One of the greatest mistakes in any business is seeking blame when a problem occurs. A true timewaster, labeling someone as the enemy with blame does nothing to solve the problem. It wrecks morale and can seriously damage relationships, as well as building up resentment among co-workers. Blame is pointless until the problem is solved. Until solved, everyone should be working toward fixing the solution, and not toward blaming a co-worker.
As an employee, I have seen countless examples of several people arguing over who did what and who is going to fix it. Early on, these experiences made me extremely uncomfortable, and at times very anxious. Now? HA! It's hilarious. I mean, where else can you watch grown, responsible, hardworking adults bicker like children on the playground fighting over a swing?
It also makes the blamers look weak, especially if those laying blame are of management or even worse, ownership. Think about it- if you are a part of a fortune 500 company and suddenly your CEO comes down from their office and starts screaming because they noticed a problem? Worse yet, they didn't even come up with a solution, nor did they try to assemble the troops to try and solve the issue. It shows weak leadership, poor problem solving skills, and cruelty. Would you be motivated to help this person? I hope not.
That being said, if there truly is blame to place, place it later. In a private meeting, and discipline the person appropriately, IN PRIVATE. Berating and screaming at an individual that made a mistake does nothing. It does not make the aggressor look good, powerful, or intelligent. It does not make the employee being attacked more willing to work, or to even continue to work.
Try this. The next time crap hits the fan at your place of business and you're in the position to blame someone? Don't. Instead, come up with a solution, and then rally your fellow employees and superiors around you to help solve it. Then, leave the discipline and resulting discussion for later, and for god's sake, IN PRIVATE.
Be kind, get stuff done. Period.
Showing posts with label morale. Show all posts
Showing posts with label morale. Show all posts
Monday, May 11, 2015
Monday, June 9, 2014
Motivation- A Finite Resource?
Critical for success, but elusive to attain. In my mind, motivation is most certainly a finite resource. Especially in business, where people are motivated by a multitude of things, it is something that should not be taken lightly, and should be moved upon when felt.
Motivation at work can dwindle. Many things can come into play here of course, but on the whole, I've experienced that motivation is more like a tide, whether I am describing myself, or the overall driving force that a company may have.
It's infectious- it will pass from person to person subconsciously, a little cheerleader to make sure all of your tasks, projects, hopes and dreams get fulfilled. But like I said before, motivation has an ebb and flow, something that many do not recognize, and only end up spinning their tires.
What motivates you? Your employees? Do you know? How is morale? Do your employees think they are being paid and treated fairly? What's your turnover rate like? Sales? Payroll? Ever single one of these business facets are directly related to the collective motivation of any one company.
Motivation needs to start with someone. Anyone! Best is an owner or executive, but it is something to be monitored on all levels of business. If you and your team are not motivated to work, develop, and grow your company, don't get mad.
Figure it out. Perhaps if you're unmotivated, you are now.
Motivation at work can dwindle. Many things can come into play here of course, but on the whole, I've experienced that motivation is more like a tide, whether I am describing myself, or the overall driving force that a company may have.
It's infectious- it will pass from person to person subconsciously, a little cheerleader to make sure all of your tasks, projects, hopes and dreams get fulfilled. But like I said before, motivation has an ebb and flow, something that many do not recognize, and only end up spinning their tires.
What motivates you? Your employees? Do you know? How is morale? Do your employees think they are being paid and treated fairly? What's your turnover rate like? Sales? Payroll? Ever single one of these business facets are directly related to the collective motivation of any one company.
Motivation needs to start with someone. Anyone! Best is an owner or executive, but it is something to be monitored on all levels of business. If you and your team are not motivated to work, develop, and grow your company, don't get mad.
Figure it out. Perhaps if you're unmotivated, you are now.
Thursday, February 6, 2014
People Mean More than Money
Some businesses are under the impression all over the world that human lives and safety must take a back seat to profit and running the business.
They are wrong.
