!”
And, there is an important point, as well.
Many organizations will have a huge meeting or motivational program — then, not follow up on the momentum they generate! The “booster shots” — a systematic, on-going effort to advance and grow your results — are critical!
A few years ago, I wrote about Starbucks shutting down every store — systemwide — to reconnect all of its employees to organizational values. A question I asked then…and will ask you again after Klaus’ message…is this:
Are you so committed to your team — and connecting them to what is REALLY important — that you are willing to engage everyone in such a compelling manner?
And…what have you done — or what will you do in 2012 — to PROVE IT with an on-going, systematic approach to engaging and enhancing your people?