We’re sending our March State of the Industry report on corporate culture into overtime. Or April, whichever you prefer. This magazine was “raised” not to waste any information dealers may find valuable.
This final look at corporate culture offers sources for developing and maintaining a desirable company culture that you may find useful, courtesy of your dealer amigos. Yes, we know you can use Google search, but when your contemporaries have already done the legwork and highly recommend certain books, blogs, programs, courses, etc., why not take advantage of it?
Here are their ideas. If you have some of your own, feel free to shoot me an email and maybe we can do a follow-up piece.
Whether it’s books, guest speakers or online content, Fisher’s Technology of Boise, Idaho is always keen to ferret out ideas that are applicable. According to CEO Chris Taylor, the best ideas are culled and repurposed as Fisher’s content (“We Fisher-ize them”), with appropriate changes that make it more relevant for his team.
He also touts a number of books as being particularly compelling, including “Getting Naked: A Business Fable About Shedding the Three Fears That Sabotage Client Loyalty,” which has been helpful. “It’s about vulnerability in the sales process and consultancy process,” he said.
Top Reads
That work was authored by Patrick Lencioni, as was another title Taylor highly recommends, “The Truth About Employee Engagement: A Fable About Addressing the Three Root Causes of Job Misery.” Another is “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable.” He also advocates for “Leadership and Self-Deception” by The Arbinger Institute.
Another great title that’s helped is “Coach to Coach: An Empowering Story About How to Be a Great Leader,” written by Martin Rooney, whom Taylor invited to speak at a Copier Dealers Association meeting. “As leaders, we’re really coaches, and the book talks about what coaching means,” he added.
“The Infinite Game” by Simon Sinek helps, among other things, to keep leaders focused on their culture. A short read, “The Power of Ted,” stands for ‘the empowerment dynamic’ and includes ideas on escaping office drama.
Art of Winning
A number of books and a particular seminar have been instrumental and have “taken root in our organization,” notes James Loffler, president of Loffler Companies in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. One is “Make a Difference,” by Dr. Larry Little, which examines communication styles, from the aggressive people who “speak in bullets” to the ultra-detailed people who will “write a short story.” It’s ultimately a guide for effective communications.
Other titles Loffler recommends are “Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win” and “The Dichotomy of Leadership: Balancing the Challenges of Extreme Ownership to Lead and Win,” both by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin.
On the seminar side, Loffler Companies participate in the EntreLeadership Summit by Dave Ramsey. The dealer has access to the online course content for a month, and it’s helped to bolster the company’s leadership chops.
“For a month, people will take different curriculum, based on what they’re passionate about and want to improve upon,” Loffler noted. “That’s become a part of who we are and what we do. It has some great online resources.”
Gaining Traction
When a company surrounds itself with like-minded people with similar core values, it unlocks that firm’s potential, according to Dean Swenson, president of The Swenson Group in Livermore, California. He feels blessed to have a strong family environment, led by quality people who are all attuned to the dealer’s needs and goals.
“I may sound like a broken record, but the Traction process has been instrumental in helping us communicate the company’s vision and core values, improve communication and stay focused on the most important ‘vital few,’” he said.
Lastly, Datamax offers a few resources that may be useful to fellow dealers. HR programs by Riordan and Associates have been particularly impactful, according to Jeff Walker, marketing communications manager. The dealer’s go-to author is Ken Blanchard, particularly “Gung Ho! Turn on the People in Any Organization” and “Raving Fans: A Revolutionary Approach to Customer Service.”
