great business speakers

The natural reaction to the Wells Fargo debacle, perhaps within that company and by leaders at other companies looking to prevent similar behavior, is to clamp down and exert more rules and regulations; tighten organizational control. But Management Lab partner POLLY LaBARRE cautions that approach runs the risk of stifling the very innovation and employee engagement that organizations covet. Polly has been a top innovation speaker since her early days at Fast Company magazine; someone whose approach to organizational control was centered around the idea of unleashing the full power and creativity of the people within it by demolishing bureaucracy. Polly's strategies look to make organizations as human as the people who comprise them. I asked Polly to write about the tug between controlling, regulating, and making rules vs. the ideal of setting workers free to find new ways to drive innovation. I hope you enjoy her thoughts here on a fresh approach to organizational control. --------------------------------------------------------- Control by Other Means - The Benefits of Bureaucracy Without All the Costs by Polly LaBarre It was one of the most breathtakingly egregious cases of institutional overreach in recent memory: the widespread fraud uncovered at Wells Fargo last fall. Under bruising pressure to meet wildly aggressive sales targets, thousands of bankers created as many as 2 million accounts for customers without their consent—and kept the racket alive for years with a web of shady practices and tacit executive support.

This blog has nothing to do with the speaking industry – but then again, it kind of does. The reaction was so positive for my blog about the stand-up desk a few months ago, I thought I'd share something else that's been really useful for me. The events business is pretty demanding. Event planners I know have long hours and uncertain schedules that sometimes make it hard to find the time/motivation to make dinner. I like to cook. I find the whole process – washing, chopping, sautéing, etc. – relaxing. And the smells can be fabulous and help ease the pressures of the day. But finding the time can be an issue.

THE FUTURE OF WORK AT IBM When I read the news about IBM's decision to have most teleworkers return to their offices I knew it was something Fortune magazine's GEOFF COLVIN would be following closely. His last book, Humans are Underrated, focused on where humans fit in and add value in a workplace culture that is increasingly dominated by robots and smart technology of every sort. What did IBM's move mean for the future of work? Will this organizational transformation really increase effective collaboration in the workplace as IBM hopes? Geoff's concise essay on IBM's decision is below. He will be following it closely and will weigh in down the road with the impact this change makes for the company and the ramifications more broadly in the workplace. What do YOU think? Feel free to comment at the end of this article.

In my previous life as a speakers’ agent for top keynote speakers, I worked with a well-known non-fiction author whose name you would know; someone really well respected. That author did a lot of speaking on the strength of impressive book sales; multiple #1 New York Times bestsellers. The author was a good speaker. I say “good” because rarely was the sponsoring organization disappointed with the speech – but the author never got an emphatic, “That was great!” reaction from the event planner. When I would go to see this author speak, I loved the content but would come away a bit disappointed because the speech was read…word for word…while looking up occasionally.

$2,450 was an awful lot of money in July of 1984. I had just started a new job after moving from Boston to Stamford, Connecticut. I had a bigger mortgage payment on a more expensive place than I had before and was adjusting to the daily commute to NYC for work. Money was flying out the door. The last thing I wanted to do was spend more.

THE SHIP THAT LAUNCHED A THOUSAND (PLUS) SPEECHES In 1999 Fast Company magazine ran an article that got my attention. It featured a Navy captain who took command of a ship that was near the bottom of the performance rankings in just about every category. Twelve months later – under this new captain - the ship was the best performing ship in the fleet. How did that happen? Everyone wanted to know.

GEOFF COLVIN from Fortune magazine is always out in front of the economic trends that are driving business change and competition. This link to his piece in the latest issue is a great example - it focuses on the disruption in agriculture that could change food supplies and food costs worldwide. The issue: there’s been wave of global consolidation in agriculture that will put roughly 50% of the commercial seed market under the control of a few giant multinationals. ChemChina bought Syngenta, Dow Chemical is buying DuPont, and Germany’s Bayer is buying Monsanto. The impact of the changes to the competitive landscape can’t be overstated, including the national security considerations. In particular, ChemChina's purchase of Syngenta has made clear that China's food security strategy is being implemented to insulate its huge population against the kinds of food disruptions and famines the country has endured in the past. At the same time the consolidation is being looked at very carefully by global political and economic experts . Here's more:

A career as a speakers' bureau agent After 40+ years as an agent, first in the music business and then for top speakers, I made a career change in 2012 and began managing a carefully chosen group of top experts who speak. In my new life, I work with most every speakers’ bureau on a daily basis. They often ask me, especially now when talent is so hard to find if I know someone who'd make a great agent. Sometimes I do – and I do my best to connect people and help however I can.

Women and Success When it comes to women at work – what matters more, confidence or competence? 
 
The answer is surprising because the latest research shows why confidence is important at work - even more important than actual skills.

Basketball superstar BILL WALTON is known by thousands for his achievements on the basketball court and behind the microphone. By all accounts, he’s led a charmed life. But few people know the back story of Bill’s life – his lifelong stuttering affliction and health problems that resulted in 37 surgeries including one that ended his playing career and one for catastrophic spine failure in 2008. What’s astounding is just how positive and upbeat Bill Walton is given all he has been through. He is one of the most positive people I know – and the nicest. When I’ve been with Bill at his speaking engagements, he didn’t leave the room until the last person waiting to shake his hand, get an autograph, or take a photo got what they so patiently waited for. Here’s the typical feedback I receive from people who’ve engaged Bill to speak: “Bill went out of his way to make EVERY person in the room feel like they mattered -- and he personally spent time talking to each of them. Simply unbelievable, which an email cannot describe.” – Irving Place Capital So much of Bill’s success is rooted in lessons he learned from his great college basketball coach, John Wooden. I asked Bill to share three pieces of advice on the path to success. Here’s what he wrote – in his own words. Much of it has to do with confronting reality, something most of us struggle with in a world that’s changing at warp speed. His advice here is truly inspirational – and I hope you enjoy Bill’s personal anecdotes.