//How to make everyone a S.T.A.R.

How to make everyone a S.T.A.R.

2018-06-14T18:58:38+00:00

Think about the power of what can happen when everyone in your organization is Straightforward, Thoughtful, Accountable, and Resolved (STAR).

Quality & Me

Subir shares short stories about what people do to make a difference everywhere they go. We can make huge contributions to the way we function as a society by standing out as an example within our own community: at work, at our places of worship, among our colleagues, friends, and family. All it takes is the courage to step up and being straightforward, thoughtful, accountable, and resilient.

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Books by Subir

The Power of LEO
The Ice Cream Maker
The Power of Design for Six
The Power of Six Sigma
Organization 21c

Imagine the following scenario: Two companies are the same size in terms of organizational structure.

They have similar revenues, production facilities, and numbers of employees.

They are both in the same industry.

They have both implemented the same processes.

Yet, they each had vastly different results.

One company – let’s refer to them as Company A – had a return that equaled 5 times the cost of their investment in the program.

Not bad, right?

But the other company – we’ll refer to them as Company B – had a return that equaled 100 times the cost of their investment!

You heard me right—100 times!

It’s a true story. I know, because both companies were clients of my firm. Both companies got a return on their investment, but I still felt both frustrated and perplexed that Company B had done so much better.

The reason for the difference kept puzzling me—why would one company do so much better using the same processes?

I’ve helped some of the world’s best-known brands improve the way they do business, save billions of dollars, and increase their profits and revenues. I needed to know what was behind such a huge variation.

After studying the two organizations more, the answer finally became apparent to me: people.

The people at Company B had a workforce exhibited what I describe as STAR attributes: they empowered all their employees from the factory floor to the office of the CEO, to be straightforward about solving problems, thoughtful about how they treat each other, accountable to themselves and others, and resilient in solving problems and facing challenges.

Think about the power of what can happen when everyone in your organization is a STAR.

The difference between process and people

Part of having a caring mindset is being thoughtful. And you can’t be thoughtful if you’re overextended or overcommitted. When I need to recharge my batteries, I usually go for a long walk. Sometimes by myself, sometimes with one of my kids. I always end up feeling refreshed and reenergized when I return.

Making Choices

Subir reflects on his arrival into the United States with the promise of a job, only to find that the promise is broken. Practically penniless, Subir searches deep into his soul. Undefeated and undeterred, Subir pursues professors and department heads until he meets one who asks: You went to 20 departments, and now it is the 21st one; if I say no to you what you would do? Subir tells him, "I will go to the 22nd." This is Subir's story, not of conquest, but of perseverance in the face of making difficult choices.

A musician that made a difference

One of the most memorable days of my life was meeting my favorite musician, Pandit Ravi Shankar, the legendary Sitar Maestro. Nearly half a century earlier, George Harrison of The Beatles traveled to India to learn sitar from him. A friendship formed, and it reshaped aspects of The Beatles music. Likewise, Ravi’s music had a huge impact on my own life.

Who made the difference in your life?

I recently attended an event that included bestselling authors, and wildly successful business entrepreneurs. But this one young man stole the show for me, and helped me understand what redefining success means.