Caption: This image is of the Vulnerability Wall from the 2015 Conscious Capitalism conference in April.

CCC Slide Deck – 6-17-15

The goal of our June event was to provide a small group venue to talk about the theories and ideas put forward at the national conference in April. The presentation is posted above.

Holly Jordan, Chicago Chapter Program Committee Member, presented the most inspiring points from Simon Sinek at the April conference.  

Additional thoughts from the group included:

• Virtue produces more results and takes a different mindset. And it is harder to lead from this place.
• Leaders need to trust that their employees. If they do, people will be more productive and elevate their performance.
• You have to create an environment so that the circle of trust isn’t neatly round. We need to respect our employees and acknowledge they are human.
• If we stay in fight or flight perpetually, it is bad for our health and productivity.
• The more that employees feel the mission of the organization and the values, the people want to give.
• If people could go home and feel good about what they’ve done, they are going to thrive.

Thea Polancic, Chair of Conscious Capitalism Chicago, and Paula Golub, Principal at Golub & Company, showcased 15 personal principles shared from Melissa Reiff, President & COO of The Container Store.
1. Security
2. Confidence
3. Positive Attitude
4. Maturity
5. Focus
6. Courage
7. Sweet
8. Communication
9. Tenacity
10. Humor
11. Agility
12. Creativity
13. Commitment
14. Inspiration
15. Passion

Additional thoughts from the group included:

• The Container Store opening events are an inspiring and unique example of a company appreciating all of their stakeholders.
• Sometimes when we hear people talk about running a company like a parent, it can come across condescending, but it isn’t if it is done well.
• Some of us are still engaging with learning and working to identify with being conscious. Some of us have been trying to make it happen for 20 years. This is the long view and a slow journey
• Communication is a big struggle. We can do better in telling our stories and communicating
• It is key to slow down when we are busiest. If we go fast, we will create more mistakes and cause more work for tomorrow. We need to give people permission to slow down.

Lee Capps, Program Chair for Conscious Capitalism Chicago, presented the ideas from Bob Chapman, Chairman and CEO of Barry-Wehmiller about how to lead a conscious business every day, and what goes into his secret sauce. 

Additional thoughts from the group included:

• We should look to our team members to help come up with solutions to our challenges.
• Nick Sarillo of Nick’s Pizza and Pub provided an example. Using The Great Game of Business, their team members regularly look at the P&L and see what metrics could be taken on by team members to help improve the company.
• Acting within the values of Conscious Capitalism can be overwhelming. It can be hard to determine where we are and where we want to be. Bob’s presentation – outlining how he works across cities, industries and cultures help us recognize if he can do it, we can do it.
• A lot of leaders in Chicago have been doing this because it was the right way you do business. But there are people that see this as new.
• Companies are trying to find ways to tell their employees they are loved.
• People that are working for good companies could be making more money somewhere else. But they work for less because they feel strongly about the organization’s purpose.
• The Millennial generation wants to work for a place that makes them feel good. But they aren’t the only ones!

RESOURCES

The group talked about a myriad of great resources. 

• Bob Chapman’s book, Everybody Matters, will be coming out in October. Click here to pre-order the book.
• During the national conference, we contributed to “Vulnerability Wall”. Click here to read about the role of vulnerability in business from Corey Blake, Founder of Round Table Companies. Keith Ferazzi was also mentioned as working a lot in vulnerability.
• Melissa Reiff put her personal principles forward, but to read more about the Container Store Foundation Principles, visit their Web site. We also mentioned CEO Kip Tindell’s book, Uncontainable. More about that book here.
• Our Web site is always a great resource – visit our new blog.