A Game Changer – Showing Regard and Respect for Others

We have a new dean at the Fisher College of Business.  She is Christine Poon, former Vice Chairman for Johnson & Johnson.  She began on April 1^st and she is a game changer.  Why?  Because she is showing regard and respect for others.

I have had the opportunity to work for six different Deans at three different Universities – Christine is the seventh.  And you know, all six of the prior Deans had one thing in common.  If you were to meet with them, you met in their office when they were available.  Christine is different, and it’s a difference that people notice and talk about.

A couple of weeks after joining the college, Christine was walking past my office on the 7^th floor (her office is on the second) on her way to talk with a colleague.  Upon seeing her, I called out “Dean on the floor, Dean on the floor.”  She turned and, put her finger to her lips and said “sssshhh – don’t tell anyone”, and entered my office.  Whereupon several of my colleagues, having heard the “ruckus”, congregated in my office and we had a jam session with the Dean for about 10 minutes.

Now, this might not be remarkable in your organization, but none of my previous deans at any university ever did that.  People noticed.

Last week, I got an email from Christine’s secretary asking when I was available for a meeting with her.  We arranged the time at which time I was informed that Christine would be coming to my office.  It turns out, that she is meeting with all the faculty, and she is going to their office for the meeting.  Now, it might not be unusual for senior managers in your organization to come to your office or cube to meet, but this is not the norm most of the faculty are use to.

What makes all this a game changer is that it alters the relationship between dean and faculty.  It makes the dean more of a partner and a colleague rather than someone to whom you report.  And, it shows respect and regard for the faculty.  It’s one thing to say you respect and regard someone, it’s quite another to show it in your actions.  Christine is showing it in a small, but significant way.  Surprisingly, it is not the big things that frequently make or break leaders, it’s the small things – like going to their office.

What would happen if you were to suddenly start meeting in the offices and cubes of people you have come to you?  What would happen if “they” started coming to your office?  It would probably change the game for you – and them.