Leading with Gratitude Ch 9

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Questions and Answers

What was the primary concern that the manufacturing leader expressed to his employees?

The need for better employee morale

The decline in sales and innovation from competitors (correct)

The importance of maintaining the company's traditional methods

The necessity to reduce employee headcount immediately

How did the leader demonstrate his commitment to soliciting input from the employees?

He created a suggestion box for anonymous ideas

He initiated mandatory brainstorming sessions each week

He left his office door open and visited employees frequently (correct)

He conducted regular performance reviews

What was a significant outcome achieved by the company after implementing employee suggestions?

They increased employee headcount drastically

They eliminated all overtime in the factory

They increased production time from one week to two weeks

They cut product manufacturing time significantly (correct)

What approach did the leader take towards the ideas that employees pitched?

He publicized and celebrated the ideas pitched by employees Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best reflects the leader's belief about the source of ideas for the company's success?

The company's future relies on the collective intelligence of employees Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary concern of the factory manager regarding the suggestion to open the factory for school groups?

Safety due to toxic chemicals present in the factory Signup and view all the answers

How does Kent Taylor, founder of Texas Roadhouse, gather feedback from employees?

By randomly calling restaurants and speaking with staff Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the benefits of openly discussing unfeasible ideas with employees?

It encourages employees to appreciate the complexities of the business Signup and view all the answers

What leadership style does Kent Taylor exemplify in his approach to ideas from employees?

Participative leadership, valuing input from all levels Signup and view all the answers

What was the result of the cross-functional team effort initiated by the factory manager?

The factory successfully opened for public tours on select days Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential negative outcome of asking employees too many questions at once?

It can cause confusion and overwhelm. Signup and view all the answers

What approach did Quint Studer take to solicit employee feedback effectively?

He parked further from the building and interacted with employees. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements best describes the concept of specificity in questioning?

Tailored questions elicit more relevant responses. Signup and view all the answers

How can idea solicitation impact employee morale?

It creates a cycle of increased employee engagement and idea generation. Signup and view all the answers

What is one drawback of monetary-based reward plans for innovation?

They can create non-value-added work. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Leaders Soliciting Input & Acting On It

Leaders should actively solicit input from employees, but avoid over-asking by expecting too much from employees.
Don’t ask questions that are out of employees’ purview.
For example, “How can we solve our pricing problems?” is an over-ask.
Only a few in the organization will have ideas about solving something so complex.
Make sure the specificity of the question fits the context.
Ask the right question to the right people in the right way.
For example, "How can we reduce fuel consumption while we are making deliveries?" is a question focused on soliciting ideas from those involved in the delivery process.
“How can we improve the way we deliver our products to customers” is a more general question suitable for brainstorming more out-there solutions to improve the delivery service.
Reward plans for innovation that focus on monetary rewards are often counterproductive.
Instead of rewarding ideas with money consider giving credit to the employees involved.
Leaders should quickly implement ideas if possible.
Implementing ideas rapidly and giving credit to the employees involved is an effective form of recognition.
Leaders can avoid the pitfalls of soliciting input from employees by providing them with clear guidelines.

How To Solicit & Act On Input

When soliciting input from employees and their ideas are not viable, openly discuss the reasons for choosing other options and convey appreciation for the input.
Leaders should regularly visit and speak with employees.
Show that you are willing to act on their suggestions.
Leaders should communicate with employees about aspects of the organization, the marketplace and industry, and constraints they may not be aware of.
Ensure that employees are aware of the reasons for not implementing their ideas.

Organizations That Solicit Input

Texas Roadhouse is a successful company that encourages employees to share their ideas.
The CEO, Kent Taylor, regularly visits stores and listens to employees' suggestions.
He sends thank-you notes to employees who share their ideas and encourages a culture where employees feel comfortable giving feedback.
Texas Roadhouse's line dancing was a successful idea that came from a rogue store manager.
When an area manager’s daughter suggested a new mac and cheese recipe, the CEO implemented the idea and had the restaurants in that manager's market test the new recipe.
Quint Studer, a turnaround artist, used his daily walks to work to talk to employees.
Studer parked in the farthest parking lot to have the opportunity to speak with his employees on the way to work.
He made daily rounds of the facility, introducing himself as the new leader.
Studer asked the employees what he should do that day.
He acted on employees' suggestions and even had bushes trimmed for a nurse who was worried about safety.
Amazon's intranet has an online suggestion box for employees to propose anything they think will make the company better.
This was how free shipping was first suggested.
British Airways launched a virtual idea box for employees to reduce emissions and cut fuel bills.
One idea was to reduce the weight of their planes by descaling toilet pipes.
This idea has cut fuel bills by almost one million dollars each year.
The right approach to idea generation creates a virtuous circle.
Workers become more engaged when they see ideas from employees being used.
Managers, seeing the impact of employees' ideas, tend to give their people more authority.
This authority then leads to more and better ideas.

Examples of Positive Impact

At Baptist Hospital, Studer’s approach allowed for a great increase in patient satisfaction.
Moreover, patient satisfaction increased from the 9th to 40th percentile to the 99th percentile.
Turnover also dropped by 18 percent.
The organization's financials became rock solid and a positive impact on employee morale was observed.
The hospital's bond rating was upgraded by Moody’s and Baptist Hospital was ranked in the hundred best places to work in the country by Fortune magazine.
The Japanese petroleum company Idemitsu receives more than a hundred ideas per employee each year.
Idemitsu does not reward employees with bonuses.
Workers at Idemitsu take pride in contributing to the organization’s success.
The most effective form of recognition is to implement the ideas quickly and give credit to the employees involved, not just cash..

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Description

This quiz explores effective leadership strategies for soliciting input from employees. It emphasizes the importance of asking the right questions to the right people and avoiding over-asking. Additionally, it discusses how rewarding innovation can sometimes be counterproductive.