There comes a time when one must decide if they are to be the owner that forces their employees to come in to work in danger, or in safety. Some owners will argue that, "I can't lose this money!", or "we have to think of the customers!" when it comes to pushing a work day. It's this type of thinking that is just so tragically skewed, and can often lead to tragedy.
Here in New Jersey, we've been hit with a lot of snow. And ice. And cold. And there are a lot of owner/operators out there that are still running their business. In spite of hazards (let's focus on weather, but really? This concept can be applied to anything), some owners become desperate because of loss of work, or some owners don't care at all about worker safety and just their profit margin.
If forcing a work day in hazardous conditions isn't bad enough during bad weather, it is also understood that employees will have a difficult time going to and from work. But that owner. Oh, that owner has other ideas. I'm at work, why shouldn't everyone else be? Because you're wrong, that's why.
To be clear, Budget has closed twice this week because it was simply not safe to work. And that fact should be enough for any business to cease work, or to improve work conditions (if applicable).
That being said, owners can be a strange breed. I, wanting to be a future owner, well. I already started off as a strange breed, but I have seen many owners across MANY. Many. Different jobs waste and conserve money (across many situations) with no rhyme or reason, with no cause, with no sense.
And when it makes the most sense to duck out of the working world for a day, that's where no sense is usually found.
It is also in my experience that when businesses force a work day, they wind up closing early because of the snow, and usually? Customers that would patronize an establishment would stay indoors because they got the day off thanks to bad weather. The money gets lost, the morale gets lost, and life could get lost. For what?
Money.
I, for one, will not be that type of owner, and I am very proud to say that I work for a company whose owner places human life above making a buck. I am going to use common sense to know when it's safe to work, and when we should all just stay home. I am not lazy. I work my ass off, and then I work my leg bones off for this business. The business that I will one day have the pride of running.
But if I'm to be expected to value it over people, well then that's going to be a problem. And if being that way doesn't make me successful?
I'm ok with that!
They are wrong.
There comes a time when one must decide if they are to be the owner that forces their employees to come in to work in danger, or in safety. Some owners will argue that, "I can't lose this money!", or "we have to think of the customers!" when it comes to pushing a work day. It's this type of thinking that is just so tragically skewed, and can often lead to tragedy.
Here in New Jersey, we've been hit with a lot of snow. And ice. And cold. And there are a lot of owner/operators out there that are still running their business. In spite of hazards (let's focus on weather, but really? This concept can be applied to anything), some owners become desperate because of loss of work, or some owners don't care at all about worker safety and just their profit margin.
If forcing a work day in hazardous conditions isn't bad enough during bad weather, it is also understood that employees will have a difficult time going to and from work. But that owner. Oh, that owner has other ideas. I'm at work, why shouldn't everyone else be? Because you're wrong, that's why.
To be clear, Budget has closed twice this week because it was simply not safe to work. And that fact should be enough for any business to cease work, or to improve work conditions (if applicable).
That being said, owners can be a strange breed. I, wanting to be a future owner, well. I already started off as a strange breed, but I have seen many owners across MANY. Many. Different jobs waste and conserve money (across many situations) with no rhyme or reason, with no cause, with no sense.
And when it makes the most sense to duck out of the working world for a day, that's where no sense is usually found.
It is also in my experience that when businesses force a work day, they wind up closing early because of the snow, and usually? Customers that would patronize an establishment would stay indoors because they got the day off thanks to bad weather. The money gets lost, the morale gets lost, and life could get lost. For what?
Money.
I, for one, will not be that type of owner, and I am very proud to say that I work for a company whose owner places human life above making a buck. I am going to use common sense to know when it's safe to work, and when we should all just stay home. I am not lazy. I work my ass off, and then I work my leg bones off for this business. The business that I will one day have the pride of running.
But if I'm to be expected to value it over people, well then that's going to be a problem. And if being that way doesn't make me successful?
I'm ok with that!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)