Committed and engaged employees is one of the secrets in my book, 4 Secrets of High Performing Organizations. The other day, I read an excellent book on commitment entitled Lessons in Loyalty: How Southwest Airlines Does It – An Insider’s View. The author is Lorraine Grubbs-West, a former senior executive with Southwest Airlines, and CEO of a consulting company called Lessons in Loyalty.
Ms. Grubbs-West identifies nine lessons in loyalty that can help build commitment in any organization…
Lessons in Loyalty – Lorraine Grubbs-West
- Hire attitude – train skills
- Immerse everyone in the culture immediately
- Keep ‘em learning
- People give as good as they get
- Find the kid in everyone
- Do more with less
- Luv ‘em in tough times
- Do what’s right
- Nurture the corporate family
Each of these lessons is accompanied by several action principles. For example, “make them want you before you want them” is one of the principles associated with “hire attitude, train skills”. “Go to extreme measures to show your employees that they are highly valued” is a principle associated with “people give as good as they get”. “Empower your people to ‘do the right thing’ versus ‘do what’s right by the book’”, is a principle associated with “do what’s right”. You get the idea.
Ms. Grubbs-West has provided some great, common sense ideas on building loyalty in a company. And loyalty is a key prerequisite for creating an engaged and committed workforce. Get this book and read it. It provides great advice from someone who has “been there and done that”.
That’s it for today. Thanks for reading. Log on to my website www.BudBilanich.com for more common sense. Check out my other blogs: www.CareerSuperStar.com for common sense advice on becoming the life and career star you are meant to be; and www.CommonSenseDay.com to learn more about Use Your Common Sense Day -- November 4, and to read stories of common sense in action.
I’ll see you around the web, and at Alex’s Lemonade Stand.
Bud
PS: Speaking of Alex’s Lemonade Stand – my fundraising page is still open. Please go to www.FirstGiving.com/TheCommonSenseGuy to read Alex’s inspiring story and to donate if you can.
the link for lessons in loyalty doesn't go to the book, it goes to some shopping website. do i have to search for the book? i don't have time...
Posted by: steve | October 24, 2006 at 08:23 AM
The link goes to the publisher's (Cornerstone Leadership) web site. All you have to do is scroll down a bit and you'll find the book.
Posted by: Bud Bilanich | October 24, 2006 at 02:11 PM
Nice, simple, clear points. Thanks, Bud!
Posted by: Doc | November 06, 2006 at 01:54 PM