As you may well know, in most parts of the world, today is Valentine’s Day. It’s a day with quite a mixed history and set of customs, but the one in particular that I want to highlight today is from Finland.
Because in Finland, today isn’t about people you love, or you want to love in a romantic way. It’s about remembering and appreciating your friends. In fact, the literal translation is “Friends Day.”
So on a day about love and friendship, I thought it’d be a good time to ponder a moment about something important.
Imagine you’re in Finland. Besides being absolutely freezing outside right now and the birthplace of Linus Torvalds, if you were in Finland, you’d be thinking about how much you remember and appreciate your friends.
You would’ve spent the days before today thinking and remembering them. What they liked…all those shared times of fun and laughter…and you’d select for them the perfect gift. The one you knew would be absolutely perfect for them.
And why would it be perfect? Because, well, you’re friends, and you care enough about them to actually understand who they are, what they want and what’s important to them.
Ok. So back to reality behind the desk or on the smartphone where you’re reading this.
How many “friends” do you have in your organization? Now, I’m not talking specifically about what would be called “mates” in the UK and Australia where you’d go out with them on a regular basis to the pub or have them over to your house for dinner.
I’m talking about “business friends,” which, in this case, are actually far more important to what you do.
How many of the people who come to you every day would be someone that you think, “Wow. It’s really great that they came to me and asked me for this. I know just what they need because I understand where they’re coming from and what they’re trying to do”?
How many of them would be on your list for the Finno-Organizational “Business Friendship Day”?
G’wan…. give me a percentage. 90%…80%…60%…20%…none?
My point is that if your answer wasn’t in at least the 90%+ range, you’re doing something terribly, terribly wrong. And it’s not only undermining your credibility, but it’s also seriously undermining your effectiveness.
I’m not saying that you should try and become best mates with everyone in the organization. That’s just silly.
But I do think that on days like today when we have an enforced checkpoint to think about our friends, significant others, lovers, wanna-be-lovers and what have you, it’s also a good time to step back and think objectively about the relationship you have as both an individual security leader and as a team with the rest of the organization (not to mention your own relationship with your team, but that’s a subject for another day).
If you asked them the same question I asked you, would you be on their “Business Friendship Day” gift list, or would they be counting the days until next Christmas so they could fill your stockings with sticks and coal?
Your ability to execute an effective security program depends on the relationships you have with your direct and indirect customers. You can’t keep them safe if you don’t understand them, and you’re going to miss opportunities if they’re too angry at you to ask for your help.
So I’m going to give you a challenge: by February 14th 2020, I want you to be able to answer the question I asked above in at least the high 90’s.
Can you do that?
And if you’re a bit confused what you need to do to boost those numbers and want some support, then let’s get you onboard with the Security Leadership Coaching program and grind that particular problem into some Lihapyorykat!
(that’s a traditional Finnish meatball, BTW)
Here’s the link: https://archistry.com/go/SecurityLeader
And remember, the discount and bonuses only apply until we run out of slots or the end of next month—whichever comes first.
Happy Finno-Organizational-Business-Security-Friendship-Alignment-Effectiveness day!
ast
—
Andrew S. Townley
Archistry Chief Executive
