A highly inspiring podcast review of Simon Sinek’s “A bit of optimism” (episode 5) with Bob Chapman from Jun/2020. [https://simonsinek.com/discover/episode-5-leadership-with-bob-chapman]
Bob Chapman built a company with the goal of "human products". The machines that are manufactured in this company with around 12,000 employees only serve as a framework to sustain this culture and huge family. The real content is the people, with the aim of bringing fulfillment to each and every one on every day. In anticipation of Mondays, so that the week starts again and not for longing towards being Friday with the finally having accomplished yet another week (of his limited life span!).
The basic values of leadership can be found in raising children. Rather, both concepts are even identical. In both cases one would like to encourage the respective person, love unconditionally, support him to expand, to grow. You give him help in challenging times when he falls and keep giving him compliments and motivation to keep going, step by step. In both areas, it is important to consistently not only give people what they want, but rather more what they need. So that also means a sense of conflict and a sense of responsibility.
One of the important skills that every employee at Bob Chapman company (community!) is allowed to learn (in voluntary courses) is conscious, present listening. Listening and understanding one another requires the will to understand the other. Appreciation of the other as well as of oneself. From: “we have to talk” to: “we have to listen” and with that to understand and empathize. In opposite, passive listening, when one is already laying out the words of one's own answer while the other person is still speaking, supports the ego-based reaction. You take yourself, your own opinion or what you want to say more important than other people, their thoughts or feelings. But through true listening, being fully present for what is being said, real understanding can arise. This leads me to think that compassion can be practiced and exercised: through interest and true listening to others. At the same time you put your own ego in its place - like in meditation, in which you are simply conscious and present.
These are examples of (inter-) human skills that are not taught directly in our school systems, but which profoundly improve all areas of human existence. Skills for the “human product” that not only manifest motivation and harmony in the workplace, but also make this little blue ball in the universe shine a little brighter with every day.
What an inspiration for those who see more in leadership and don't mistake it for management, after all, we are all here to serve.
Thank you Simon, thank you Bob, thank you for a little bit of optimism, thank you for the light within us all.
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