6 Motivation & Leadership Secrets of Santa Claus

“Santa is a very hardworking Businessman and a Factory Owner. Santa’s workshop/ factory is now portrayed as a fully mechanized production & distribution facility. He makes all his toys and candy there – with the help of his Elves at the North Pole. We don’t know if they’re Unionized or have a good Health-care plan, but they always seem happy. We do know that he Imports his goods all over the world without paying Taxes or dealing with Trade agreements, so he’s a strong Free Trade advocate. As far as we know, his only pay is milk &cookies [He cant eat Reindeer meat and expect them to provide transportation], so perhaps that makes it okay that he bypasses Taxes & Tariffs.

Leadership Motivation Topics: Mission, Passion, Brand, Listen, Teach Business, How to Teach, Appreciation.

What can Santa teach us about leading a meaningful mission, creating a great work environment, building the right team, and creating pride in your work? Quite a lot. Santa has been improving his Delivery Service for quite a while, so he can teach us quite a bit about motivating, leadership + learning for work & life. The Leadership Secrets of Santa Clause book, by best-selling author Eric Harvey shares some of the most insightful tricks from old Saint Nick.

1. Make your Mission the Main Thing,

because it reminds your people what really matters. When you have a good Vision/Mission that people believe in and care about, they can deal with the ups, the downs, and the challenges that come with the job.

“What’s your Vision of your workplace? Do you see candy canes & cookies? Wild ideas flying in the air? Whistling & singing? Are your people busy little elves, with smiles on their faces, scurrying around to make & package toys? If so, your Vision is right on. Can you say: “We run a productive and happy place here. And that’s in spite of the intense pressures and challenges we face–ones that undoubtedly were not included in your vision. So how do we do it? Just how do I keep everyone, including myself, on track & motivated throughout each year–all for one long night’s big splash? The answer is basic and simple: “Through, unwavering & uncompromising focus on our Vision/Mission.”

2. Passion to Love What You Do.

When you do something you love and it’s something you believe in, you find the motivation, energy and strength to keep going, no matter what.

“No, it’s not easy being Santa Claus. But in spite of what, I love what I do. People need me–they depend on me. Were doing something important here. And knowing that gives me the motivation to carry the sack, lead the pack, stay on the track & keep coming back.”

3. What does your Brand stand for?

Give the gift that keeps on giving: the gift of caring & professionalism. Lead by example and teach people that they leave their impression by how they do the work, their attitude toward other Team members and the ideas that they contribute to the organization.

4. Listen to the Elves – your Team.

The people closest to the problems might just be your greatest source of insight. Ask them how to make things easier & better.

“As Management we are continually monitoring our operations to reveal any discrepancies in a new procedure or equipment and immediately correct it. ‘We could have told you,’ said one of the Elves, ‘if you had just asked us in the beginning…and really listened to what we had to say.’” Develop a system to get feed-back – including offering an incentive – is a sure way to optimize operations.

5. Teach “the Business” of the Business to the people.

When you teach people “the business” of your business, you create partners and people who really care about the business. They feel you care about them and they will make an extra effort.

“Teaching ‘the business’ of the business has been good business. It’s given the Elves & Reindeer additional opportunities to get involved in what we do, it’s helped them grow & develop, + it’s produced greater work environment-wide acceptance, support, & understanding of the need for improvement”.

How to Teach? Santa shares three way s/he found that work to teach “the business” of the business:

a) Meetings: “Having different Elves (management team) & reindeer (production workers) both attend, observe, & participate in open senior-staff meetings. So they get grass-roots feedback

b) Cross-training & rotating Assignments within different departments, so employees can understand the challenges faced by, their co-worker

c) Swap program that allows individuals to experience how other companies operate – to see new ideas in solving problems & achieving goals.

6. Look for Opportunities to Give “Atta-Boys” to your Elves & Reindeer.

If good little girls & boys get all the best Toys, what do good Reindeer &Elves get? Thanking people for doing things right, reinforces the right things. They’re motivated to continue doing a good job and will be looking for ways to make it better.

“I decided then & there to forget that ordinary Elves shouldn’t be rewarded for just doing their jobs. I’m too busy to give recognition standard performance.

I’ve worked hard at developing one of my most important secrets of effective leadership: an ‘attitude of gratitude.’ I’ve learned to truly appreciate workers who continually meet or exceed my expectations. I look for, and seize opportunities to give verbal & written Atta Boys (ie, atta-elves atta-deers) [they’re very dear to me] –opportunities to say thank you for doing right.”

PS. Take it from the wise old man himself: “Be the change you want to see in your work environment – where you and everyone around you can thrive – to grow and achieve greatness”.

Comments: Do you know any other Leadership/Motivation secrets of Santa?

from Sources of Insight on Xmas Eve 2017 enhanced by Peter/CXO Wiz4.biz

For more Info, click on Leadership, Motivation.