[Music] you
you
you [Music]
whose the day before Star Wars day in
whose the day before Star Wars day in the year 2000 May the 3rd I was looking
the year 2000 May the 3rd I was looking
the year 2000 May the 3rd I was looking after an offshore oil and gas platform
after an offshore oil and gas platform
after an offshore oil and gas platform at a team own show on a team offshore we
at a team own show on a team offshore we
at a team own show on a team offshore we were doing some drilling operations to
were doing some drilling operations to
were doing some drilling operations to try and produce some extra oil which was
try and produce some extra oil which was
try and produce some extra oil which was important to the company’s financial
important to the company’s financial
important to the company’s financial results I was getting really concerned
results I was getting really concerned
results I was getting really concerned about some accidents that have been
about some accidents that have been
about some accidents that have been happening thankfully nobody had been
happening thankfully nobody had been
happening thankfully nobody had been hurt up to that point but I was getting
hurt up to that point but I was getting
hurt up to that point but I was getting concerned that safety wasn’t the prime
concerned that safety wasn’t the prime
concerned that safety wasn’t the prime motive and I knew that the company would
motive and I knew that the company would
motive and I knew that the company would be concerned about that because the
be concerned about that because the
be concerned about that because the company made it clear that safety was a
company made it clear that safety was a
company made it clear that safety was a top priority they put it on poster no
top priority they put it on poster no
top priority they put it on poster no job is so important it can’t be done
job is so important it can’t be done
job is so important it can’t be done safely they put it on my smarts safety
safely they put it on my smarts safety
safely they put it on my smarts safety is no accident they even put it in the
is no accident they even put it in the
is no accident they even put it in the back of annual reports and screensavers
back of annual reports and screensavers
back of annual reports and screensavers the safety of our people as a top
the safety of our people as a top
the safety of our people as a top priority on that day we dropped a large
priority on that day we dropped a large
priority on that day we dropped a large metal piece of drilling equipment it
metal piece of drilling equipment it
metal piece of drilling equipment it fell several meters it bounced came to
fell several meters it bounced came to
fell several meters it bounced came to rest thankfully it didn’t hurt anyone
rest thankfully it didn’t hurt anyone
rest thankfully it didn’t hurt anyone didn’t damage any other equipment but it
didn’t damage any other equipment but it
didn’t damage any other equipment but it was a clear indication that something
was a clear indication that something
was a clear indication that something was seriously wrong it’s something been
was seriously wrong it’s something been
was seriously wrong it’s something been in the area that would have been killed
in the area that would have been killed
in the area that would have been killed at the time so it was a matter of luck
at the time so it was a matter of luck
at the time so it was a matter of luck so I said we’re going to shut down this
so I said we’re going to shut down this
so I said we’re going to shut down this operation and my team offshore said we
operation and my team offshore said we
operation and my team offshore said we agree we need to actually think again
agree we need to actually think again
agree we need to actually think again about what we’re doing here and make
about what we’re doing here and make
about what we’re doing here and make sure we don’t hurt anybody or heaven
sure we don’t hurt anybody or heaven
sure we don’t hurt anybody or heaven forbid worse than that two hours later I
forbid worse than that two hours later I
forbid worse than that two hours later I get a call from New York now this is
get a call from New York now this is
get a call from New York now this is from the CEO of the corporation who was
from the CEO of the corporation who was
from the CEO of the corporation who was my boss’s boss’s boss quite spoken to I
my boss’s boss’s boss quite spoken to I
my boss’s boss’s boss quite spoken to I think once a social gathering he said
think once a social gathering he said
think once a social gathering he said Bob he said them I believe you’ve shut
Bob he said them I believe you’ve shut
Bob he said them I believe you’ve shut down the drilling operations
down the drilling operations
down the drilling operations I said yes I have he said you do realize
I said yes I have he said you do realize
I said yes I have he said you do realize how important the oil from this new
how important the oil from this new
how important the oil from this new whale was to our annual results I’m
whale was to our annual results I’m
whale was to our annual results I’m saying am yes he said I hope for the
saying am yes he said I hope for the
saying am yes he said I hope for the sake of your career that you have made
sake of your career that you have made
sake of your career that you have made the right decision
the right decision
the right decision with my career I came off the call I was
with my career I came off the call I was
with my career I came off the call I was bewildered I felt light down and I
bewildered I felt light down and I
bewildered I felt light down and I thought am I going to get fired
