Training Magazine - July 2008 - (Page 56)

questions for covey DNA & ROI This month’s questions were submitted by Diana Thomas, vice president, U.S. training, McDonald’s, and Mindy Lane, vice president, corporate training, Alltel. DT: What correlations/conclusions have you found between the 7 Habits and the various generations in the workplace? SC: The correlation and conclusion is that the 7 receptivity outside the United States, particularly in developing nations. DT: How do you see successful companies and leaders dealing with both a multigenerational and multicultural workforce? SC: Poorly, because everyone tends to interpret life through their own cultural DNA, and they do not practice empathic and synergistic communication. As people gradually become aware they do not see the world as the world is but as they are, this self-awareness (a unique human endowment) enables them to deeply empathize with other people’s frames of reference and can lead to creative synergistic solutions. ML: Any tips for proving return on investment Stephen R. Covey is co-founder of FranklinCovey and author of “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” and “The 8th Habit.” Habits are all based on universal and timeless principles; they’re not based on practices. These principles are applicable to all four work generations—old-timers, Baby Boomers, Generation Xers, and the Millennials. Habit 1—taking responsibility and initiative; Habit 2—getting a clear sense of what is truly important—your mission, your values, etc.; Habit 3—living by your mission and values so you have integrity; Habit 4—thinking win/win, which basically means mutual respect; Habit 5—always seeking to understand before seeking to be understood, which is the essence of all professionalism; Habit 6—practicing synergistic communication, which means that people of different generations who exercise self-awareness, imagination, conscience, and independent will can creatively discuss their culturally produced issues and resolve them in ways that are better than what anyone initially proposed; Habit 7— constantly renewing yourself in the four areas of life: body, mind, heart, and spirit. ML: How do the 7 habits translate/manifest themselves in a workforce comprising immigrants from numerous countries? (ROI) for leadership training? SC: Let me comment on ROI in terms of strategic relevance. First, leadership trainers should be strategically tied in with the top executives and their cascading strategic purposes, goals, and values. Second, they should involve top executives whenever possible in setting up the training program, even introducing it, emphasizing how it is tied into their strategic purposes, and from time to time participating in the training itself, particularly in their area of expertise. This will provide a visible legitimization of the training program. Third, those being trained need to teach what they are learning to their associates, including their formal leaders, as soon after training as possible, so a learning ethic is built into the culture, and it is all aiming to achieve the strategic purposes that everyone should understand and emotionally connect to. Their emotional connection will come primarily from involvement or at least in-depth explanations and cascading communication. t To submit “Questions for Covey,” e-mail three to five questions to lorri.freifeld@nielsen.com. w w w. t r a i n i n g m a g . c o m Because the 7 Habits are based upon universal and timeless principles, national and cultural differences have no impact. If they were based upon specific practices or techniques, it would have an impact. I teach the 7 Habits all around the world to people of profoundly different cultural backgrounds, religious orientations, etc., and challenge them to come up with practices that reflect their culture but still are based upon the underlying timeless, universal principles. In fact, I find there is even more SC: 56 | JULY / AUGUST 2008 t r a i n i n g http://www.trainingmag.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Training Magazine - July 2008

Training Magazine - July 2008 Contents Online TOC Editor’s Note Training Today Soapbox How-To World View Managing the Magic Keys to the Kingdom Good Job! Personalities & Performance Hidden Potential The Executive Entrance Live & Online No More Revolving Door Questions for Covey TMI Brochure

Training Magazine - July 2008

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