Comments

I have always remembered the "You, Me, and Charlie Wilson's War" post and frequently review the list of "Action Items"...seems that several would serve folks well in these chaotic times. It would perhaps serve them better as a pre-emptive strike to avoid chaotic times!

One of the tips was "The goal is noble but, "the work" is Relationships & Networking & Politics".

This to me is the essense and application of MBWA and how you "implement" many of the other tips that included:

"Manage the BOF" (Balance of Favors), "Make friends several layers down", "Perception is...always...everything", and "Real visible passion".

But perhaps the most important, and pre-emptive, tip that MBWA can accomplish is "Plan for the real world"! Getting out of the office/headquarters and as close to the realities of the frontline as you can will change your view of how things really are...you have to see/understand th real world before you can plan for it!

Posted by Dave Wheeler at September 28, 2008 8:57 AM

Thank you, TP, for this. The extraordinary thing about this is the knowledge that "this too shall pass." There is a confidence in knowing that the sun will rise again. This is what encourages and challenges me to find the good in the bad and to find ways of assisting and serving others in desolate situations. For me, the ultimate sense of service is helping others attain their goals. In the process my goals have been attained. The core of me screams, even when there are moments of uncertainty, that this too shall pass. The encouraging words of others help. Thanks again, TP.

When service is on this level of considering others, while knowing that this too shall pass, innovative solutions more readily come to look at the problem anew. It also helps me to present bold new inniatives. I was right smack in the middle of an extraodinary deal before the announcement last week. Before and during this time I have been dealing directly with the Founder/CEO/President of this company who may seemingly have my future in his hands, causing some to perhaps play it safe, and his vice presidents.

Knowing that this crisis will pass gives me fresh ideas and enables me to boldly offer solutions amid the crisis. We'll see how it ends, but it still looks quite favorable. I have already presented two investment vehicles. After looking through the first vehicle, the founder responded: "Excellent effort. We are going to do something." After the announcement last week on the crisis, I presented yet another with a slightly different bent. All the while I have also written little notes regarding the investment vehicles and spoken of friends and family that we have in common. The founder is a remarkable man.

Understanding the moment enables me to respond with positive solutions, even if it's a reminder to this influential leader and his executive team that we are right now in an extraordinary time which require extraordinary measures and the necessity to see things anew. I was told by a senior VP that they have never done what I'm proposing in their long history. They also wanted to know why others have not come up with this plan. The hell if I knew! But I did suggest that perhaps now is presicely the time. But I understand. This is the nature of their business: to discount or discredit ideas to determine risk. They have WAY MORE to loose than me. But sometimes even these need reminding that this too shall pass to prepare for the imminent future.

We'll see how I fair. I have not and will not loose heart or hope.

Posted by Judith Ellis at September 28, 2008 10:48 AM

MBWA is not just for tough times. In my research into the behaviors of top performing supervisors, one thing they all did was touch base a lot. That starts conversations and conversations make relationships possible and relationships are lifelines.

Posted by Wally Bock at September 28, 2008 1:25 PM

MBWA seems applicable to both managers and employees (does every term need hyper examination?) alike. From the standpoint of being observant, consistent, and responsive, MBWA can make the difference on any level. And, yes, there are levels and perhaps always will be.

Posted by Judith Ellis at September 28, 2008 1:42 PM

Wally makes a great point. The problem is that when a boss whose normally conspicuous only by his absence suddenly starts up with MBWA, people get worried. "Crickey, it must be bad because old so and so has actually left his office and come out onto the floor." And the other thing to remember is that MBWA works when a) you spread a message during the MBWA; b) you listen to the feedback; and c) you take follow up action based on the feedback. Anything else is risks being positively harmful!

Posted by Mark JF at September 29, 2008 1:50 AM