Executives, Listen Up: 7 Critical Messages You Need to Hear (Hint: #6 is the Most Candid!)
I'm Jenni Saarenpää, a digital age change maker. As a seasoned change maker who has had the pleasure of working with you across various industries, countries and organizations, I feel compelled to share my candid thoughts and feelings with you through this open letter.
Dear esteemed senior executive,
Dear senioer executive, despite your participation in multiple leadership and HR trainings, I must admit that the worst employee experience I have encountered often stems from your leadership style. It's disheartening to be constantly subjected to attempts at molding and placing me back in line, especially when innocently posing questions often result in aggressive attacks from you.
It has always puzzled me why hearing questions seems so difficult for you, and why challenging the status quo is met with resistance. As someone whose job is to create innovative solutions from scratch, be it strategies, business models, processes, operating models or services, questioning the status quo is second nature to me. It's impossible to arrive at fresh insights without challenging assumptions and considering multiple perspectives. Before investing millions into execution, it's crucial to ensure that we are even solving the right problem. I'm not expecting you to have all the answers, as nobody does. Rather, my approach is to synthesize various perspectives and insights to arrive at novel solutions. I hope that my frankness will prompt you to reflect on your leadership style and its impact on those around you.
Dear senior executive, it has come to my attention that you believe you no longer need to learn, simply because you hold a managerial position. As someone who is passionate about learning, I must respectfully disagree with this notion. In fact, I believe that humility is key, as no one person can possibly know everything. As Socrates once said, "The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing." With the world changing at a faster pace than ever before, and companies' lifespans becoming shorter, it's imperative that we all continue to learn and unlearn old in order to keep up and innovate.
Dear senior executive, I must address an issue that has been bothering me for some time. It seems that at times, you expect to be treated like an all-powerful deity, with others bowing down and worshiping you. However, in my world, results speak louder than titles. I was hired to work, not to kowtow to you. We are all in this together, working towards a common goal. To me, every person is equal, regardless of their title or paycheck. I don't bow down to titles, but rather to people who have earned my trust through their actions. When someone gains my trust, they have a loyal worker who is willing to go above and beyond for them.
Dear senior executive, I have noticed that you often try to project an image of infallibility. But I want you to know that it's okay to admit when you don't know something. In fact, it takes great courage to show vulnerability and ask for help. As someone who is constantly learning and growing, I know that I don't have all the answers. And I don't expect you to have them all either. So please, don't be afraid to show your vulnerability and let us help you.
Dear senior executive, I know you have a wealth of knowledge and experience that could benefit us all. However, sometimes it feels like you're keeping that knowledge locked away. As a team, we could accomplish so much more if we shared our ideas and expertise. I believe that collaboration and knowledge-sharing are the keys to success in today's fast-paced business world. So please, don't keep your knowledge to yourself. Let's work together and create something great.
Dear senior executive, I want to start by acknowledging your role in keeping the company running smoothly. However, I believe that in order to drive real change and innovation, we need to break away from the traditional hierarchies and structures that have limited our progress. As someone who is passionate about the potential of the digital age, I have noticed that your decision-making process often stifles the creativity and fresh ideas that could propel us forward.
Research has shown that budgeting decisions can be heavily influenced by politics and territorialism, with larger units receiving more capital simply because their leaders have more sway. This approach is outdated and prevents us from truly competing in today’s fast-paced business world. We need to think beyond vertical and function-based goal-setting and embrace a more collaborative and cross-functional approach to problem-solving. Let’s work together to break down these barriers and foster a culture of innovation and agility.
I have a suggestion that might help unlock the potential of your employees and drive innovation within your organization. Have you ever considered implementing an internal crowdfunding system where each employee has a set amount of money to fund projects? By allowing employees to take ownership of the budgeting process and contribute to the decision-making, you can tap into the collective intelligence of your team and empower them to drive change from within. IBM has successfully implemented this approach, demonstrating that "none of us is as smart as all of us."
Dear senior executive, I am grateful to you for igniting my passion for creating positive change. Despite the challenges we faced, we were able to develop a solution called Change Makers’ Society, which promotes the idea of bringing about positive change rather than serving personal interests. Work should focus on making things happen in a more intelligent, efficient, and innovative way, and less on politics and internal games. Additionally, it's crucial to equip yourself and your organization with the digital age business skills necessary to lead and run successful, innovative, human-centered, and sustainable businesses. Thank you for being an inspiration to me on this journey.
Final words
Dear senior executive, I hope my feedback did not come across as disrespectful or offensive. As a change maker, my purpose is to embrace new thinking, create opportunities, and help businesses innovate and stay competitive in the digital age. I understand that change can be uncomfortable and letting go of the familiar can be difficult, but it is essential for growth and progress.
I believe that cost savings are important, but focusing solely on that will not ensure long-term success. Instead, investing in new business opportunities and renewing your business will future-proof your company. As a change maker, I can help you identify ways to increase productivity and navigate the challenges that come with change.
I know that some people may resist change because they find it scary or unfamiliar. However, what was once considered change in the past is now considered the norm. By challenging the status quo and embracing change, we can create a better future.
In our next encounter, I hope to help you understand my perspective as a change maker. I am here to challenge your thinking and help you make positive changes in your business. I do not intend to threaten your position or any other title. My only goal is to make things better and help you become more future-fit as a leader. So if you ever need help, don't hesitate to ask.
