Tinelli on Leadership )
Ideas you can use today Issue 40 - April 30, 2008
In This Issue
  • Greece, Leadership, and Tradition.
  • Zorba and Leadership.
  • Time for Thought.
  • Off-the-shelf programs often don't work when you want to develop leaders. Your business and your people will often benefit from having a program geared to the particular challenges that lie ahead.

    I can design, develop, and help you implement a program to develop your company's leaders quickly and effectively.


    Archie Tinelli, Ph.D.

    Greece, Leadership, and Tradition.

    I've been in Greece for most of April. Our home here is in an idyllic setting, with the mountains to the east, the sea to the west, and a small town with tavernas lining the sandy beach a ten-minute walk away.

    What's most noticeable, however, is the difference in culture that makes the place what it is. Traditions, some of which go back thousands of years, infuse this area, called Mani, with an aura that is distinctive, enticing, enchanting.

    Two examples.

    Greeks have been living their social lives outside, in public places, for more than 2,500 years. Much of social life in cities, towns, and villages is lived in the cafes and restaurants along the streets or the sea, where patrons sit for hours, enjoying one another's company, observing the passing panorama of pedestrians, and sipping, drinking, snacking, and eating leisurely.

    This past week, the Greeks celebrated Easter. They do so by returning to the villages and towns of their parents and grandparents, reconnecting with relatives, relaxing in the cafes and tavernas, and participating in a series of religious ceremonies culminating in the Sunday celebration of Easter and the daylong grilling of a baby lamb or goat on a spit.

    These traditions, and many more, make Greece what it is. As leaders, we sometimes lose sight of the importance of traditions in business as we focus on profitability, growth, market share, and stock price.

    Why are traditions important for leaders?

    Traditions provide a sense of belonging - we feel connected to others when we share common traditions, whether it's a business or a family or a country. The traditions that bind us together encourage us to take actions that benefit the rest of the members of our business. Mutual benefit is fostered by our sense of belonging.

    In Greece, taking time to sit in a taverna along the sea or beside the square, to watch the waves or the people, to sip coffee or ouzo, and to chat with friends is a time-honored tradition that pulls people together.

    In business, the Friday afternoon pizza parties, the after-work drinks at the nearby sports bar, the CEO picking up the long-time employees in a chauffeured car to celebrate their 10-year anniversary with the company, the post-project awards ceremony to highlight and laugh about the best performances and gaffes all contribute to the camaraderie that connects people to one another.

    Traditions create a sense of distinctiveness - we feel better about ourselves when we believe we're part of something special, unique. Being able to identify the ways that our business is not like other places fosters a sense of pride that comes from being different.

    In Greece, when people return to their parents' villages and recall the stories from the past, it connects them to events and places that no one else can duplicate.

    In business, to share common business challenges, to have overcome the same obstacles, to recall special events from the past, and to retell stories of memorable characters of the business help to create a place that is special and distinctive.

    Traditions establish and reinforce the need for meaning in our lives - we are more likely to be invested in and committed to something that makes us feel we're a part of something important. Knowing that we are doing something important imbues our lives with meaning.

    In Greece, having the priest bless the doors of all the homes in the village after the Easter service creates a sense of meaning for the families in the village.

    In business, knowing that you can depend upon and trust your colleagues to do the right thing, realizing that the company combines a commitment to its people with its commitment to clients, understanding that the leaders of the company have integrity and sound ethics, and believing that your business supports the communities in which it operates all contribute to employees feeling that they are a part of something meaningful.

    What are the traditions in your business? What do they say about the company?

    Zorba and Leadership.

    My wife and I watched a DVD of Zorba the Greek, again.

    Zorba, played by Anthony Quinn, is one of those memorable characters who reminds us of the importance of being human, real, authentic, and imbued with a love of life.

    Leaders can learn from Zorba how to be more than cardboard cutouts of professionalism. In what ways might you let others know the Zorba in you? In what ways can your individuality and distinctiveness as a leader come forth?

    Time for Thought.

    Greece provides time to think. The pace of life encourages reflection.

    The pressure to get things done recedes and the space for thoughtfulness expands as you sit at a taverna with nothing to do but watch the world go by and sip your drink. It's a wonderful place to be.

    When do you have time and space to reflect without the pressure to produce?

    Quick Links...