The Greater IBM Connection - on the blog side

RECOGNIZING POTENTIAL IN GREAT IDEAS

Recently, I was talking to long-time colleague, Dr. Alex Pattakos, founder of the Center for Meaning and author of Prisoners of Our Thoughts. We had a great chat about my experience of the Greater IBM Connection and the potential so many us see in this business and social networking IDEA. He immediately saw the possibilities for meaningful innovation by connecting all that IBM talent across the world.

Then he followed it up by saying, "You know, I have a connection to IBM, too!" He went on to tell me his story about how one of his creative ideas was showcased by IBM in a special program called INNOVATION IN ACADEMIC COMPUTING over 20 years ago. In the mini-podcast below, Alex shares his story of IBM recognizing the potential in his forwarding-thinking idea called the "Electronic Visiting Professor" that he brought to the University of Maine. Using IBM PCs, he was able to bring in faculty members from around the world into the rural campus in Orono, Maine, expanding the learning experience through technology. Alex also shares his perspective about the Greater IBM idea after hearing about it and visiting our blog and website.

My Talk with DR. ALEX PATTAKOS

download MP3

IBM's eye for recognizing the potential in a great idea isn't new. This is a quality I've learned to more fully appreciate as I've seen and experienced its reach over the years --- and it continues here at Greater IBM and in other initiatives. One of my personal favorites is the Global Innovation Outlook, where IBM is joining together with leaders from business, academia, and politics from around the world to create new opportunities for business and society.

Do you have a story to share from your own experience past or present?

debbe

Debbe Kennedy
Contributing Author
Greater IBM Connection
Founder, President & CEO
Global Dialogue Center and
Leadership Solutions Companies
www.globaldialoguecenter.com
author, Putting Our Differences to Work (Berrett-Koehler June 2008)
IBMer 1970 - 1991 L.A.; Anchorage; Seattle; San Francisco

What Do We Need in Our LEADERS?

Sometimes, when you hear and watch things over and over, it is easy to begin to believe in them as truth. Lately, it seems there is a lot of talk about "toughness" being an exemplary trait of LEADERSHIP. It seems to be popularly characterized, not by one's character and integrity as a leader, but in who can talk tough, be aggressive in their language, relying on the use of combative words, like "annihilate" and "destroy;" and always be first with a "surprise attack." When I flash on great leaders in history or even ones I worked for and with, I don't recall these qualities.

My questions for you... Is "toughness" what we need most in our leaders at all levels of business and society today? ...more aggression, more "toughness," more mean-spirited actions? Is it really "tough talk" that demonstrates a steadfast, committed, influential leader?

When I think about this question myself, I find myself drawn back to what I learned at IBM as a leader that has passed the test of time. One example: When IBM was beginning its transformation back in the 1990s, we used the results of a study shared in a now classic book entitled The Leadership Challenge . What I remember is there were four traits that people said they most admired in their leaders:

• Honesty
• Forward looking
• Competence
• Inspiration

How do you think these traits stack up today?

debbe

Debbe Kennedy
Contributing Author
Greater IBM Connection
Founder, President & CEO
Global Dialogue Center and
Leadership Solutions Companies
www.globaldialoguecenter.com
author, Putting Our Differences to Work (Berrett-Koehler June 2008)
IBMer 1970 - 1991 L.A.; Anchorage; Seattle; San Francisco

I AM ALSO A YOU?

The other day, I opened up an old book. I found it recently in used book store by-chance. I first was introduced to the book years ago at an IBM party in San Francisco. Its title stuck with me all these years. I AM ALSO A YOU. It is truly period piece --- a collection of thoughts with some far-out photographs, capturing the moment in time. It has a three word "Introduction" with a signed all-in-one self-portrait of John Lennon and Yoko Ono. It reads Rest in Peace.

