Getting GUNG HO to Improve
Your Organizational Culture
Prepared by:
James J. Messina, Ph.D.
So How are You Doing in
Enhancing Your Leadership Skills?
How is it going?



Are you having problems with getting “buy in” from
your fellow workers, supervisors, & managers?
Are you having a problem in sustaining the
excitement and energy you initially were able to
garner from your forces when you started your
“training” programming?
Do you need a “booster shot” to get you back on
the “Can Do” Track?
Do you need help?
Maybe Some Animals Can
Help!
How about?
 Spirit of the Squirrel

Way of the Beaver

Gift of the Goose
To help you and your team get GUNG HO
SPIRIT OF THE SQUIRREL
Squirrels Work Hard
Gathering Food - WHY?



If they do not gather enough food to store
up for the winter they will go hungry!
They need the food to survive!
They do not do the work because they
“want to,” they do the work because they
“have to!”
So the Squirrel’s Work
is the Motivator!



The squirrels work of gathering food is
not just important!
It is not just for survival!
It is worthwhile!
What Makes Work
Worthwhile?
1.
2.
3.
4.
The work has to be understood as being
Important!
The work has to lead to a well
understood & shared goal!
Well understood Values have to guide
all plans, decisions & actions!
Put these three together & you have work
that is understood as worthwhile work!
What Makes
Work Important?





Workers must feel that the work they do is needed
by people!
Workers must feel that their work makes the world
a better place!
Workers must understand how their work
contributes to the well-being of mankind!
Workers must believe that their work could
change the course of the world for people!
If they do all that-then their work is important!
Impact of Goals on
Worthwhile Work




Goals must be well understood & shared
Workers must be proud of the goals & how
they reach the goals to make their work
worthwhile
Workers must commit to the goals if they
are shared goals
Worker must “buy in” to the goals & commit
to making the goals a reality!
Two Types of Goals
Count for Worthwhile Work


Results Goals: statements of where the
workers want to be
Value Goals: statements that set out the
impact workers want to have on the lives of
their fellow team members, their customers,
their suppliers & their community!
Values Sustain the Effort of
Worthwhile Work





Valuing the lives of one another needs to guide
the work of coworkers daily
Values come from leaders who insist that everyone
follow the straight line to get the job done!
Values are the real boss since they guide work
behaviors-like valuing the dignity of work
Leaders must insist on conformity with the values
of the organization-workers must respect the
values of the organization
Values are now! Values are lived! Values are rocks
you count on!
Hold or Roll
Rocks hold firm while water’s might
Sends pebbles rolling left and right.
Call pebble rock? Set firm their goal?
First flash flood, still pebbles roll.
Not name, nor goal divide the two.
It’s how they act. It’s what they do.
Size dictates to stone, but you’re in control
Are you rock or pebble? Will you hold or roll?
-By Manly Grant – Rhymes for the Land
Spirit of the Squirrel:
Worthwhile Work
1.
2.
3.
Knowing we make the world a better place
Everyone works toward the shared goal
Values guide all plans, decisions & actions
Important Lesson
The Spirit of the Squirrel
Fulfills
God’s plan
For the Forest!
People must be able to see that
their work contributes to the well
being of humankind!
The Way of the Beaver
Way of the Beaver:




In control of achieving the goal
Each beaver has a large measure of
control over its own destiny
Each beaver on its own decides how the
work is going to be done
Each beaver operates like an independent
contractor
Role of Management


Way of the Beaver: Management needs to
get out of the way of the workers so that
the workers can do the work their way
rather than to follow the way of some
narrow-minded, mean spirited, self-esteem
chipping away by micromanaging bosses
Workers must be allowed to exercise their
own best judgment
Role of the Workers



Workers must be allowed to do what they
do because they decide to do, rather
than because they have been ordered to
Workers need to be allowed to have a real
say in how the work gets done
Workers must accept the challenge to
have a say in how the work gets done
Steps For Managers When
Empowering Workers 1-5
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Lets them know the work is worthwhile
Gives direction as to what needs to be
accomplished
Makes sure the team shares this goal and
vision
Helps sets the values and principles
guiding the work to be done
Makes the resources available to
accomplish the work
Steps For Managers When
Empowering Workers 6-9
6.
7.
8.
9.
Holds back from over managing
Makes sure that inside and outside the
organization there is support for this
empowering effort
Watches for obstacles which could derail
this effort to ward off trouble
Is ready to change direction if needed
The Golden Rule for
Management
People who are truly in control, work
for organizations that value them as
persons. Their thoughts, feelings,
needs, and dreams are respected,
listened to, and acted upon.
(Blanchard & Bowles,1998, p. 85)
Challenge for the Workers


First provide them adequate training so
that they are capable of doing the work
ahead
Then management needs to stretch them
by giving them work that demands their
best & allows them to learn & move ahead
in uncharted territory
Way of the Beaver: In Control
of Achieving the Goal
1.
2.
3.
A playing field with clearly marked territory
Thoughts, feelings, needs & dreams are
respected, listened to & acted upon
Workers are able to do the work but are
challenged at the same time!
Important Lesson
The Way of the Beaver
Fulfills
God’s Plan
For the Beaver
The entire organization has to
support a worker if the worker is
to take control of his own work
Gift of the Goose
Gift of the Goose:
Cheering Others On



Workers providing encouragement &
enthusiastically cheering one another is the
“Gift of the Goose”
It is the act of letting each other know how
great they are!
It is not just management who needs to do
the cheering, fellow workers need to cheer
each other on as well
Impact of the Gift of
the Goose


Gift of the goose - cheering one another
on, brings enthusiasm to the Spirit of
the Squirrel and the Way of the Beaver
It is how the mission comes alive
Powerful Elements of a
Healthy Mission
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
People who set out to accomplish something that
they believe is important & worthwhile (Spirit of the
Squirrel-The Right Work)
People need to make a contribution to the way that
work is done (Way of the Beaver-The Right Way)
Driving force behind people pursing the mission is a
reason for doing the work-a need to be fulfilled (Gift
of the Goose-The Right Reward)
You reward people by fulfilling those needs
Gung Ho people do the right work, the right way for
the right reward!
A Formula that Works


Einstein's Formula: E = mc²
People are rewarded in two ways: cash and
congratulations
C squared really means 2 c’s … SO…
Enthusiasm = mission times cash &
congratulations

Congratulations: are affirmations of who people
are, that what they do matters & that they are
making a valuable contribution toward
achieving the shared mission-namely right work
done the right way
Congratulations
that work
Must first be TRUE congratulations
T imely
R esponsive
U nconditional
E nthusiastic
Congratulations
that work
Congratulations that work must be:
Spontaneous rather than Programmed
Individual rather than Blanket
Specific rather than General
Unique rather than Traditional
Gift of the Goose:
Cheering Others On
1.
2.
3.
Active or passive, congratulations must
be TRUE
People doing the right work, the right
way for the right reward!
E = mc² - Enthusiasm equals mission
times cash & congratulations
Lesson to Learn
The Gift of the Goose
Is God’s Gift
We Give Each Other
Cheering is a gift that we give to
one another because it is the right
thing to do when the right work is
being done in the right way
So Can these Animals Help?

Spirit of the Squirrel-Do the Right Work

Way of the Beaver-Do Work the Right Way


Gift of the Goose-Do Work for the Right
Reward
If so then you will have a team that is GUNG
HO
Reference
Ken Blanchard and Sheldon Bowles
(1998). Gung Ho! Turn on the People in
Any Organization. New York: William
Morrow and Company