Leadership Boot Camp<\/a>\u00a0at Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation (CFSC) in Nashville, Tennessee. CFSC is the financial arm of Caterpillar Inc., a Fortune 50 company, a technology leader and the world’s largest manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, natural gas and diesel engines, and industrial gas turbines.<\/p>\nLiving in Michigan, it\u2019s always nice to be able to head south to a warmer, snow-less climate during the icy month of February … except this year. I arrived on the same day the Music City received their first snowfall of the year \u2014 all day long! At least it made me feel at home as I always do when I share time with the good folks at Caterpillar Financial.<\/p>\n
During my four-day stay, I was again constantly reminded how pleasurable and also unique it is to be able to work in a very positive environment … generated, of course, by a rich, enduring culture. I must assume that the majority of those who work there might take this privilege for granted. I say that only because everyone in the building acts as though this unconventional environment is a natural thing experienced by all organizations everywhere. Little do they know.<\/p>\n
On the surface, this business doesn\u2019t look any different than any other. They boast an exquisite 11-story, 312,000-square foot building as the world headquarters for Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation. This eye-catching structure is situated across the street from Vanderbilt University and just a few blocks away from Nashville\u2019s treasured Music Row.<\/p>\n
At the entrance, a paved-stone circle drive surrounds a red granite-clad fountain pool containing a fountain sculpted by a California artist. The backdrop for this fountain is the revolving building entrance door with a canopy in the shape of a bulldozer scoop, which recalls Caterpillar\u2019s origins as a heavy equipment manufacturer.<\/p>\n
Entering the decorative two-story granite-clad lobby, you find a fully restored 1930 Caterpillar tractor prominently displayed in a place of honor. Stand under a state-of-the-art technically transparent umbrella apparatus, and you can hear the history of the tractor as well as the organization.<\/p>\n
The building includes an on-site, fully staffed, state-of-the-art fitness center with locker rooms and an aerobics room. The 7-story concrete-frame underground parking garage can accommodate 1,200 cars. The fantastic all-purpose dining room offers employees just about anything they might want for breakfast and lunch daily, and a gift shop offers a nice variety of Caterpillar souvenirs and trade-marked merchandise.<\/p>\n
Their training facility offers an environment for just about any type of training you might envision, and I\u2019m almost certain their experienced technical support staff hides outside every room entrance waiting to address your every need. However, two years running I\u2019ve had no need to call on them for assistance. Regardless, they check in regularly to see if all is well.<\/p>\n
By the way, at a time when most organizations feel totally justified in reducing their training schedules for a myriad of reasons … every classroom, large and small, was filled with attendees from all over the world. My program was graced with employees from Australia, Japan, Germany, the U.K., China and, of course, many states within the U.S. The opportunity to network was easily as valuable as any program content. Those classrooms were filled with enthusiastic, focused employees because CFSC views employee development not as a cost but as a critical investment. Evidence of that view can be found in their ROL (Return on Learning) practices. Again, evidence of a unique culture.<\/p>\n
It was quite obvious to me, whether they noticed it or not, that everyone enjoyed being there. Everyone wore a smile as they greeted each other in the cafeteria, in elevators, every level of the parking garage, in hallways and classrooms \u2014 everywhere. During my recent stay, I had 14 people from last year\u2019s program stop by my training room to say \u201chi\u201d and wish me well.<\/p>\n
From what I\u2019ve been told, what I\u2019ve witnessed and what I\u2019ve researched about CFSC, it\u2019s quite obvious that they have a sincere and dedicated focus on \u201cexcellence.\u201d They speak often of their \u201cnever-ending journey to excellence.\u201d It was decided early on that excellence was going to define company culture and be its guiding principle.<\/p>\n
Their business model integrates excellence into its vision, mission, critical success factors, and Values in Action. That\u2019s as it should be \u2014 but seldom is in so many organizations.<\/p>\n
Caterpillar Financial maintains a constant focus on process improvement. Tools such as 6 Sigma, a highly disciplined, data-based methodology, helps them prioritize and manage projects, design products, and improve processes. Ninety-seven percent of employees are trained in 6 Sigma procedures for designing new processes!<\/p>\n
Specially trained employees called Black Belts, experts in the 6 Sigma process and team facilitation; Green Belts, subject matter experts; and Yellow Belts, trained in basics of 6 Sigma, comprise teams of employees that implement these procedures.<\/p>\n
Since 1993, CFSC also has been using the Baldrige performance excellence criteria as the overall framework to assess the organization and guide improvement efforts.<\/p>\n
Investment in employee recognition programs, such as Eye-on-Quality Awards and CAT Bucks \u2014 which allow employees to instantly recognize other employees \u2014 increases annually.<\/p>\n
They also recognize employees with incentive pay, which is paid quarterly and directly aligned with company goals. This, of course, certainly goes a long way in helping them meet their strategic goal of attracting and retaining skilled employees.<\/p>\n
The overall Employee Satisfaction Index has risen consistently and employee retention is following that trend as well. Ninety three percent of employees participate in the Caterpillar Healthy Balance program, which earned a national C. Everett Koop Award for Wellness Promotion and the Wellness Councils of America \u201cWell-Workplace Award.\u201d<\/p>\n
The majority of what I\u2019ve shared above is known and spoken in most of today\u2019s competitive organizations across industries. There\u2019s little or nothing new here. The difference I discovered, appreciated and greatly respected is that it\u2019s not only spoken at Caterpillar Financial … it\u2019s supported, practiced, and continually growing in this unique culture!<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a rare pleasure and privilege to witness this vibrant culture placing smiles on the faces of so many employees. However, don\u2019t let me mislead you. They have their problems and challenges as so many other organizations do. We discussed several of them during our Leadership Boot Camp program. The difference I found lies in the fact that they view these speed bumps and barriers as opportunities and treat them as such. That makes the difference.<\/p>\n
The crowning touch to my most recent visit was a very pleasant surprise indeed. At the close of the program, I was approached by a Black Belt participant who presented me with a \u201cCAT Buck\u201d for what he explained was his appreciation of my performance during the Leadership Boot Camp. I\u2019m proud to say that I have since laminated and framed that special token, and it is currently hanging in a very honored spot on the wall of my office!<\/p>\n
I\u2019m scheduled to return to Nashville in August of this year for another Leadership Boot Camp, and I\u2019m certainly looking forward to sharing that environment, working within that powerful culture and especially seeing those enthusiastic smiles!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Culture Is Contagious I recently returned from facilitating my second annual Leadership Boot Camp\u00a0at Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation (CFSC) in Nashville, Tennessee. CFSC is the financial arm of Caterpillar Inc., a Fortune 50 company, a technology leader and the world’s … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-297","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-business-leaders"],"yoast_head":"\nLittle-known Facts about Well-known Businesses - Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation - AchieveMax\u00ae Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"From what I have been told, what I have witnessed and what I have researched about Caterpillar Financial Services, it is quite obvious that they have a sincere and dedicated focus on excellence.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/achievemax.com\/blog\/2008\/03\/27\/caterpillar-financial-services\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Little-known Facts about Well-known Businesses - Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation - AchieveMax\u00ae Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"From what I have been told, what I have witnessed and what I have researched about Caterpillar Financial Services, it is quite obvious that they have a sincere and dedicated focus on excellence.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/achievemax.com\/blog\/2008\/03\/27\/caterpillar-financial-services\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"AchieveMax\u00ae Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/people\/Harry-Kenneth-Jones\/100001507395947\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2008-03-27T14:00:53+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2013-07-02T15:32:52+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/www.achievemax.com\/images\/banners\/feedburner-mail.gif\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Harry K. 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