Top 10 Things Every Business Should Provide for Every Worker - Including the Boss!!
1. Doing business and meeting the needs
of workers is increasingly complex. Employees and managers often prefer a
cafeteria-list of fringe benefits (a "flexible spending account") so they can
choose increased health care, child care or more time off as their individual
preferences dictate. But underneath these specifics, there are central needs
that most of us want from our work. Money can not buy happiness, and by itself
it will rarely purchase a loyal, highly motivated staff (even in a one-person
professional office or small family business).
1. Creativity. Every human being has a need to decorate their own office, find
their own way to do their assigned task, and have their creativity be
recognized. In the sense that all of us are somewhat lazy, often allowing and
encouraging "creative laziness" can lead to not only happier employees, but a
healthier bottom line.
2. Contribution. Managers have always known that every worker must contribute to
the bottom line, but increasingly staff at every level want to know that their
suggestions, their efforts, energy and loyalty contribute to the company in many
other ways. From the old suggestion box, to recent Quality Circles, every member
needs to know that they contribute and that their contributions are valued.
3. Community. The workplace is increasingly a one-stop source of friendships,
exercise clubs, day care, health care and anxiety. If you and your staff aren't
able to foster a sense of community and teamwork in the midst of a highly
mobile, competitive and insecure world, performance will immediately suffer.
4. Personal Development. As out-sourcing and mobility increase, the best and the
brightest are increasingly clear that the work they do must strengthen, enrich,
and enhance their lives far beyond a simple paycheck. From team building and
communication skills, to new technical skills, every member of your business
must know that they are growing, becoming stronger and healthier, or they will
quickly grow restless.
5. Professional Development. This actually comes after Personal Development. In
the past, industrial bosses needed welders or drivers or clerks, and employees
were expected to come to the job with these skills.
Today, business requires skills that didn't exist even 3 years ago! Asking the
boss to manage with last year's reporting system, or your sales force to use
last year's website, or expecting the accounting department to cope with an old
spreadsheet is asking for bad information, bad decisions, frustration, low
morale and high turnover.
6. Challenge. For work to be alive and vibrant, it has to challenge us. From
winning a sales contest, to solving international marketing and financial
problems, we all love a challenge! Make sure you and your staff understand the
"next big thing" and understand that you have confidence in them and will give
them the support they need to meet and conquer the challenges ahead.
7. Personal Recognition. While most projects involve teamwork and cooperation
across networks, in the end, each individual needs to know that their
contribution is recognized, appreciated and rewarded. Often sole-proprietors and
professionals in independent practice are the worst offenders! Stop and
recognize your own achievements, pat yourself on the back…and share that
recognition with others whenever and wherever it
is appropriate!
8. Financial Rewards. This is the old (misused and misunderstood) standby.
Business has always used incentives, bonuses, competitions and rewards to
motivate productive behavior. Unfortunately, in many cases it backfires! The old
rule was: pay as little as possible for labor. The new rule: pay as much as you
possibly can to hire, train, and retain the very best! Reward yourself and your
staff generously and often. It doesn't cost, it pays!
9. Clear vision. From the CEO to the newest trainee, we are all bombarded with
so much information, so many messages and so many demands that keeping a clear
vision, staying "on message" is increasingly difficult. What, precisely, is each
staff member's number one priority? Do you know? Do THEY know? What is the
company's primary mission? Confusion about expectations is the number one killer
of productivity.
Have a target, and make sure everyone knows their responsibility to hit
it….every time!
10. Civility and Mutual Respect. I recently saw a news show about an office
where "practical jokes", bias, discrimination and "hazing" were rampant. Of
course they are being sued! It's increasingly clear that few businesses can
fully meet all of the various rules, regulations and court decisions about
employment. It's also clear that most employees don't want to sue or even
complain. People want to do a good job in a safe, clean and supportive
environment, and they want to know that they and their work are respected. The
"bottom line" is common decency and doing the right thing.
"Written by Dr
Philip E. Humbert, writer, speaker and success coach. Dr.
Humbert has over 300 free articles, tools and
resources for your success, including a great newsletter.
It's all on his website at: http://www.philiphumbert.com"
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