thought am I going to get fired
thought am I going to get fired really am I going to get fired or am I
really am I going to get fired or am I
really am I going to get fired or am I gonna have to compromise the principle
gonna have to compromise the principle
gonna have to compromise the principle here and actually carry on an operation
here and actually carry on an operation
here and actually carry on an operation I know
I know
I know is potentially really unsafe I thought I
is potentially really unsafe I thought I
is potentially really unsafe I thought I forget fired I won’t get a reference
forget fired I won’t get a reference
forget fired I won’t get a reference from the business that I’m working in
from the business that I’m working in
from the business that I’m working in and if I don’t get a reference a week
and if I don’t get a reference a week
and if I don’t get a reference a week another job of a similar status and more
another job of a similar status and more
another job of a similar status and more importantly the similar P because at the
importantly the similar P because at the
importantly the similar P because at the time I was living in a house where my
time I was living in a house where my
time I was living in a house where my mortgage and my salary would just about
mortgage and my salary would just about
mortgage and my salary would just about imbalance I thought I’m going to lose my
imbalance I thought I’m going to lose my
imbalance I thought I’m going to lose my house enough all these tricks were
house enough all these tricks were
house enough all these tricks were playing on me I went home that night I
playing on me I went home that night I
playing on me I went home that night I struggled to get to sleep woke up early
struggled to get to sleep woke up early
struggled to get to sleep woke up early the next morning however and things were
the next morning however and things were
the next morning however and things were clear I thought I’m not going to
clear I thought I’m not going to
clear I thought I’m not going to compromise I’m not going to be the
compromise I’m not going to be the
compromise I’m not going to be the person that agrees to an operation when
person that agrees to an operation when
person that agrees to an operation when ultimately something could die and if
ultimately something could die and if
ultimately something could die and if they fire me they could find me and if I
they fire me they could find me and if I
they fire me they could find me and if I can’t get a job that pays the same
can’t get a job that pays the same
can’t get a job that pays the same amount of money I’ll get an evening job
amount of money I’ll get an evening job
amount of money I’ll get an evening job I’ll get a weekend job I’ll do whatever
I’ll get a weekend job I’ll do whatever
I’ll get a weekend job I’ll do whatever is necessary but I’m not going to bend
is necessary but I’m not going to bend
is necessary but I’m not going to bend on the principles now I didn’t get I
on the principles now I didn’t get I
on the principles now I didn’t get I didn’t get fired I didn’t stay too long
didn’t get fired I didn’t stay too long
didn’t get fired I didn’t stay too long with our organization after that episode
with our organization after that episode
with our organization after that episode but I resolved at that point I thought
but I resolved at that point I thought
but I resolved at that point I thought if I am ever in charge of a large
if I am ever in charge of a large
if I am ever in charge of a large organization I’m not going to do it that
organization I’m not going to do it that
organization I’m not going to do it that way I’m actually going to say what I
way I’m actually going to say what I
way I’m actually going to say what I mean mean what I say I’m going to walk
mean mean what I say I’m going to walk
mean mean what I say I’m going to walk the talk and I’m going to make sure that
the talk and I’m going to make sure that
the talk and I’m going to make sure that we’ve got principles those principles
we’ve got principles those principles
we’ve got principles those principles are real and genuine and honest and we
are real and genuine and honest and we
are real and genuine and honest and we do what we say we’re going to do so fast
do what we say we’re going to do so fast
do what we say we’re going to do so fast forward eight years now find myself in
forward eight years now find myself in
forward eight years now find myself in charge of a large organization but this
charge of a large organization but this
charge of a large organization but this time I’ve got six thousand staff for
time I’ve got six thousand staff for
time I’ve got six thousand staff for work operations in 20 countries two
work operations in 20 countries two
work operations in 20 countries two years prior to that we’d introduced core
years prior to that we’d introduced core
years prior to that we’d introduced core values into the organization and they
values into the organization and they
values into the organization and they were working well for the senior leaders
were working well for the senior leaders
were working well for the senior leaders in the team because we were using them
in the team because we were using them
in the team because we were using them to make decisions about which markets we
to make decisions about which markets we
to make decisions about which markets we should go into what customers we should
should go into what customers we should
should go into what customers we should deal with the kind of people we needed
deal with the kind of people we needed
