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?

    <p>He publicized and celebrated the ideas pitched by employees</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

    <p>The company's future relies on the collective intelligence of employees</p> 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?

    <p>Safety due to toxic chemicals present in the factory</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

    <p>By randomly calling restaurants and speaking with staff</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

    <p>It encourages employees to appreciate the complexities of the business</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

    <p>Participative leadership, valuing input from all levels</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

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

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

    <p>It can cause confusion and overwhelm.</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

    <p>He parked further from the building and interacted with employees.</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

    <p>Tailored questions elicit more relevant responses.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How can idea solicitation impact employee morale?

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

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

    <p>They can create non-value-added work.</p> 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.

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