7 Major Changes in Our Society

July 12, 2021

Good morning! A day enjoyed with good friends passes too quickly, as if it were only a few minutes, but the memories linger and are enriching for a lifetime. We had just such an experience this past weekend. Thank you!

Maintaining Healthy Relationships During a Pandemic

• Perhaps somewhat counterintuitive, the data seem to show relationships overall were improved or strengthened during the plague — especially as it lasted longer and longer.
  • On the other hand, a closer look at the research reveals weak relationships got weaker — and strong relationships got stronger… with a big bell curve bump in the middle.
• Houseguest rules:  Do we really need to re-learn and re-visit these?  Emily taught them a century ago; Judith Martin more recently, but…
  • … the long and short of it is:  Leave before you get thrown out.
  • Or, as the old saying goes, house guests and fish begin to smell after a couple days.
• With more and more data available we are being reminded — and warned — to pay attention most of all to the people right in front of us and among us.
  • Namely, our employees and our customers/ clients — not to the neglect of data, but in concert with it.
  • And, don’t forget the enormous value of focus groups… don’t forget to ASK people (and listen!) what they think and how they’re feeling… and what they’re hoping for.
• Working from a location different from a central office requires more change from the boss than from the worker.
  • Believe it.  Are you paying attention?

7 Major Changes in Our Society

• Agree or disagree?  The following are macro views.
  • According to the June 27th weekend Exchange edition of The Wall Street Journal, there are seven (7) major macro changes in our society:
  1. A revised understanding of effective leadership (understatement?!);
  2. A mass migration to the exurbs (the next ring beyond the suburbs if you haven’t heard the term… not so long ago, farm or ranch land);
  3. Dramatic changes in life expectancy;
  4. Drugs, drugs, drugs — the right drug, the right time, the right person — at what price?!
  5. Retail habits and how/ when/ where we buy stuff;
  6. A new era of big government begins (a la FDR?);
  7. Existential crisis for higher education (this has been predicted for decades… finally coming true — or will it dodge yet another bullet?!

CEOs Are Accountable for All the Work of Their Organizations

• I don’t think I’ve disclosed this previously because I’ve been sensitive to being thought of as boasting or bragging.
  • Our son is a senior partner at McKinsey; he has been with the firm since 2005.
    • I admire the firm — though not without its faults and weaknesses like all of us — and I greatly admire my son.
    • When I share information from McKinsey in the Monday Morning Musings it is from a public source and I cite the source.
  • Few — if any — are better at what McKinsey does and so that’s why I’m often drawn like a magnet back to its research and to its broad and deep talent.
    • (Another disclaimer:  I also have family members associated with other praiseworthy consulting firms, and I will probably get scolded for NOT mentioning those quality firms…
      • But, at the end of the day, is there a better consulting firm than Without A Vision?!)

• What follows is from Dewar, Hirt, and Keller at McKinsey, 2021
  • • (Because this is so good we will split it up into multiple weeks.)
    • “CEOs are accountable for all the work of their organizations.  Their life is endless meetings and a barrage of e-mail.”  (Nohria)
    • The authors also suggest many CEOs are beset by loneliness, frustration, disappointment, irritation, and exhaustion.
      • Excellent CEOs approach the role’s six elements with certain mindsets and adhere to 18 practices when fulfilling their unique responsibilities.
        • Corporate Strategy (Vision) — Focus on beating the odds
          • Reframe what winning means — make big bold moves early
        • Organizational alignment — Manage performance and health with equal rigor
          • Match talent to value while going beyond employee engagement
        • Team and processes — Put dynamics ahead of mechanics
          • Defend against biases while ensuring coherence
        • Here’s a head scratcher:  More than half of CEOs report their senior leadership team is underperforming or ineffective
          • Why?  It’s a social problem rooted in biases, old school ethos, and lack of resolve

“Stay away from negative people, they have a problem for every solution.”  (Einstein, Albert — supposedly… it’s said most things attributed to Einstein were never said by him.)