deal with the kind of people we needed to hire into the organization but I’d go
to hire into the organization but I’d go
to hire into the organization but I’d go and speak to people across the business
and speak to people across the business
and speak to people across the business and I would say so what do you think of
and I would say so what do you think of
and I would say so what do you think of the core values let’s say the core and
the core values let’s say the core and
the core values let’s say the core and the core what’s the core values and say
the core what’s the core values and say
the core what’s the core values and say I’m not sure we do them here Bob
but not that cool then are they and it
but not that cool then are they and it asked a simple question let’s see how
asked a simple question let’s see how
asked a simple question let’s see how many core values do we have we had seven
many core values do we have we had seven
many core values do we have we had seven at the type M is it for nine I went back
at the type M is it for nine I went back
at the type M is it for nine I went back to my team and I said we’ve got a
to my team and I said we’ve got a
to my team and I said we’ve got a problem here I said we’re talking about
problem here I said we’re talking about
problem here I said we’re talking about core values all the time but the people
core values all the time but the people
core values all the time but the people in our organization really have no
in our organization really have no
in our organization really have no appreciation of them at all what are we
appreciation of them at all what are we
appreciation of them at all what are we done to try and make sure that people
done to try and make sure that people
done to try and make sure that people understand them they said Bob we’ve
understand them they said Bob we’ve
understand them they said Bob we’ve tried everything we’ve put them on
tried everything we’ve put them on
tried everything we’ve put them on posters we’ve put them on my smarts
posters we’ve put them on my smarts
posters we’ve put them on my smarts we’ve put them on screensavers okay so
we’ve put them on screensavers okay so
we’ve put them on screensavers okay so ask them a question I said whose job is
ask them a question I said whose job is
ask them a question I said whose job is it to try and make sure that everybody
it to try and make sure that everybody
it to try and make sure that everybody in our organization is truly engaged and
in our organization is truly engaged and
in our organization is truly engaged and that hearts and minds are with us and it
that hearts and minds are with us and it
that hearts and minds are with us and it was like an out-of-body of experience
was like an out-of-body of experience
was like an out-of-body of experience because atoms as I’m asking the question
because atoms as I’m asking the question
because atoms as I’m asking the question there’s another part of my brain telling
there’s another part of my brain telling
there’s another part of my brain telling me the answer and saying it’s your job
me the answer and saying it’s your job
me the answer and saying it’s your job ah no I had an issue because there was a
ah no I had an issue because there was a
ah no I had an issue because there was a study done in 1999 jointly by the New
study done in 1999 jointly by the New
study done in 1999 jointly by the New York Times and CBS and they asked people
York Times and CBS and they asked people
York Times and CBS and they asked people from the general public they said what
from the general public they said what
from the general public they said what proportion of the populous of
proportion of the populous of
proportion of the populous of trustworthy and I said Bohr about 30
trustworthy and I said Bohr about 30
trustworthy and I said Bohr about 30 percent and said there was a
percent and said there was a
percent and said there was a supplementary question said what
supplementary question said what
supplementary question said what proportion of the people that you know
proportion of the people that you know
proportion of the people that you know are trustworthiness ‘add that’s
are trustworthiness ‘add that’s
are trustworthiness ‘add that’s different
different
different the average was 70% which doesn’t really
the average was 70% which doesn’t really
the average was 70% which doesn’t really make any sense but actually it does if
make any sense but actually it does if
make any sense but actually it does if you interpret it that we tend to trust
you interpret it that we tend to trust
you interpret it that we tend to trust people we know and we tend to distrust
people we know and we tend to distrust
people we know and we tend to distrust people we don’t know
people we don’t know
people we don’t know so I’m asking people in my organization
so I’m asking people in my organization
so I’m asking people in my organization to accept and trust the fact that these
to accept and trust the fact that these
to accept and trust the fact that these core values are real and genuine and yet
core values are real and genuine and yet
core values are real and genuine and yet I didn’t know them so if I didn’t know
I didn’t know them so if I didn’t know
I didn’t know them so if I didn’t know them why would they trust me if they
them why would they trust me if they
them why would they trust me if they didn’t trust me why would they follow me
didn’t trust me why would they follow me
didn’t trust me why would they follow me and if they weren’t following me
and if they weren’t following me
and if they weren’t following me who was i living that’s a question for
who was i living that’s a question for
