Somewhere along the way, the term “Yes Men” got a bad name. It is true that no organization wants people who say “Yes” when they think “No.” Yet, if the organization is headed in a shared direction (north on I-65) pursuing common goals, then it follows that the organization must consist of people who think “Yes.” They must believe in the organization’s objectives and the rules of the road for getting there. They have to be committed to the strategies and tactics for achieving the organization’s objectives.

No one wants a team of robots, but in general, a company needs people who think “yes” at least 80% of the time. It cannot succeed with people who think “Yes” 20% and “No” 80% of the time.

You want a team of “Yes” men. Having them depends on the selection process. Leaders have to know what they are looking for and have to seek out the right candidates. Ross Perot put his finger on it when he said, “Eagles don't flock; you have to find them one at a time.” While development and training are an important part of business, they are only finishing actions. You have to start with qualified candidates whose goals are in harmony with those of the organization—“Yes Men.”

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I'll be back at the Belmont Mansion on July 30. If you missed the last High Tea, mark your calendar for July 30 starting at 4:00 P.M.