The precision of language is critical. What might mean one thing to one person means something else to another. Language isn’t perfect, but it’s all we’ve got. So, the precision of the words we choose and the definitions we design together are critical. Revitalizing language that already exists is also a part of keeping values an active and growing tool. I’ve been involved in a number of companies in the last year who have values…
How would you describe the core values of your team in order to bring to life the culture you want? If you winced or rolled your eyes when you read the phrase “core values,” hang with me. Unfortunately, some of your reaction is for good reason. You see, the exercise to determine your Mission/Vision/Values has not always been handled well by teams and organizations. Many have just gone through the motions to create them and…
Govindh Jayaraman is a portfolio entrepreneur who started his first company at 18, has worked in industries from real estate development to tech, and is currently President of IMBA Medical. He’s also an inspirational leadership author and the mastermind behind the Paper Napkin Wisdom movement, a collection of “nuggets” of wisdom from leaders, business-owners and difference-makers written on paper napkins. This fall, he’ll join longtime Starbucks President Howard Behar, culture expert Jason Barger and others…
We are a storytelling culture. You and your people tell stories all day long. You tell a story by the way you dress. You tell a story by the way you greet your family members or friends in the morning. The way you sit in meetings. The way you interact with clients. And every time you hit that send button on social media that blasts out into the world. The messages we send and the…
PayPal, one of the world’s largest online payment companies, was one of a handful of companies in 2015 to rank 100 percent on the Corporate Equality Index (CEI), a national benchmarking study on corporate policies and practices related to LGBT workplace equality, administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. Not only was this a terrific honor for the company to receive and for employees to take great pride in, but they also ranked one hundred…
Longtime Starbucks President Howard Behar will headline the second annual Thermostat Cultures Live one-day retreat on Nov. 9 in Columbus, Ohio. Here, the executive-turned-author, speaker and consultant talks about culture, priorities and why he’s excited to team with Jason Barger for another life-shaking day. Q: You helped build one of the most groundbreaking corporate cultures in history at Starbucks. How did you manage that while building the company from 28 stores to 15,000? A: We did…
Stop for a second and think about what is popular in the world today. What are the popular restaurants? Experiences? Trends? How are most people moving through the world today? Consider the fact that we now live in a participatory world. Years ago, it was Starbucks who taught us that we didn’t just want a cup of coffee, we wanted to share in the creation of our own cup of coffee. Howard Behar, the former…
In this fast & ever-changing world, we need time and space to Step Back. Time to think, reflect, dream, connect. These moments are when breakthroughs and progress happen. Each year, I seek out time to do just that. I create space away from speaking, meeting and consulting so I can feed my own development. As July begins, so will my intentional time Stepping Back. Pictured above is my reading list—books I plan to enjoy and search for inspiration…
Recently, I was honored to speak in Las Vegas at the largest HR Conference in the world, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Annual Conference. My topic was Growing An Engaged Culture and thousands upon thousands of people from all around the globe gathered to discuss honoring and improving the human element of organizations. On the same day that I spoke, legendary Duke Men’s Basketball Coach and Olympic Team USA Coach Mike Krzyzewski spoke….
My kids love going to Dave & Buster’s—the giant arcade with life-size video games and blinking lights everywhere you turn. Even as they get older, they run from game to game with infectious smiles on their faces. They enjoy the games, but at this stage in their life (ranging between ages 7 and 12) the games aren’t what capture their imaginations the most. It’s the tickets. Each game has a certain number of tickets that…
