Click HERE to order our best-selling DVDs of Motivational Quotes.

“In a time of drastic change it is the learners who inherit the future. The learned usually find themselves equipped to live in a world that no longer exists.”
Eric Hoffer

“One percent improvement in 1,000 things is better than 1,000 percent improvement in one thing.”
Tom Peters

“If you want the best things to happen in corporate life, you have to find ways to be hospitable to the unusual person.”
Max DePree

“The problem is never how to get new, innovative thoughts into your mind, but how to get the old ones out.”
Dee Hock, Founder of VISA

“It’s easy to decide what to do. The hard part is deciding what not to do.”
Michael Dell

“People are in greater need of your praise when they try and fail, than when they try and succeed.”
Bob Moawad

Here's the Free October 2007 Edition of the Sullivision
E-newsletter you signed up for. Check out our e-news archives, quote of the day, product catalog and free downloads at www.sullivision.com
______________________________________________________
Actions Speak Louder Than Rules
By Jim Sullivan Copyright 2007 Sullivision.com

Put 5 monkeys in a cage. Inside that cage, hang 1 banana on a string and place a ladder under it. Soon one of the monkeys will spot the banana and start to climb the ladder. As soon as he does, spray all of the other monkeys with cold water. Now, replace the banana. After a while another one of the monkeys will probably go for the banana. Again, spray all of the other monkeys with cold water.

Monkeys are fairly smart, so pretty soon whenever one of the monkeys tries to climb the ladder all the other monkeys will try and prevent him from doing it. When this happens, put away the cold water. Remove one monkey from the cage and replace it with a new one. Then put another banana at the top of the ladder.

The new monkey will spot the banana and make for the ladder. To his surprise all of the other monkeys will attack him. After a couple more tries result in further beatings, the new monkey will not make any attempt to go for the banana.

Remove another of the original monkeys and replace it with yet another new one. Then replace the banana. Again, the new monkey will make a grab for it. Like his predecessor he will be amazed to find that all the other monkeys attack him. The previous newcomer will take part in his replacement’s punishment with some enthusiasm.

One at a time, gradually replace all of the original monkeys with new ones. Each of the newcomers will go for the banana. Each one will be attacked by the other four. Most of the new monkeys have absolutely no idea why they were not allowed to climb the ladder, or why they are participating in the assault on the newest monkey. When all of the original monkeys have been replaced, none of the remaining monkeys have ever been sprayed with cold water. Nevertheless, no monkey ever approaches the ladder. Why not? Because as far as they are concerned that's the way it has always been done around here. And that is how a company policy begins.

Moral of the story? Challenge the process daily. Ask: Why do we do it that way? What if we didn’t? What was the origin of the policy? Does it still make sense for us? For our customers? Does the process or policy make it is easy for customers to do business with us? If not, why? Change it. Does it make it easier for us to do business with us? If not, why? Change it.

Jim Sullivan’s newest book is called Multi Unit Leadership: The 7 Stages of Building High-Performing Partnerships & Teams and is available exclusively at www.sullivision.com or by calling 920.830.3915 anytime.

For information about Sullivision's award-winning seminars and products, visit our website at www.sullivision.com or call 1.920.930.3915.

We respect your right to privacy. Click here to be removed from our list.