What is Your Listening Price Tag?

The Dollars and Sense of Respecting Emotions

Photo by: Jeff Powers

"The art of effective listening is essential to 
clear communication,and clear communication
 is essential to success." 

- James Cash Penney

The founder of the legendary   retailer JCPenney would not recognize his namesake today.  I contend that his descendants in leading the department store may have forgotten - or considered quaint, trite, or outdated - what dear old J.C. said all those years ago.

Too many leaders have a troublesome tendency to hear, but not listen.  

And "leaders" can be found not only in business, but in social circles, politics, and even the family.  Listening forms the basis for success, no matter what the context or the specifics of the situation. 

Yet the JC Penney of 2013 finds itself in what some are calling its death throes, with creditors expressing concern, board members bailing out, and customers hopelessly confused.  And why?  My guess is because the company stopped listening. 

It applied a logic-based strategy as the foundation of a turnaround initiative.  They acted upon the notion - assumed, actually - that consumers like things as simple as possible, so JCPenney eliminated all coupons and sales.  It has since retreated from that practice, but the damage has been done and there may be no recovery.

The retailer's leadership failed to appreciate the fact that the decision to buy works from the same emotion-based platform as the best approach to living in general.  Namely, that people operate at the most elementary level from emotion.  They stick with what they know and like.  We evaluate intellectually but act (and buy) emotionally.  Emotion is where lasting and meaningful change begins, not logic and intellect.

Center for Victory helps our clients understand this basic, core, rudimentary principle toward achieving peace and balance in their lives.  As the JCPenney Company is now realizing, real financial ramifications can be at stake, as well.  They should have listened - really listened - to James Cash.

Be Well,

Eric 

The Example of Francis

The Example of Francis

This past March, the world was electrified, as Pope Francis stepped out onto the balcony at St. Peter's Square after his election.  But the way in which Francis has electrified the world is quite different from his papal predecessors, and it's what makes his story so interesting and applicable.

Why has this pope been so enthusiastically received and his message embraced by Catholics and people of other faiths, in such a short period of time?  What makes Francis so different?  Could it be that his approach is purely based on helping other people, especially those less fortunate, and that he is demonstrating it so powerfully and so personally?

From the start, Francis has purposely avoided all of the magisterial trappings at his disposal.  He lives in a Vatican hotel, not the grand papal apartments.  He wears simple vestments.  He shuns the "popemobile," preferring to be close enough to people to reach out, touch them, pick up children and bless them himself. 

Francis recently declined to spend time at a formal concert and reception, causing some feathers to be ruffled.  He said his time was better spent working.  One of his first acts as pope was to visit with recovering addicts in a Rome prison. Even the name he selected honors Francis of Assisi, who lived a life of service to the poor.

Virtually his every statement and action reaffirms and demonstrates the need for love, respect, service, and building relationships with others. 

Love over fear. 

Compassion over aggression. 

Reaching out over shutting out.

These principles pave the way to personal peace.  You don't have to be the pope or belong to any specific organized faith community to know this or to live it every day. 

When we operate from a foundation of positive, loving relationships, great things can result.

Be Well,

Eric

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