About a year ago I spent one week in Los Angeles at the Great Place to Work Institute Conference on Century Boulevard. I enjoyed every minute of the conference.  The speakers were very illuminating. They described their particular work cultures and what made them feel special to employees.  A majority of the speakers were CEO's - self-imposed culture champions - for their organizations.  I highly recommend this annual conference which will be held in Miami, Florida next year.

During our free time, my wife and I visited various places in and around L.A. and Hollywood.  We even visited a few malls.  Here are a few observations from a native Tulsan regarding life in L.A.

1. Small Dogs are Welcome.  They are prancing down the aisles of every store in L.A.  Most of them are wearing clothes more expensive than mine. In fact, they are wearing bling I can't afford.
   
2. Big Dogs are Welcome Too. Dogs are everywhere! I didn't realize man-sized dogs like to go to Macy's or Sak's Fifth Avenue. But evidently in L.A., Marmaduke Max prefers to shop where there is valet parking.
3. Sagging Has Gone Bottomless. I remember seeing sagging (boys wearing pants below their waste to show their underwear) on Manhattan Beach near L.A. for the first time in the mid 90's.  At first I thought the kid was a plumber until I realized his buddies were sagging too.  But L.A. has brought sagging to a whole new lower level. Sagging has gone below the behind and now the kids are basically wearing their pants around their legs.  On the bright side, I guess it is easier to go to the bathroom.
4. Your Ride is King.  L.A. is a car heaven. Every other car is a Mercedes, Lexus, Bentley, Jaguar, BMW, and on and on.  And that was just the McDonald's drive-thru. The freeway is like a showroom floor. Most of their cars look polished and showroom ready.  In Tulsa we have pickup trucks with mud splashed on them. I used to think I had a nice car until I visited L.A. Now it's just a piece of crap.
5. Everyone Wears Sunglasses. When you go to L.A. you need a pair of sunglasses.  Here's a tip to keep from looking like a visitor: when you walk inside the mall, hotel, movie theater, etc., leave your sunglasses on.  Never take them off. Wear your sunglasses at all times, even at night.  It's not practical, but it looks cool. And most of all, it prevents you from making eye contact with others.
   

But seriously, in my recent article, "How Good Leaders Turn Evil," I write about the use of sunglasses to prevent eye contact.  This was an interesting observation in the Stanford Prison Experiments. As the prison guards began to fully assume their role as sadistic rulers, they began to wear reflective sunglasses 24/7. The inability of prisoners to peer into the eyes of their tormentors was a way for fellow students to distance themselves from their prisoners whom they were severely mistreating. It was a form of control.

In the event your company's leadership begins to distance themselves from employees and peers, be prepared for upcoming decisions that could negatively impact the entire workforce.  Looking straight into the eyes of your leader can be very revealing.  The eyes can be a window into their heart.  Are your leaders in hiding?  Are your leaders creating distance between themselves and employees? Do they make eye contact with their staff? The act of creating distance may be an advance warning of impending trouble.

To Your Success!