Be an effective leader....

According to a recent Gallup poll, 4 in 10 workers think they’re underpaid - my experience tells me it’s closer to 8 or 9: most everybody thinks they should be paid more.  This has traditionally been a vexing problem for companies as managers trying to both balance budgets and keep employees satisfied. Today this is exacerbated by record low unemployment and a war to attract and retain talent: companies are increasing wages to attract more applicants.  Companies and leaders are responsible for addressing and owning this problem: they need to understand the value of work and price jobs both competitively and accordingly, explain how this works to applicants and continue to do so after they’re hired, be honest when determining if an employee has been effective (as opposed to basing increases solely on tenure), and talk openly with employees throughout their employment about the issues related to compensation budgeting. This is when leaders need to lead: prepare them to competently, coherently, and continually discuss this topic and support them with the rest of your company’s internal communications strategies. It’s not impossible and should not be limited to once-a-year discussions. Conduct your business with a compass, not a clock, today.

Stephen R. Covey (born 1932): Motivational Writer

Find what you're meant to do....

“To improve the golden moment of opportunity, and catch the good that is within our reach, is the great art of life.” Samuel Johnson

Our summer home is on a point that juts out into the lake, with water on three sides. Years ago, I collected rocks and stacked them along our nearly 400’ of shoreline to protect it against waves and erosion; the years have taken their toll so I had to redo it this summer. I reused what I had and ordered more rocks from a local quarry: between the two I then had more than needed so I set about fulfilling a dream of constructing a nearly 5’ tall cairnat the entrance to our property. People want to know what happens if the winter weather here causes it to fall; the simple answer is I’ll start again and see what it looks like next time. Some have called it a Zen rock garden, but to me it was a rare chance to seize a golden moment of opportunity. It taught me again that journeys are often better than destinations and provide chances to catch the good that is within our reach. Do what it takes to find the great art in your life today. 

Samuel Johnson (1709 – 1784): English poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer

It's the little things that count....

Ever walk into a store or restaurant and have an employee stop what they’re doing and sincerely greet you? For me, that’s so rare that I notice when it does and it tells me a lot about a place. That kind of culture is easier said than done. It’s not so much about policies or training or the words in a mission statement as it is about the way managers act and leaders lead: it’s about the values people believe in and the many small things they do every day that show they’re more than just platitudes. Culture is most often driven by how leaders act when questions are asked: good leaders who care about employees and workplace culture stop and listen without distractions, consider all of the relevant issues and circumstances, reply in a timely and thoughtful manner, and follow up to make sure the answers are understood and useful. Those small actions prove that leaders care and ultimately are what create a culture of trust and respect. Be mindful of your actions and remember to see things through the eyes of others today.

Sally Koch: Author

Be the best you can be....

Our summer home is near where we grew up: each summer here includes visits to and talk about the local restaurant scene. The chefs here are people we’ve known and enjoyed: they work hard to maintain their hard-earned reputations. They’ve created a few ‘local’ dishes that seem to stand out: Utica Riggies(a dish usually consisting of chicken, rigatoni and hot or sweet peppers in a spicy cream and tomato sauce) and Utica Greens(a hearty dish of escarole, fried prosciutto, cherry peppers, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, bread crumbs, and spices). I hadn’t thought much about the notoriety of these until I walked into a restaurant in Taos, New Mexico last year and saw them on a menu: owned by two guys from Utica who’d moved there and were following a tradition. So, I tried them and, ‘lo and behold’ (as my grandmother used to say), they were both good: these guys were living on a reputation of the reputations of others. We’re all responsible for the things that define us: begin to build your reputation today.

Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. (1809 – 1894): American physician, poet, and polymath

Take control of your life....

Recruitment in general, and college recruiting in particular, takes a certain leap of faith: we are never sure what people can really do until they get hired and start working.  Culture, supervision, and environment can make or break a new hire; a new employee’s past experience, current skill and overall outlook can support or derail a company’s efforts. Thirty years ago, I started recruiting at hospitality colleges: the kids I hired were full of energy and enthusiasm, excited to move to Las Vegas, and very interested in a career in gaming. It was difficult because none of the colleges had experience placing students in gaming, none of the students had previously thought about careers in gaming, and none of their parents had ever considered either of those things.  We didn’t know if the program would be successful until those new employees spread their wings and tried. Training, mentoring, coaching and hard work resulted in a program that saw so many of its’ participants become leaders in the industry. The moral of this story: don’t be afraid to try something new today.

Gil Atkinson (1932-2013): Financial services executive and philanthropist

Look for the real deal....

Loyalty is given because it’s earned: it’s not about policy but rather about culture. Take, for example, the idea of no-solicit policies: these were created to try and stop people who leave a company from going back and recruiting former colleagues to their new company. Interestingly, companies are starting to get rid of these: not because they restrict free trade and opportunities, but because they stunt innovation and excellence. The point: motivate people to want to stay by creating a culture that encourages retention and loyalty. The solution: understand your employees’ needs, practice openness and transparency, invest in their growth, create value in the employment relationship, and prioritize culture. Employees respect and will remain loyal to companies that focus on that and be less inclined to leave for a passing promise of something better. The moral of this story: loyalty cannot be forced but, as the old ad used to say, it must be earned. That should be your priority today.

General of the Army Omar Nelson Bradley (1893 – 1981): Senior officer of the United States Army during WW II and the first Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff 

Know when to give and take....

There was an interesting story in yesterday’s news: more than a dozen restaurant chains agreed to drop language in their franchise agreements that prevents their workers from finding higher-paying jobs at other locations of the same chain. Those franchisees figured rigging the system would reduce turnover: maybe someone should have told them turnover isn’t just about the money. Surveys have consistently shown that employee satisfaction and retention is most often tied to fair treatment: the kind that comes when leaders are committed to talking with and listening to employees, providing job training and opportunities for advancement, recognizing employees for what they do and letting them know the company cares about their well-being, having competitive wages along with leaders (like the one described in today’s quote) who help build employee satisfaction. Rigging the system is one way to limit turnover, but creating a workplace culture that motivates employees to want to stay is a better way. Do what it takes to make employees content and loyal today.

John Calvin Maxwell (b. 1947): American author, speaker, and pastor who has written many books, primarily focusing on leadership