who was i living that’s a question for anybody in an organization if your
anybody in an organization if your
anybody in an organization if your people don’t know you the people don’t
people don’t know you the people don’t
people don’t know you the people don’t know what you look like what you sound
know what you look like what you sound
know what you look like what you sound like
like
like more importantly if they don’t know what
more importantly if they don’t know what
more importantly if they don’t know what you care about of what causes you
you care about of what causes you
you care about of what causes you concern then why should they trust you
concern then why should they trust you
concern then why should they trust you and why should they follow you and I
and why should they follow you and I
and why should they follow you and I thought we need to break this down again
thought we need to break this down again
thought we need to break this down again it starts with awareness I thought so
it starts with awareness I thought so
it starts with awareness I thought so how do I make people aware
I need to give them awareness of chips
I need to give them awareness of chips and don’t you hate it when people roll
and don’t you hate it when people roll
and don’t you hate it when people roll their eyes during a presentation
I was going to do this I was going to do
I was going to do this I was going to do this as a PowerPoint chart I was
this as a PowerPoint chart I was
this as a PowerPoint chart I was convinced that props for a better idea
convinced that props for a better idea
convinced that props for a better idea it starts with awareness how did you get
it starts with awareness how did you get
it starts with awareness how did you get people aware of the values in your
people aware of the values in your
people aware of the values in your business
business
business we gave him a personal copy and asked
we gave him a personal copy and asked
we gave him a personal copy and asked the same for them I helped I started
the same for them I helped I started
the same for them I helped I started writing a weekly blog about our core
writing a weekly blog about our core
writing a weekly blog about our core values and I crafted this careful note
values and I crafted this careful note
values and I crafted this careful note that I thought everybody’s going to read
that I thought everybody’s going to read
that I thought everybody’s going to read this and they’re going to absorb all
this and they’re going to absorb all
this and they’re going to absorb all this knowledge about the core values it
this knowledge about the core values it
this knowledge about the core values it was a waste of time because I wrote a
was a waste of time because I wrote a
was a waste of time because I wrote a note I gave it to my comms department
note I gave it to my comms department
note I gave it to my comms department they removed every ounce of personality
they removed every ounce of personality
they removed every ounce of personality and uniqueness out of it turned it back
and uniqueness out of it turned it back
and uniqueness out of it turned it back into a grey management talk and put it
into a grey management talk and put it
into a grey management talk and put it out there and people did what they
out there and people did what they
out there and people did what they always do is it I’ll read that later
always do is it I’ll read that later
always do is it I’ll read that later now delete so I thought I need to get
now delete so I thought I need to get
now delete so I thought I need to get around that so I said to the comms guys
around that so I said to the comms guys
around that so I said to the comms guys I said look next time I’m going to write
I said look next time I’m going to write
I said look next time I’m going to write a note I don’t want you to edit it and
a note I don’t want you to edit it and
a note I don’t want you to edit it and you could see the look of panic on their
you could see the look of panic on their
you could see the look of panic on their face particular when I came up with a
face particular when I came up with a
face particular when I came up with a note that was your baby is ugly people
note that was your baby is ugly people
note that was your baby is ugly people read that one and of course the next
read that one and of course the next
read that one and of course the next week I put thoughts on death and beauty
week I put thoughts on death and beauty
week I put thoughts on death and beauty we’re beginning to get an audience here
we’re beginning to get an audience here
we’re beginning to get an audience here people are going to understand this but
people are going to understand this but
people are going to understand this but I also realized that the more I put
I also realized that the more I put
I also realized that the more I put personal information into the notes and
personal information into the notes and
personal information into the notes and shared the person I was the more the
shared the person I was the more the
shared the person I was the more the response I got so I’ve talked about my
response I got so I’ve talked about my
response I got so I’ve talked about my father’s death I talked about my
father’s death I talked about my
father’s death I talked about my mother’s Alzheimer’s I’ve talked to my
mother’s Alzheimer’s I’ve talked to my
mother’s Alzheimer’s I’ve talked to my brother suicide and all the time the
brother suicide and all the time the
brother suicide and all the time the core most people are saying you can’t do
core most people are saying you can’t do