Just seeing the book again had me questioning, "Am I also a YOU?" Perhaps, when it comes to the basics of being human, I am. I bet we have much in common --- but what I love so much in people is discovering over and over again how uniquely different we are --- and how much of who we are, comes with us when we arrive on this planet. For example, I watch who my daughter has grown to be with wonder (she is also a Greater IBMer). The family resemblance is definitely there, yet there are traits that have made her uniquely her own person from the very start. Perhaps, this is what Kahlil Gibran meant in his thoughts shared in I AM ALSO A YOU:

..."You may give them your love but not your thoughts;
For they have their own thoughts.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you."

One of the things I've enjoyed most about getting to know people in the Greater IBM Connection is discovering all the new dimensions of difference that make up this global community. The cultures. The experiences. The vast range of talent. We make quite an amazing collection! There is also something comfortable about knowing we are all connected across cultures, time and distance by working for IBM. It is there I remember that I AM ALSO A YOU. I sense others see this too. It shows up when new Greater IBMers tell us why they came and what it means to them to join.

What makes you unique and different?
Have you joined us yet?

Debbe

Debbe Kennedy
Contributing Author
Greater IBM Connection
Founder, President & CEO
Global Dialogue Center and
Leadership Solutions Companies
www.globaldialoguecenter.com
IBMer 1970 - 1991 L.A.; Anchorage; Seattle; San Francisco

Discovering Meaning in YOUR WORK?

There is something special about discovering that your life’s work matters --- you love what you do --- there is real meaning in it. I had one of these moments this week. It arrived like a gift after weeks of long days and overload. I admit IBM trained me well for this kind of reality many years ago. As I recall, the learning came from a continuous practice of the “learn while doing” approach to “leaping over tall buildings” to reach some new level of service – performance – contribution – excellence. Although it was never talked about much, I’ve not met an IBMer that doesn’t instantly relate and know the exhilaration of having all the hard work pay off --- all the pieces falling perfectly into place --- that moment when the meaning of it all takes on a new significance.

Are you having flashbacks about your own experiences?

So how can we discover deeper MEANING in what we do every day?
Many years ago, one profound influence on my life that began to help me answer this question came from reading, Man’s Search for Meaning by the famed psychiatrist, philosopher, and holocaust survivor, Viktor Frankl. Later in a management development class at IBM, Dr. Frankl’s messages were again highlighted by futurist Joel Barker’s recount in his now classic film, Power of Vision. I can still repeat the closing statement: “There is a peculiarity of man that he can only live by looking to the future, because that’s what gives meaning to life [and our work]."

Perhaps, this question today, at this time of transition and turbulence in business and society, needs to be re-examined more than ever before. Dr. Alex Pattakos, a student of Viktor Frankl and author of Prisoners of Our Thoughts: Viktor Frankl’s Principles for Discovering Meaning in Life and Work, asks new questions for a new time: "Why do some people seem to have an easier time dealing with complex and challenging situations than others? Why do some people seem more capable of dealing with change than others?" Dr. Pattakos offers seven core principles. Below I’ve listed them and provided a brief summary, paraphrased from his book, highlighting what they have come to mean to me:

1. Exercise the freedom to choose your attitude.
Choose your attitude; it’s a freedom we all have.
2. Realize your will to meaning.
Commit to meaningful goals that you can actualize and fulfill.
3. Detect the meaning of life's moments.
Look for the meaning at any given moment.
4. Don't work against yourself.
Avoid becoming so obsessed with outcome; it can work against you.
5. Look at yourself from distance.
Keep a sense of humor as you look back at yourself and your actions.
6. Shift your focus of attention.
Learn to focus your attention away from a problem; see beyond it.
7. Extend beyond yourself.
Look at the bigger picture; the higher purpose of what you are doing.

Does MEANING have a connection to the Greater IBM Community?
As we come together at the Greater IBM Connection, transcending time, distance, and differences across the world, we have the opportunity to find a new level of meaning in this global community we are creating. It is hard not to envision the far-reaching possibilities that social media offer to us, as others, like Andy Piper, have written about on this blog. Imagine the power of all the unique ways we discover meaning in our work and our lives coming together. Imagine what we can do together. Imagine what we can learn from one another. Nice! So I ask you:

Whether you are a current or former IBMer...

