Passion & People
I was presenting at the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Strategy Conference in Palms Springs, CA last week. My session was about Strategic Employee Engagement, but I’m writing today about two other sessions I saw while I was there. Each person shared his passion in a very different way.
The first speaker was David Novak, Chairman & CEO of Yum! Brands, Inc. (http://www.yum.com/). This restaurant dynasty includes world-wide locations for Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and Kentucky Fried Chicken. What impressed me most about David was his energy & passion. From the minute he came on the stage, I wanted to be on his “team”. He spoke with what seemed to be genuine enthusiasm and joy for his company and its products. He was a fast talker; very funny; with props and delightful stories. He shared lessons learned and success stories for leaders. One idea I thought was great was the “Hot Shot Replacement” philosophy.
If a hot shot was coming in to replace you in your job, what would he or she do? Okay, now that you’ve thought about it…do that yourself!
The second speaker couldn’t have been more different. Dr. Deepak Chopra (http://www.deepakchopra.com/) came out on the stage and spoke with a quiet authority. His passion was mellow and reflective. He told a touching story about his mother and you could have heard a pin drop mid-way through. A favorite quote that he shared was from Carl Jung…”He who looks outside dreams. He who looks inside awakens.” He shared leadership lessons that focused on leading from the soul (the topic of his newest book).
Both men made excellent points regarding the power of people in organizations.
David Novak said, “Unleash the power of people. Look for people doing good and believe in them.”
Deepak Chopra said, ask yourself, “How can I help participate in the dreams of those that follow me? How can I help people manifest their dream?”
What is your mantra at work? What are you passionate about? You know for me it’s all about engagement – for everyone – every step of the way. I look forward to hearing what puts a skip in your step and a smile on your face.