Be appreciative if you want to be appreciated...

·       19% of employees say they are extremely satisfied with their company as a place to work

 

Everything an employee experiences throughout their lifecycle with your company directly impacts their motivation, their productivity, and ultimately, their engagement. I read the bullet above to mean that 4 out  of 5 employees are less than extremely satisfied with their company as a place to work – delve deeper into that and some percentage of those are neutral, or worse, dissatisfied (some actively so). How did that happen – you recruited, interviewed, and selected them, got their acceptance, and probably made their first day(s) with you good enough that they came back for more. What soured them? 

 

Are your supervisors and managers trained to skillfully and effectively onboard, train, and coach them during their first weeks on the job? What objectives do they have for achieving results that motivate the new employees and make them want to be engaged, and how are they evaluated and if needed, coached to improve? 

 

Best practices state that (1) trained interviewers know the right questions to ask and how to make appropriate new-hire selections; (2) supervisors are trained to provide consistent and effective training to all new hires; and (3) managers and supervisors are provided soft skills training to be effective in their roles as communicators, coaches, and motivators. And while most companies have a probationary period during which new hires either make it or don’t, they should also evaluate every supervisor and manager at the conclusion of that new hire’s introductory period to make sure it was done thoroughly, effectively, and successfully (meaning the new hire quickly becomes competent and confident and begins to be engaged in their work and workplace). That shows you care about them, appreciate them, and want them to succeed. 

 

That’s what it takes to make your employees satisfied with their company as a place to work. Take time to do these if you want your employees to feel that way  and reciprocate in a thousand ways today.

 

Lido Anthony "Lee" Iacocca (1924 – 2019): American automobile executive who was one of the few executives to preside over the operations of two of the United States' Big Three automakers and develop several iconic automobiles (Ford – the Mustang) and (Chrysler – the Minivan).

Be involved to be successful...

In the late 1990s I was blown away when I heard the head of Gallup say that only 23% of employees worldwide are engaged at work. He went on to say:

 

·       Only 20% employees strongly agree that their leaders make them enthusiastic about the future.

·       Only 24% of employees strongly agree that their organization cares about their overall wellbeing.

·       Only 31% of employees strongly agree that there is someone at work who encourages their development.

·       Only 20% of employees strongly agree that their performance is managed in a way that motivates them to do outstanding work.

·       Only 19% of employees say they are extremely satisfied with their company as a place to work.

·       And 41% of employees cite issues related to engagement and culture as the primary reason for quitting.

 

The crazy thing about it – the numbers haven’t changed much between then and now. All the time and effort companies have put into improving them have seemingly been for naught. Think about whether these numbers reflect your organization and its employees – because you can’t have this and still be successful. I’ll be addressing issues of participation and engagement for the rest of this week. Because interested, engaged, and happy employees are key to your overall success today.

 

Janine N. Truitt is a Human Resources professional as well as an HR blogger/founder of “The Aristocracy of HR” blog.(http://hr.toolbox.com/blogs/aristocracy-hr/).

Take the time to do things right...

          It takes more muscles to frown than to smile:

·        Smile:

o   17 muscles, including the zygomatic major, orbicularis oculi, and depressor anguli oris. 

·       Frown:

o   43 muscles, including the corrugator supercilii, orbicularis oculi, and depressor anguli oris.

 Conversely, it takes more time to do something right than wrong, because doing things right takes planning, practice, patience, and the judicious and often time-consuming use of people skills. Take rightsizing an organization: a leader could easily just eliminate jobs and hound people into quitting – that’s quick but disruptive and hurtful; or do it right by resetting mission and objectives, developing a plan that respects legal and policy requirements, accounts for and mitigates impacts to its business, employees, and customers, and is done with empathy. Just because you can do something doesn’t always mean you should – ineffective leaders would do well to learn that; but sometimes, because you can, you absolutely should – like driving changes – big and small, thoughtfully, and respectfully. It’s a sign of strength and character to take into consideration how things are perceived by and impact people – that’s not coddling, it’s the type of kindness one learns from the Bible. So, if you’ve got to do something, smile more than you frown, plan appropriately, communicate effectively, and be empathetic. Because (1) if it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right, and (2) the people you run into tomorrow may be the same ones you’re running off today.

 Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield, KG, PC (1694 – 1773): British statesman, diplomat, man of letters, and an acclaimed wit of his time.

Turn hope into action...

Grit is the determination and passion to keep working toward your objectives, even when progress is slow, or obstacles arise. Grit matters because:

 

•          Success is not about talent alone—grit determines how far we go.

•          Helps us stay motivated despite failures.

