TRANSITIONING AND MULTI-GENERATIONAL TEAMS: Importance of Understanding the Big Picture

Interviewed in the New York Times Sunday Business section (9/6/09) "Corner Office" column, Ford Motor CEO Alan.R.Mulally used a story to illustrate one of his most important leadership lessons: "The more that everyone comes together on what their real purpose is, the higher order of that, the better." I think this is especially applicable for gaining and maintaining the engagement and productivity of the younger generations.

Paraphrasing the story in a nutshell: A reporter stops by a construction site and interviews three bricklayers, asking each one, "What are you doing?" The three answers he got were:  

*  "Well, I'm making a living laying these bricks."

*  "Well, I'm practicing the profession of bricklaying. I'm going to be the best bricklayer ever."....And the third one said:

*  "I'm developing a cathedral."

In Mulally's words: "  There is technical excellence and professionalism, but we all want to contribute to making a cathedral. And the more we feel that, and we know what our part in it is, the more I think you can take the team performance to a whole other level of excellence.... the higher the compelling vision that you can articulate, the more it pulls everybody in."

In most firms there is too little attention paid to painting the big picture, especially for young professionals and staff so that they understand how their often narrow slice of an engagement or function in an organization's overall purpose is essential to bringing value to a client. Understanding the importance of their role usually transforms their attitude toward their work and the people they work with. More senior professionals and executives need to bear that in mind when giving assignments and holding team meetings. This applies to everyday client work and internal projects as well as when transitioning responsibilities and clients to the next generation of leaders and managers.

Take the extra time to explain and reinforce in compelling terms the big picture and each individual's value in achieving an excellent result. It will pay off in enthusiasm, productivity and retention of talent and clients.

Please share some examples of the difference knowing and conveying the big picture has made in your experience.

Phyllis Weiss Haserot     www.pdcounsel.com