Monday, October 31, 2011

FORD

"JDI" stands for 'Just Do It.'

It is a sign that has hung at the Ford Motor Company among the ranks of workers to inspire initiative, dreaming and action. Some at the company have suggested such an approach could be dangerous.

Many years ago,
Henry Ford wanted to expand the organization. He told one of his young middle managers to do some analytic work to get them to the next step. When the manager returned, his data suggested the proposed project should be dropped altogether. Ford told him to redo the analysis. He did and found the same results. Ford wasn't happy about the report and asked the young man some difficult questions and then dismissed him. In the end, Ford conceded that the expansion should be canceled.

The young middle manager received no feedback and didn't know if his analysis report had gone anywhere, but a few months later he was transferred to
Brazil. Years later, he ran into someone at Ford headquarters who had been at the presentation. The man told him he might be interested in what Henry Ford had to say that day after he left the room. Henry had said: "We need more men in this company like that one."

R. Quinn
says that every couple of years, you need to bet your job, or else you're not doing your job.

"JDI" is correct. "Just Do It." But maybe we should add on a four-letter anagram to that: 'BDBS' - 'But Don't Be Stupid.'

Making a difference is important for both the individual and the organization. There comes a time when we have to take on the system because the system needs to be challenged. There comes a time when we have to 'JDI.'

But there are no written guarantees once we decide to
JDI, no insurance policies that will catch us if we fail. The possibility of failure is the companion that walks alongside every leader. But leaders cope with that possibility because they understand that whenever they sacrifice their principles because of pressure, both they and the organization/system take another step toward a slow death. Leaders are willing to accept the necessary risk because it is the right thing to do. They care enough to risk dying for the organization that may kill them for caring.

However, remember:
"BDBS."

And be blessed.

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