Sunday, December 22, 2013

Three Questions One Should Ask

If you are concerned about your own success, or the success of someone you manage, there are three questions that really speak to the core:

1. Am I doing the job I am supposed to do?  -An employee is hired to do a specific type of job, and should have the knowledge, skills and experience to do so.

2. Am I doing the job to the best of my ability?  -It is unreasonable to expect the '110%' we often hear of, but quite reasonable to expect someone to give it their absolute best

3. Am I doing the job as well or better than someone else could?  -Work is not competition, but as we assess ourselves and others, using standards help us understand

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Formula for failure with employees

no incentive for greatness + no consequences for poorness = no motivation-ness

Employees are stimulated and challenged when they know they will be recognized for a job well done.  They also desparately need to know when they miss the mark, so they can improve.  Fail to do either or both of these, and you set yourself and them up for failure.

Monday, December 2, 2013

Team vs. Individual Accountability

We know that building and leading teams of people is what causes companies to be successful.  How we do that is sometimes very difficult.  I recently saw an example of a manager trying to manage a situation by addressing the issue inappropriately with the whole team, instead of the violators.  

Fifty or so employees in a warehouse situation, with assigned break times.  A small percentage of the group was taking advantage of the times, leaving early and returning late, as some will.  In the morning meeting, the manager shouts to the group, "we know you are leaving early and returning late from breaks, so just know that we can tell."  

How do the 80% that are responsible, leaving and returning on time, feel about being 'lumped in' with the offenders?  Won't this affect morale?  If the group is addressed as if they are all violators, how many will feel that if they are considered wrong, they'll just be wrong?  By monitoring activity, then addressing only the employees breaking the rules, accountability is supported, and enhanced.  Then, anyone thinking about taking 'wrong steps' will think twice, knowing they'll be confronted.  And, what if we then also took the time to tell the group that follows protocol that we appreciate their compliance? -...They'll work even harder to be great.

Think about it...

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Blog update today

Check out my new video on customer service, new fee structure and brochure. 


...learn something everyday, or stagnate.

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Friday, March 22, 2013


Motivating employees is one of the biggest challenges faced in business today.  Money and fear don't last long, what do you do?  It has been shown that the best influence on people is the use of two characteristics: recognition and appreciation.  

  • Recognize that I do my job, don't ignore me or take me for granted. 
  • Appreciate me when I excel, now, not later. 
Find reasons to say 'thank you' to your people, on a regular basis.  Human beings crave approval...give it to much as you give negative feedback.

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Employee Engagement for Success

A word that is being used a lot in business training now is 'Engagement'. What does that mean? An employee that is engaged:

  • is intellectually and emotionally committed to the organization and its goals 
  • is loyal to the organization
  • takes initiative 
  • exceeds expectations 

How engaged are the employees you serve? Polls show that as much as 60% of employees in many corporation today are less than committed to the company where they work. Lack of engagement causes a disconnect between 'want to' and 'have to'...increasing management difficulties, reducing output, creating dissatisfied customers, failure to reach organizational goals, and the loss, mentally or physically, of great employees. 

What do? 

  • ask them what motivates them, what they need. Some need more flexibility of time, others more challenging work, many the ability to be involved in the decisions that affect their jobs. 
  • learn better communication skills, so that you can clearly help them understand the relevance of their position 
  • involve them in day to day operations, allowing them to decide how things are done. 

The involved, aware, valued employee becomes more engaged, and loyal, and committed to the vision.