core most people are saying you can’t do that but the response was remarkable and
that but the response was remarkable and
that but the response was remarkable and of course the next thing what to do is
of course the next thing what to do is
of course the next thing what to do is to get inside people’s brains I wanted
to get inside people’s brains I wanted
to get inside people’s brains I wanted to do this from a bucket of embalming
to do this from a bucket of embalming
to do this from a bucket of embalming fluid but now that all our kids dead we
fluid but now that all our kids dead we
fluid but now that all our kids dead we set up a training course to tell people
set up a training course to tell people
set up a training course to tell people how to use the core values we give them
how to use the core values we give them
how to use the core values we give them scenarios and we said what would you do
scenarios and we said what would you do
scenarios and we said what would you do in this scenario and the teams would
in this scenario and the teams would
in this scenario and the teams would come up with all sorts of different
come up with all sorts of different
come up with all sorts of different discussions and we say now try it with
discussions and we say now try it with
discussions and we say now try it with the core values hold the core values
the core values hold the core values
the core values hold the core values against the decisions and see what you
against the decisions and see what you
against the decisions and see what you come up with and it was remarkable how
come up with and it was remarkable how
come up with and it was remarkable how consistent the outcome was which really
consistent the outcome was which really
consistent the outcome was which really took us to the next point on the journey
took us to the next point on the journey
took us to the next point on the journey which is this
which is this
which is this but what’s foliage no think again belief
how do you get people to believe in the
how do you get people to believe in the values people want evidence they want
values people want evidence they want
values people want evidence they want evidence that they’re not going to get a
evidence that they’re not going to get a
evidence that they’re not going to get a phone call from the CEO if they do
phone call from the CEO if they do
phone call from the CEO if they do something against the core values asking
something against the core values asking
something against the core values asking them if they’ve made the right decision
them if they’ve made the right decision
them if they’ve made the right decision for their career so they needed evidence
for their career so they needed evidence
for their career so they needed evidence that we as a senior team were prepared
that we as a senior team were prepared
that we as a senior team were prepared to walk away from business because of
to walk away from business because of
to walk away from business because of the core values I’m going to tell them
the core values I’m going to tell them
the core values I’m going to tell them which contracts and what volumes were
which contracts and what volumes were
which contracts and what volumes were walking away from they needed evidence
walking away from they needed evidence
walking away from they needed evidence that we had senior people an
that we had senior people an
that we had senior people an organization that we let go which is
organization that we let go which is
organization that we let go which is fired because their behaviors were
fired because their behaviors were
fired because their behaviors were incompatible with the core values
incompatible with the core values
incompatible with the core values irrespective of how good they were at
irrespective of how good they were at
irrespective of how good they were at the job and once people began to see
the job and once people began to see
the job and once people began to see that there was evidence to back up the
that there was evidence to back up the
that there was evidence to back up the claims of what we were saying about
claims of what we were saying about
claims of what we were saying about these values you could see people
these values you could see people
these values you could see people beginning to believe in them and
beginning to believe in them and
beginning to believe in them and beginning to buy into them and of course
beginning to buy into them and of course
beginning to buy into them and of course the final point there is this and you’re
the final point there is this and you’re
the final point there is this and you’re thinking engagement I’m thinking no no
thinking engagement I’m thinking no no
thinking engagement I’m thinking no no no commitment how’d you get people
no commitment how’d you get people
no commitment how’d you get people committed to the core values we set up
committed to the core values we set up
committed to the core values we set up an award scheme people started sharing
an award scheme people started sharing
an award scheme people started sharing the stories of how the core values were
the stories of how the core values were
the stories of how the core values were being used and what really worked for us
being used and what really worked for us
being used and what really worked for us is once we started taking these these
is once we started taking these these
is once we started taking these these tales of how people were using the core
tales of how people were using the core
tales of how people were using the core values turn them into proper stories and
values turn them into proper stories and
values turn them into proper stories and sharing them across the organization it
