Funny how things come in three’s. In the last couple of
weeks, three of my clients contacted me about wanting to change the culture of
their firms to establish a more motivating environment. All three are currently
successful, but the forward-looking leaders acknowledge that to prosper in the
future, they will have to do things differently.

What makes them so courageous is that they have to
consider changing the very things that got them to their current level of
success. It reminds me of Marshall Goldsmith’s book title, What Got You Here Won’t Take You There. Letting go of what’s in
your hand to reach for something else is a challenge in itself.

Here’s an example. The old 20^th century view
of work was that you came to work to WORK. Can’t you just hear a crusty old
partner saying, “If you want to feel good,
join a church. If you want friends, join a club. There’s a reason they call it
‘work.’ Just be thankful you HAVE a job. So get to work, dammit!”

Today, we know that professionals who feel connected to
their work environment are more productive, more willing to give discretionary
effort, and stay longer with their firm, than those who don’t. Firms used to
throw salary and benefits at people, trying to use golden handcuffs to satisfy and
retain. But your professionals today won’t be bought so easily.

Try this. Rather than grousing about how much work there
is, not enough time to do it and no one to do it right (except you, of course),
take a leader’s perspective and enjoy the energy, challenge your people to be
their best, and put a smile on your face…dammit!

This week, regardless of
where you are on the food chain in your firm, take on a 21^st century
leader’s perspective and be a positive influence to those around you.