•          Turns hope into action.

 

And they don’t have to be big obstacles – little things like interruptions at work can also seem daunting. With those, it’s both the determination to roll with the punches as much as having an ‘it’s all good’ attitude that help you get past them. I often tell people interested in jobs in the hospitality industry, that customers regularly interrupt employees when asking for directions or any manner of other help-related questions. In those moments, a smile and a flexible attitude often make great and lasting impressions, when it’s our choice if that’s a good moment or a wasted opportunity. As we would like if we were being served. Grit, along with the optimism I wrote about yesterday, are the kinds of things companies look for in their employees. They can’t teach them; but you can hone them by staying positive, controlling your stress levels, and treating others the way you want to be treated. In work and life, learn to take the good with the bad and keep your can-do attitude going today. 

 

Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. (born 1959) is an American businessman and former professional basketball player. He is often regarded as the greatest point guard of all time.

Focus on what you can control...

op·ti·mism

/ˈäptəˌmiz(ə)m/

noun

1.

hopefulness and confidence about the future or the successful outcome of something.

 

No matter what’s happening in the world around us, it’s important to see the glass as half full rather than half empty.  Meaning, be optimistic about what’s good in your world – the stuff you can control, and that makes you happy. Optimism is more than just thinking positively: it’s a mindset that chooses to see the good in every situation, even when things seem difficult. Because it helps us stay hopeful even in tough times, encourages problem-solving and personal growth, and builds confidence in the future. That’s the outlook you should have, the one you want the people around you – at work, around your community, and in your family, to have. But that doesn’t happen all by itself – each of us are responsible for looking at stuff objectively, seeing what you can learn and using that to keep you on an even keel. Be responsible for the things you can control and the peeps you do them with… focus on that scale and you’ll be able to control how you feel today.

 

Amy Leigh Mercree (born 1977): American Multidimensional Healer, Medical Intuitive, and Spirit Guide Teacher.

Be a responsible learner...

·      The Library of Congress is one of the largest libraries in the world 

·      It contains approximately 173 million items

·      It serves as the library and research service for the United States Congress

 

Imagine being such a great librarian that you become the Librarian of Congress (LOC), serving 100 Senators, 435 Congressmen/women, and their staff people. With all that material, you’d think each of our elected officials and their staff people would be very knowledgeable. But it’s an illusion of knowledge. Because between them all, they can’t seem to get things right. We, the other 300 million people in the US should write and ask them how often they’ve taken advantage of the LOC’s materials and services. But I shouldn’t be picking on our elected teams – the rest of us might not fare much better. How learned are you, or any of us, about the issues that are so hotly debated today – immigration, education, the Federal budgets and deficits, crime, housing, taxes, the electoral college, term limits, human rights, the right to life, and more. The greatest obstacle to discovery – to knowing about those things, is not ignorance – it is the illusion of knowledge. We think we know. Because that’s what we read and watch. But be honest – how much do you really know? That responsibility is on everyone – to learn all they can about these issues so that there’s an informed discussion and decision-making process at the polls and at the dinner tables. Doesn’t matter which side of any debate you’re on – if you know the real facts there can be real honest discussions. Based on facts, not just emotions. If we each tackled that personal responsibility, think how much more we’d get out of our government. Out of our communities. Out of ourselves. Make it a priority to dig through the noise and clutter to learn what you need to know today.

 

Daniel J. Boorstin (1914 – 2004): American historian at the University of Chicago who was appointed the twelfth Librarian of the United States Congress in 1975 and served until 1987.

Quit pointing fingers...

I can’t believe that January is already in the past. Let’s begin February with this week’s quotes about the importance of personal responsibility. Meaning there’s no one else to blame. My friends at The Resort at Pelican Hill, where these daily messages started, wanted all their new employees to buy into the concept of ownership when it came to taking care of their guests – they were responsible for making great experiences. Which was like what my colleagues at Wynn Las Vegas meant when they encouraged their new employees to ‘be in the moment’ – that point in time when they were taking care of their guests. Businesses get this simple concept and thus everyone in the building understands being personally responsible – no excuses if they get something wrong, no whining about it isn’t fair, no pointing fingers, no trying to get even, no bending the truth… it’s yours to do right or to fix it yourself. That’s the same thing parents are trying to teach their children, and this should be the mantra from the very top – of business, the household, or society, so that everyone understands how important this is. Because “life is what you make it” is still the great truth about life. Meaning: it’s all yours, nobody else is to blame. So, roll up your sleeves and do your honest-to-goodness best today.

 

Marty Rubin: American author of The Boiled Frog Syndrome.