Get that fire in your belly going today...

Having a fire in the belly for what you do is a critical part of being successful. And it shows.

 

·      Walk into any store

·      And you immediately

·      Know whether workers

·      There feel great about the 

·      Work they do there, or not.

 

It shows in their eyes, their body language, the way they greet you, and the way they take care of you. I used to get mad at lackadaisical service workers, but then realized their attitude is probably influenced by that company’s culture and work environment. By bosses who don’t smile and greet them, or show appreciation for what they do, or give the support and coaching they need to be successful. I know it’s the policy at Bed Bath and Beyond for the cashiers at the counter to stop and greet everyone coming into the store, but the passion and enthusiasm they put into those greetings is genuine because they like where they work. Inspired by a culture and supervisors who care. Like the check-out people at Trader Joes. That’s not by policy, but rather by being passionate about creating a caring and supportive workplace. Nothing is as important as passion – no matter what you want to do with your life, be passionate today.

 

John Francis Bongiovi Jr. (born 1962): American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and actor known professionally as Jon Bon Jovi.

Listen to people's stories...

Storytelling is a powerful way to convey messages. Even better when it’s done with passion.

 

·      You can read a book

·      Or listen to it as a story.

·      The best messaging is done

·      Through passionate story telling.

 

We had a great Employee of the Month program that led to an annual Employee of the Year banquet. Managers were tasked with identifying qualified honorees who they would present at the monthly luncheons. They told of the employees and their attributes, but after a while it seemed to get stale. And then we asked employees to tell us stories about something great that they did and suddenly the presentations were full of authenticity and passion. We transitioned the program from recognition to storytelling and found not only great stories but in many cases the makings of future leaders. The stories were told initially in pre-shift meetings and the managers referred the best of them to compete for monthly and annual recognition awards; the program inspired others to look for great service opportunities from which to tell their own stories. It reinvigorated our recognition ideas and programs and inspired more outstanding service and stories. A win-win for everyone. Ask your employees for their stories today.

 

Deepak Chopra (born 1946): Indian American author, alternative medicine advocate, an prominent figure in the New Age movement.

Feed your imagination...

 

Lifelong learning is the key to continued success. Do that and you will never cease to grow.

 

·      Everything changes.

·      And it takes learning

·      To keep up with the times.

 

Look at how much has changed in your lifetime. Doesn’t matter your age, the march of change is constant. My grandparents used to talk about the advent of electricity, refrigerators, airplanes, and TVs; and our parents lived through the great depression wars, the Beatles and us – imagine living their lives.  Look at your smartphone – the upgrades are constant. Look at workplace technology – how many can explain AI chatbots and its latest workplace applications? My 6-year-old granddaughter made an emoji that looks just like me in under 5 minutes – I’m not sure how she did it, but I can watch a You Tube video to learn. And I recently bought a new electric car – with a settings app on the dashboard and a hands-free driving mode (watch for me on a road near you). 20 years ago, I was pioneering applicant tracking systems and paperless back offices – today I feel like a dinosaur. But I refuse to give in – so I keep reading, watching online seminars, and learning about and trying new things. If I can, anyone can. Develop your own passion for learning today.

 

Anthony J. D’Angelo (born 1955):  American author, speaker, entrepreneur, founder of Collegiate EmPowerment, and creator of The Inspiration Book Series.

Go slow but let it show...

Effective leaders try to avoid mood swings. They are easy to approach because you know exactly what to expect every time.

 

·      Leadership requires

·      A constant and steady hand.

·      If you’re going to show emotions,

·      Let them be optimism and passion.

 

It’s great to have a steady leader. Everyone who worked with Bobby Baldwin will tell you that his emotions varied little from one day to the next. It was probably his poker background that made him that way. We always knew what to expect from him – he listened carefully, gave you his full attention, always provided thoughtful and helpful responses, and made us feel confident in the advice he gave. He was the most self-disciplined person I ever worked with – always focused regardless of anything else that was going on. That’s not easy to do. From him I learned that it helps to plan your day and to take time between events to refocus and get ready for the next situation. I know this is easier said than done, but a leader’s direct reports and all the other people they encounter during a normal day depend on that kind of steady leadership. That self-discipline allows leaders to act despite their emotional state. That’s good advice - but if you’re going to be emotional – be optimistic and passionate. Those are the kind of emotions that will motivate your people today.

 

Steve Pavlina (born 1971): American self-help author, motivational speaker, and entrepreneur.

Let your passion shine through in all that you do...

If you don’t love what you do, don’t do it. If you must do it, anyway, change it in ways to make it something you love.

 

·      Passion for what you do

·      Comes through in all you do.

·      It shows in your dedication and 

·      It flows through to your customers.