sharing them across the organization it
sharing them across the organization it created the social proof that people
created the social proof that people
created the social proof that people were looking for they said ah my
were looking for they said ah my
were looking for they said ah my colleagues are all on board here then I
colleagues are all on board here then I
colleagues are all on board here then I can get on board too and the results
can get on board too and the results
can get on board too and the results were remarkable as a business we did
were remarkable as a business we did
were remarkable as a business we did really well we probably did better than
really well we probably did better than
really well we probably did better than a lot of our competitors at the time we
a lot of our competitors at the time we
a lot of our competitors at the time we attracted lots of good people to come
attracted lots of good people to come
attracted lots of good people to come and work for us because of the culture
and work for us because of the culture
and work for us because of the culture and values and customers told us they
and values and customers told us they
and values and customers told us they said look we’re going to give you these
said look we’re going to give you these
said look we’re going to give you these contracts and it’s not because
contracts and it’s not because
contracts and it’s not because technically you’re any better than your
technically you’re any better than your
technically you’re any better than your competitors okay oh we think we are oh
competitors okay oh we think we are oh
competitors okay oh we think we are oh you’re not and it’s not because you’re
you’re not and it’s not because you’re
you’re not and it’s not because you’re any cheaper than your competitors okay
any cheaper than your competitors okay
any cheaper than your competitors okay but we’re late your culture and we like
but we’re late your culture and we like
but we’re late your culture and we like your values we like working with you and
your values we like working with you and
your values we like working with you and I had a little cynical engineers in my
I had a little cynical engineers in my
I had a little cynical engineers in my business and once I was able to show
business and once I was able to show
business and once I was able to show a list of contracts that totaled in
a list of contracts that totaled in
a list of contracts that totaled in value over two billion dollars I said we
value over two billion dollars I said we
value over two billion dollars I said we got these contracts because of the
got these contracts because of the
got these contracts because of the values that gone ah so we’re doing this
values that gone ah so we’re doing this
values that gone ah so we’re doing this kind of stuff because it works something
kind of stuff because it works something
kind of stuff because it works something that’s exactly it
that’s exactly it
that’s exactly it we’re doing it because it works because
we’re doing it because it works because
we’re doing it because it works because it makes sense so I was speaking to an
it makes sense so I was speaking to an
it makes sense so I was speaking to an old colleague of mine I used to work
old colleague of mine I used to work
old colleague of mine I used to work offshore in the central North Sea and I
offshore in the central North Sea and I
offshore in the central North Sea and I had an old colleague of mine called mech
had an old colleague of mine called mech
had an old colleague of mine called mech McNally from Barnsley and we met two
McNally from Barnsley and we met two
McNally from Barnsley and we met two years ago and he was I was taking him
years ago and he was I was taking him
years ago and he was I was taking him through the journey of introducing core
through the journey of introducing core
through the journey of introducing core values over many years and doing lots of
values over many years and doing lots of
values over many years and doing lots of tonal talks and doing lots of weekly
tonal talks and doing lots of weekly
tonal talks and doing lots of weekly blogs and everything and he said Dex is
blogs and everything and he said Dex is
blogs and everything and he said Dex is Bob it sounds like this is an awful lot
Bob it sounds like this is an awful lot
Bob it sounds like this is an awful lot of work I said yes Mick it was an awful
of work I said yes Mick it was an awful
of work I said yes Mick it was an awful lot of what he says it’s not the sort of
lot of what he says it’s not the sort of
lot of what he says it’s not the sort of thing that many organizations commit to
thing that many organizations commit to
thing that many organizations commit to them saying no they don’t
them saying no they don’t
them saying no they don’t he says but it sounds like it’s made all
he says but it sounds like it’s made all
he says but it sounds like it’s made all the difference I said yeah it’s made all
the difference I said yeah it’s made all
the difference I said yeah it’s made all the difference there’s two choices in
the difference there’s two choices in
the difference there’s two choices in terms of core values you can talk about
terms of core values you can talk about
terms of core values you can talk about them and put them on posters and mouse
them and put them on posters and mouse
them and put them on posters and mouse mats and screen savers bla bla bla or
mats and screen savers bla bla bla or
mats and screen savers bla bla bla or you can do them thank you very much
”
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