Are Your Employees Committed? Are You?

Just because your employees have a job doesn’t mean that they are committed to they’re job or the company.  I have heard managers say that their employees should be happy their have a job in these tough times.  I don’t think those employees would disagree.  With unemployment in the double digits and the prospect of landing a new job once you have been laid off taking on average 6 months to find, who could argue that a person is happy to be employed.  Yet, that does not mean that these employees are committed.

Think of the damage being done by employees that are hunkered down, holding on to their jobs and merely going through the actions of  being productive.  I love the phrase, ” there is never a recession when it comes to leadership”. So unless you are an outstanding leader and motivating your employees, you may be faced with fearful employees motivated only by keeping their jobs!

So what can you do?  First and foremost, communicate.  Let the employees know what is happening with the company and be honest.  Tell them what the vision is and let them be a part of making it happen.  Let them know their value and importance in the vision and how their contributions will make an impact.  Then thank them for their work.  Recognize them for what they do and above all, let them have a voice in problem solving.  The employee on the front lines has a much better idea of what customers want, what employees need to do their job and what the “buzz” is in the office.

You can lead a horse to water, but getting them to drink the Kool Aid  is another thing.  Be a leader that people will follow, not because of your title, but because you respect your employees and have passion, commitment and focus to lead them to the next level.

Are Your Actions Causing InAction?

A coaching client of mine wanted assistance on relating better with his employees.  He said he just felt something was missing and that they were not connecting with him and therefore were not really listening to what he had to say.  He told me that he felt respected, they always came to meetings on time,  appeared to be in good spirits and nodded in agreement as he spoke.  He said “everything on the outside looks good, but I get the feeling on the inside that it is all show.”

I asked him to give me an example of what he meant.  What was he saying that he felt was not being absorbed?  He said that he has been telling his staff that he understands the economic conditions and that the company has changed.   He said I told them straight out, ” I know it is hard to stay motivated when you know you are not going to get a pay increases and you have to  alter your work routine to compensate for budget cuts.”   He said, they all appeared to appreciate the fact that I addressed the “elephant” in the room. Yet, they are holding back.  There is not the same spark and fire that was once there.

What is it you were expecting when you addressed the “elephant” I said.   “I thought for sure we could get back to being more productive and have some of the fun times we had experienced in the past.  We all worked together really well and there was no lack of imagination in tackling tough problems”.

Again I asked a question, “what has changed for you.  How is your job the same or different?”  “That’s easy to answer” he said.  “I am working harder, longer and never get out of the office for lunch as I did before.  Every day is a new struggle.”  “And are your employees seeing you working longer and harder and not taking lunch?”  Sure they are, he replied.  In fact the other day they asked me to go to lunch and I told them there was no way – too much to do.   One even asked if we could do a bagel morning like we use to and I told them no because of budget cuts.

Sounds like your employees are trying to have some fun and move forward.  Did you think they were asking for the company to pay for the bagels as they did before?  Sure… the company always provided Friday morning bagels as a way to appreciate a hard week of work and prepare for the weekend.    Ummm, I said.  Silence prevailed for a bit.  Then, my executive said, “Don’t you think they were asking for the company to pay?   I didn’t hear that from what you said, I told him.   “I wonder what else I have been assuming and you know what they say about that!”

Perhaps a good look and listen to what you have been saying to them along with the tone and body language you are using is in order.  It could be that you are getting back what you are putting out.  You just had an “aha” about the bagels, could there be other areas as well?

So why did I tell this story?  As a way to remind everyone that actions speak louder than words.

Pyramid Of Success – Still Standing, Still Applies

When something is great you want to share.  The Los Angeles Times on Sunday, June 13, 2010 had a whole section dedicated to John Wooden, “Remembering John Wooden.  As I  read through this section I couldn’t help but notice a few things, one – the Woodism, or quotes by John Wooden will stand the test of  time.  They are are relevant now as they were when they were written, Two – this great man was loved and admired during his lifetime and will be loved and admired for many many more years to come. Three – his wisdom on and off the court demonstrates values that should apply to all aspects of our lives.   He lived his life with values and demonstrated those values in all that he did.

i know there is a lot being written now about John Wooden because of his greatness and his loss, but I felt compelled to share something of his life here as well.  Below are a few of the quotes by John Wooden:

“Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.” Think of how things are going for you right now.  Are you doom and gloom or are you optimistic about the cards dealt and moving in the right direction.

“The main ingredient of stardom is the rest of the team.“  I watched the final game last night and saw this principal in action when Bryant won his 5th title and hugged his teammate, Cosgol as he pointed his fingers at him in reference to all he did to support both him and the team.

“It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.” Can you ever really know it all?  of course not and that is part of knowing it all!

“I’d rather have a lot of talent and a little experience than a lot of experience and little talent.” Know what you are good at.  You can’t be a ‘jack of all trades” or you really are a “master of none.”

“Consider the rights of others before your own feelings and the feelings of others before your own rights.”  This says is all.

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The Pyramid of Success – I have seen variations of this throughout my career.  Many  followed Wooden’s lead and used the symbol of a pyramid to demonstrate their philosophies of leadership, career, strategic development and  business models.  What I didn’t realize is that his pyramid was also used to teach children values. Wooden wrote a poem  for each of the blocks of the pyramid in a manner that a child could relate to.  Below is the one on self-control:

If success is your great goal,

you must practice self-control

Use common sense in all you do.

Controlling emotions is helpful too.

I knew a fish who took the bait.

Good judgment gone, the hook he ate.

My friend was fried upon the grill.

With self-control, he’d be here still.

How do you top greatness?  Perhaps by living each day the best you can, with integrity, values, ethics and great spirit.

Wisdom of a Retired Worker

I was having coffee at a Star Buck’s this morning.  Sitting at the table next to me were two couples who looked to be in their late 60′s or early 70′s.   As they were enjoying their morning coffee and socializing I overheard the gentleman talking about windmills, power sources and using acronyms that I have no idea what they meant.  They looked so at ease, as if they could have been in a boardroom   coming up with theories to streamline and produce energy.  As I heard them speaking “rather matter of factually”, I couldn’t help but wonder where they worked, what their jobs were, who they had managed, mentored or consulted.   It appeared to me to be a case of retired, but not far removed from their profession.

Perhaps in retirement there is more time to read and do research on areas that were always of interest, but our time was sliced so thin.  These gentlemen were discussing books, articles and other sources that had read.  Their conversation definitely demonstrated they had not lost their passion or interest in professions that they were probably in for the bulk of their careers.

I can’t help but think of all the knowledge that retired people have locked inside them.   Companies should know that their biggest asset is their people.  The intellectual capital that each person possesses is beyond what dollars can pay.   For the two gentlemen that provided me with fodder this morning, thank you.  I wish you well in your retirement and hope that someone will tap into your knowledge.

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