 

People know it when someone loves their work – it shows in their faces, their voices, their actions, and their work. We often tell employee to smile and make eye contact – they’ll do that gladly if they love what they do and, conversely, it comes across as forced or fake if they don’t. Before you start trying to teach customer service, make sure your employees are happy and passionate about their work – again, if it’s forced, it’s phony, and customers will feel that. Make sure you hire the right people, talk to them about their interests and the requirements of the job, and make sure it’s a match that’ll put some sparkle in their eyes. Talk to them continually throughout onboarding, listen to what they tell you, and watch them perform. Coach them and compliment them when the passion comes through and move them to something else if it doesn’t. Great employees are great because of their passion. Make sure they have that today.

 

Martha Graham (1894 – 1991): American modern dancer and choreographer whose style reshaped American dance and is still taught worldwide.

Get engaged in learning with others...

People often say the best parts of their careers were spent working with others and learning things from them that proved invaluable later in their lives.

 

·      Teamwork

·      Is more about

·      The people than

·      It is about the work.

 

I’ve worked on some great projects together with colleagues and friends. Being on the team that opened the Mirage was an incredible experience – we learned so much about the mechanics of launching a new company, and so much more about the benefits of working collaboratively as a team. Brainstorming, sharing ideas, learning from each other, and realizing that two heads (or more) are always better than one. And being in a group of HR professionals and colleagues studying for the SHRM Certification exam proved to be both motivating and rewarding – we all studied together and motivated each other to learn the material and take the exam. The best learning often comes from the experience of working closely with others. And that usually proves invaluable for the rest of your life. Get engaged in some team-based learning today. 

 

Walter Annenberg (1908 – 2002): American businessman, investor, philanthropist, and diplomat who owned Annenberg owned The Philadelphia Inquirer, TV Guide, the Daily Racing Form and Seventeen magazine.

It's okay to ask why...

"Curiosity killed the cat" is a proverb meant to warn of the dangers of unnecessary investigation or experimentation. As kids, that proverb scared us out of being curious.

 

·      Curiosity is a strong desire

·      To know or learn about something.

·      Without curiosity, we would never seek 

·      To discover what we want and need to know.

 

Curiosity is associated with all aspects of human development… it drives the process of learning and the desire to acquire knowledge and skills. It’s a behavior that at work should be encouraged; unfortunately, by telling employees to do only what they are instructed tends to stifle curiosity. Managers should be encouraged to promote curiosity as a means of getting employees involved in their own learning, and encouraged improve the procedures they are required to follow. We train them to do the tasks associated with their jobs without explaining why those need to be done or what results are expected when they do them. Listen to the questions employees ask and satisfy their curiosity with answers, coaching, and support.  Let your employees know it’s okay to be curious today.

 

Andrew “Andy” Card Jr. (born 1947): American politician, academic administrator, White House Chief of Staff (2001-2006) and United States Secretary of Transportation (1991-1992).

Whistle while you work...

This quote is so true when it comes to winning or being successful. But in the hospitality business, smiles do win customers.

 

·      There’s no substitute

·      For hard work when it comes

·      To success and winning awards.

·      But there’s no substitute to smiling

·      When it comes to winning customers.

 

I love today’s quote because it describes what it takes to have the heart of a champion. Or the drive of any successful person. Focus, dedication, and lots of perspiration. Better known as hard work. But when you work in the hospitality or service sectors that hard work must be combined with the smiling spirit of a customer service professional. The doorperson who greets you with a smile, the Bed Bath and Beyond employee at the register who does double duty welcoming everyone who comes into the store, the food server who smiles and thanks you and asks you to come back again… and so many more. People who, with eye contact and smiles, let you know they care. In those jobs, a happy guest is the same as a gold medal. Whatever you do, work hard and be your best; and when dealing with people, add a smile. Together they’re a winning combination today. 

 

Simone Arianne Biles (born 1997: American artistic gymnast who won seven Olympic medals.

Keep on learning...

Learning to ride a bike is one of those experiences you never forget – it seems so hard at first, and then suddenly you get the knack and away you go. 

 

·      Like many things in life,

·      Riding a bike takes time to learn.

·      And time to practice before you get it.

·      But then you remember it for the rest of your life.

 

Remember your first ride: your parents finally let go and you wobble into a bush. And then you manage to figure out how to steady it while you glide. And after a few more tries you learn to keep your balance and keep moving. Learning a job is like that – gaining skills slowly while building your confidence and improving as you keep moving. As a manager, recall learning to ride a bike when teaching your new employees how to get started on a new job or project. Be as engaged and supportive as your parents were when they held on to the back of your seat before letting you go. Don’t let go too soon and remember to keep coaching and give encouragement while they are learning. And when they finally get it, give a big cheer. Help your employees keep their balance while learning to figure things out today.

 

Albert Einstein (1879 – 1955): German-born theoretical physicist, widely acknowledged to be one of the greatest and most influential physicists of all time.