Allonhill: Lean, Mean, Snowed-In Working Machine

Bill Cushard, our Head of Learning, posted a blog today on Mindflash, an online learning site. 

If you follow the Allonhill blog, you’ll remember Bill as the rabble-rouser who got us set up on Rypple, the continuous, online performance feedback loop for our team members. Rypple was met with some skepticism, but once it was launched, you should have seen the messages flying. People started thanking each other and giving recognition for a job well done. I loved it, because I heard about achievements that never would otherwise have floated up to me. I started sending messages, too, when I heard about things like starting a wellness challenge, solving a complex client issue, or volunteering to be a fire warden on one of our floors. The response I got from people when they heard from me and knew that I was aware of their efforts showed that it really made a difference to them. Like everyone else, I also got some feedback—uninvited! I had to screw up the courage to read the comments, but they were thoughtful and constructive. I know the people who commented to me care, and that these comments were offered with the most positive of intentions. Not to mention, it takes some guts to send the CEO written criticism, with your identity disclosed, and I like people who are willing to say what they think.

Not satisfied with the ripple he caused with Rypple, Bill has now embarked on another effort, this time a mission to keep the company lean and mean. This, of course, is very appealing to me. He’s applied his standard of lean/mean to his area of the organization, learning, but it obviously applies to the entire organization. Since he posted it on someone else’s blog and didn’t tell me about it, I have to assume he’s not just coming up with it to earn Brownie points with me. I’d also like to add that I believe in investing in people, because that’s how we at Allonhill will achieve our mission—by having people who are invested in achieving our goal of getting this industry back on track. So don’t look for a huge budget-slash on the learning line! Take a look at what Bill’s blog has to say, and let him know what you think.

As for the “snowed-in” part of this post’s title, Denver has received 14” of snow so far, and it could get to 20” by tomorrow when the blizzard passes. To give you a snapshot of how big a storm it is, here are the stats for the top ten storms in Denver, according to the Denver Post:

• 45.7 Dec. 1-5 1913


• 31.8 March 17-19, 2003


• 30.4 Nov. 2-4 1946


• 23.8 Dec. 24 1982


• 23.0 April 23, 2020


• 22.7 Oct. 20-23, 1906


• 21.9 Oct 24-25, 1997


• 21.5 Nov. 26-27, 1983


• 20.7 Dec. 20-21, 2006


• 19.3 Jan 29-31, 1883

Meanwhile, the roads are passable, the snow’s really beautiful, and, let’s face it, it’s Colorado, we know what to do with a lot of snow.