• Much of August's issue is dedicated to the evolving nature of the CEO. Polly LaBarre's look at Marcus Buckingham explains how CEOs can get the most out of their workers and companies. Examine the changing nature of leadership and enjoy the end of summer with a cell outing to a baseball game. Take a look at Majorleaguebaseball.com to see when your local team is playing, or if the the big leagues aren't in your town check out future stars in the minors. While traditionally the manager or the owner was considered the CEO of the team, this role is changing, just like in the new economy. Analyze the differernt roles that relate to CEO on the baseball field. The pitcher makes the first decision, yet the catcher has the power to overrule him. The team manager can change personnel, but doesn't grab the fans (ie customers) attention like the star hitter does. In what ways does the structure of modern baseball parallel the hierarchy of today's corporations?
• Did Bill Breen's Frequent Flier bring back memories of your youthful days of innocence? Well break out the cotton candy and lead your cell to the circus. Find out when the next Big Top is coming to your town. There's the old reliable Ringling Brothers, or the trendy Cirque de Soleil, plus other local acts that may be in your town. Observe the trust, teamwork and structure that exists between the acrobats, and the animals and their trainer. Try to organize a meeting with the circus staff to learn more about the extreme jobs, logistical planning, and resource allocation that makes up a circus. Or, if your city sports a theme park, look into its staffing, training, and physical layout. What works? What doesn't? How can you apply that to your own organization and work?
• Often cell meetings take place at a favorite local restaurant or pub. Abandon the regular locale this month for a nice deep-friend (or fresh brewed) slice of life at one of the large chain restaurants featured in this month's issue. Go to one of Tricon's Big Three, or the local Starbucks.If you don't pass by several of these stores each day, check out Starbucks and KFC, Pizza Hut, or Taco Bell for store locations. At your cell meeting, examine the physical layout of the restaurant and discuss the benefits of consistency across multiple locations. Converse about the customer service and other experiences at the counter. See if you can meet with the location's manager to learn more about the kind of training employees participate in. How do they handle high-traffic stress? How much of the job is customer service? What strategic planning initiatives are involved? How do they staff up for peak hours? What tasks must be accomplished during down time?

Daniel Richards contributed this month's Next Steps.

August 2001 Connexus | Flash Points | Next Steps

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