Here are 4 Ways to Get Your Troops
Moving Again After the Election Shockwave
EXPERT OPINION BY HOWARD TULLMAN, GENERAL MANAGING PARTNER, G2T3V AND CHICAGO HIGH TECH INVESTORS @HOWARDTULLMAN1
NOV 12, 2024
In decades past everyone went to the
movies. They were nearby and cheap. They were entertaining and exciting. They
transported us to other times and places. And they were shared experiences
through which common ideas, philosophies, hopes and dreams were painlessly
communicated to the masses. The messages were clean, clear and easily
understood.
Unlike so many parts of our lives
today, the rules were simple, the behaviors straightforward, and the heroes
easily distinguished from the villains. Happy endings were de rigeur. Bad things didn’t happen to good people and
justice eventually won out.
Sitting together in the dark, we saw
idealized versions of ourselves and learned how we were supposed to act and
behave and treat others, if we wanted to be honorable and successful. These
were the basic ground rules and life lessons that were intended to set our
expectations and govern our behaviors as we grew up. Schools and shuls,
churches and chapels tried to do their part, but in terms of common culture,
the movies ruled. These were our heroes and heroines – our role models and
roadmaps. Films such as It’s A Wonderful Life from
the 40’s. Ben Hur was a biggie from the 50’s and To Kill A Mockingbird, Lawrence of Arabia and The Sound of Music were great ones from the 60’s.
And, most importantly, we internalized
these guides and goals and took the ideas home with us – to our spouses,
siblings and children and to our families at work in the office as well. None
of this was accidental. The people in power at the time made sure that the
movies were upbeat, positive and instructive. Positive propaganda wasn’t yet a
bad thing. There were limits to the Pollyannish visions, but the overwhelming
thrust was comfortably heroic and even the early anti-heroes like Rick
from Casablanca had plenty of good vibes.
From 1934until 1968, the content of
Hollywood movies was closely regulated by the Motion Picture Production Code.
Morally ambiguous films such as Red Headed Woman with
Jean Harlow prompted the need to “protect” the public from itself (and
apparently from its worst instincts and baser desires) and to promote respect
for law and authority. The so-called Hays Code required that films needed
to portray law enforcement officers and the courts in a positive light. Good
was always to triumph over evil. The heroic lead characters might struggle
mightily, but they would ultimately prevail over the bad guys. Crime could
never win and was never to be represented in a favorable way. Religion wasn’t
to be disparaged or ridiculed in any respect. Nothing could be shown that was
likely to pervert or lower the moral standards of viewers.
I realize that so much of this seems
comical, antiquated, and beyond naïve in light of recent developments and the
last several years where criminal convictions and sexual abuse became badges of
honor to millions of voters; daily obvious lies and flagrant fabrications from
politicians became common and accepted conversation; and graft and grifting
were polished and raised to fine arts by the Orange felon, his family, and his
minions.
But it’s now the “day after” and as
business managers and leaders, it’s absolutely critical that we decide exactly
what and how we’re going to explain the latest developments to our people.
Nature abhors a vacuum and, if we don’t speak up, you can be sure that others
will happily and shamelessly fill the void. Unfortunately, so many of the
ideas, basic truths, and behaviors that we relied upon as we each built the
codes of conduct and cultures in our own businesses have been shaken, corrupted
or simply discarded by those who will now “lead” our country.
The main question today is what do we
tell our teams now?
This week, millions of employees
slowly rolled back into their offices or got back on their devices – some sad,
some jubilant, some stunned, and a number who were just numb – and tried to get
on with their lives. It was clear from the earliest discussions that many were
shocked by the scope and scale of the convicted con man’s success. It appears
that the impact for many was substantially worse than in 2016 because one of
the age-old adages (and film tropes) that has now apparently been consigned to
the crapper is “forewarned is forearmed.” And absolutely everyone in this
election thought they knew exactly who and what they were voting for.
Unfortunately, a slight majority (but
a far smaller margin than in prior Democratic wins) is foolish enough to think
that they understand just what Trump’s threats and lies really mean for our
country’s future. Worse yet, it also appears that 10-to-15 million voters just
decided to bag it and not vote. Their pathetic message was basically “whatever”. It’s
also probably a waste of breath to try to buck your people up with any of the
old dead karmic horses like “what comes around goes around”. Weak and feckless
Attorney General Merrick Garland wasted years and repeated opportunities to
secure some minimum amount of justice for all. Now, just like on the real
battlefields, the winners get to decide what actions were war crimes and the
losers get to whine and sulk away.
So, what do you tell the troops and
how can the lessons of this historic loss at least be used to reinforce
important messages in your business and the company culture you’re trying to
maintain?
1.
Listen – You Might Learn Something.
Virtually all the voters cared about
was the economy and their own financial circumstances more than anything else.
And it’s clear that the Democrats talked a lot but simply didn’t listen. Your
team needs to understand that it’s never about what you’re selling; it’s always
about what the customers are buying. You need to sell yourself, but even more
importantly, you need to listen. In
fact, if we all listened more closely, it’s very likely that history wouldn’t
have to repeat itself.
2. Tell a Simple Story.
Whether it’s because he has the
vocabulary of a five-year-old or has lapsed back there because of his age and
dementia, Trump is one of the great simplifiers of all time– even apart from
his grade school nicknames. And that’s a critical skill for salesmen and
leaders. Nothing important that he ever says is more than a few words. His
message may be stupid or dishonest, but it’s absolutely clear, sounds heartfelt
and authentic, and is easy to understand. Maybe because he can’t focus on a
single thought for more than a moment or two, but it’s likely that his audience
(and the public in general) shares the same affliction. Tell your people that
time and attention are the scarcest things in our lives and that they need to
be very succinct storytellers if they want to succeed. Short and sweet. Because
the rest of the world and a million alternatives are just a click away.
3. Restate and Reiterate Your Core
Values.
Everyone’s version of values may
differ, but I’ve always found some common concerns and concepts in any great
entrepreneur’s mission statement. Five of these really jump out at me and,
amazingly enough, without even saying so openly and outright, they’re also a
direct and compelling commentary on and condemnation of Trump’s abundant
failings. Tell your people the truth about the importance of your company’s
values and the rest will take care of itself. The Big Five:
a.
Unstinting Effort – Hard, Focused Work (Trump is Lazy)
1.
Pride of Craft – Attention to Detail (Trump is Sloppy)
2.
Courage of Your Convictions – Doing What’s Right (Trump’s
Only Convictions are Criminal)
3.
Loyalty (Trump Only Cares About Himself)
4.
Excellence (Trump Only Cares About Winning)
4. Moving Forward is the Only
Option
Progress is not going to be easy, and
no one is suggesting that you are going to enjoy the ride. But we’ve all
built businesses that we’re committed to and proud of and there’s no reason to
turn back or quit now. We can’t control things that are out of our hands or
beyond our reach; but we can work hard every day to try to make the most of the
chances and opportunities that we do have.