What meaning have you discovered in your "work" however you define it?

What qualities in your life's "work" mean the most?

I look foward to hearing your perspective and striking up a conversation!

Debbe

Debbe Kennedy
Contributing Author
Greater IBM Connection
Founder, President & CEO
Global Dialogue Center and
Leadership Solutions Companies
www.globaldialoguecenter.com
IBMer 1970 - 1991 L.A.; Anchorage; Seattle; San Francisco

At the HEART of EXCELLENCE

I know that this is not the place to discuss politics, so I WON'T :-)

However, one truth that has come up for me in watching the political process here in the United States is worth mentioning, because I learned its lesson at IBM.

From the time of hire, it was instilled in me that disparaging one's competition wasn't aligned with our values of excellence at IBM --- and that selling based on the merits of the excellent products, services, and the brand that you offer is a differentiator that is hard to beat.

Over the years, especially since I founded my own business (now 17 years ago), I've learned that at the heart of EXCELLENCE ---this long-held value and standard of conduct has proved its worth.

When you meet a competitor at the intersection of your differences, there is something that feels good inside to have built capability, know-how, and conviction in living up to the promise of IBM values at work. It still remains with me. In reflection, I see that striving to be one of the best --- living up to the highest standards of excellence in all you deliver --- speaks for itself.

I found a quote from Thomas J. Watson, Jr. written in 1968 that was passed down to me as a new IBM manager. He was talking about not disparaging other people, products, or services.

“We always will depend for our success upon the excellence of our own products, our own services, our own people. That’s basic.”  --- Thomas J. Watson, Jr.  circa 1968

Related blog on Excellence

What's at the heart of EXCELLENCE in your work and life?
What lessons have your learned?

Debbe Kennedy
Contributing Author
Greater IBM Connection
Founder, President & CEO
Global Dialogue Center and
Leadership Solutions Companies
www.globaldialoguecenter.com
IBMer 1970 - 1991 L.A.; Anchorage; Seattle; San Francisco

   

A New Year: 20,000 Moments a DAY

Moving into a new year always seems to start with reflection on "where has all the time gone?" ...it also calls us to look to the future and ask how we will spend our time? What contributions will we make? How will we make our positive mark?

In a powerful little book, How Full is Your Bucket?: Positive Strategies for Work and Life,* we are reminded how important all the moments in our lives and work can be --- each one with the capability to have an enduring influence. Whether we look at ourselves from the view of being a leader, a co-worker, a friend, a parent, a spouse or partner, a citizen --- or a Greater IBMer, our words and actions can influence someone else's moments and experience, as well as our own:

"According to Nobel Prize-winning scientist Daniel Kahneman, we experience approximately 20,000 individual moments in a waking day. Each "moment" lasts a few seconds. If you consider any strong memory --- positive or negative --- you'll notice that the imagery in your mind is actually defined by your recollection of a precise point in time. Rarely does a neutral encounter stay in your mind --- memorable moments are almost always positive or negative. In some cases, a single encounter can change your life forever."

With the rapid growth of our Greater IBM Connection community around the world, I got thinking and imagining what we could do together with just a small fraction of the 7.3 MILLION waking moments we each have ahead of us this year. There is a rumbling ... a movement started here that has many fingerprints on it from every region as we've worked together to build the foundation for The Greater IBM Connection. This year? I think we will amaze ourselves ...and the world.

So, here is a question for YOU...

How do you think The Greater IBM Connection can and will put its mark on 2008 as a business and social network? What possibilities do you see?

Have you signed up?

On a personal note, being reminded about my own 20,000 moments each day will make me more conscious about how important each one is. How about YOU?

Best...
Debbe

Debbe Kennedy
Contributing Author
Greater IBM Connection
Founder, President & CEO

Global Dialogue Center and Leadership Solutions Companies
IBMer 1970 - 1991 L.A.; Anchorage; Seattle; San Francisco

* How Full is Your Bucket?:
Positive Strategies for Work and Life
by Tom Rath and Donald O. Clifton, Ph.D.