Monday, November 11, 2013

R E S P E C T - Find out what it means to me!

Recently I had the privledge of speaking with Paul Meshanko who wrote the book, The Respect Effect.  The Respect Effect is about the power of respect in the workplace and how it ties to employee engagement.  What was interesting is that Paul and I never met before we spoke together, I as the key note presenter (on methodologies from Powered by Happy) and he as the main speaker on his book.  What was interesting is that Paul's book is based on research and neuro-science.  My book is based on practical experience.  Our key messages were the same - almost eerily so.  How happiness at work is very much tied to engagement at work which is very much tied to feeling respected / valued at work.  It was refreshing to me that my experience / book content is also validated by research and neuro-science!

When you respect your employees (and they FEEL respected), there is an actual neurological response in your brain that helps that person become more engaged and perform better.  How much does it cost as leaders to do this?  Same with recognizing employee's value, knowing what motivates them, aligning their job with their passion, aligning the person with the culture and values of your company, etc.. These all tie in to employee engagement and happiness at work.  The best part about it, it's FREE!  However, the benefits are HUGE to not only your employee's career but also the impact to your bottom line and customer retention.  So I ask you, can you afford NOT to respect your employees? 

Monday, March 4, 2013

The 3 Leadership Behaviors That Make Your Employees Feel Fulfilled

Engaged workplace. Positive, employee-friendly culture. Individualized reward system. You've heard all of these catch-phrases before when it comes to finding out how to make your employees truly feel inspired at work. But what does it all mean?
That's what Beth Thomas tries to figure out every day -- and the answer varies for each company. Thomas, managing director of consulting services, at Dublin, Ohio human resources consulting firm Sequent says that leaders need to build their own inspiring workplace cultures instead of following another's lead.
There is plenty of research to back up the notion that keeping employees happy also keeps them productive. But if you don't really believe that it's important to spend time and thought on keeping employees happy, it's never going to become the priority that it needs to be, Thomas says. Leaders need to look at the importance and benefits of motivating employees and keeping them interested in doing good work.
So while exactly what will make individuals at different companies feel happy and fulfilled at work may vary there are a few golden rules that work across the board.
1. Recognize even routine jobs.
Employees are motivated when they can see the impact of their work, Thomas says. Find ways to show employees at every level how their work has an impact on the overall company. If your manufacturing line or warehouse team fulfilled a big order on time, go tell them how much you appreciate their work or buy lunch for them. Some jobs can feel thankless -- change that.
2. Reward outstanding work.
When employees do a great job or go above and beyond the call of duty, it has to be recognized, Thomas says. That does two things: It makes the employee feel valued, and it also models that behavior for other team members. “Find the behaviors that you want to cultivate and reward those in a public way,” she says. Be careful not to overemphasize one employee, as that can breed resentment. Instead, if you have an employee who consistently performs well, find a way to move him or her into a mentoring position to further cultivate that behavior.
3. Understand what really matters to your employees.
Make sure those little feel-good perks actually hit home. Thomas says it makes no sense to spend money on coffee gift cards or company t-shirts if your employees don't care about them. Instead, use surveys, focus groups and interviews to get information about the rewards that matter. For some employees, it's about money. Others are delighted at an evening out on the boss or when they're treated to lunch. Earning a half-day off or the ability to have some flexibility in work time, when possible, can also be powerful ways to keep employees motivated to perform.
In addition, Thomas says it's critical to monitor the workplace for negative situations and toxic behavior. If you find it, work with the employee on correcting it or that negativity could affect other employees and make them less enthusiastic about your workplace.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

What will this new year bring to you?

Happy New Year!  2013, WOW!  Can you believe it?  What will this new year bring to you?  What will you offer the new year?  When a New Year rolls around, so does new goals, resolutions and objectives.  Statistically, by the month of February most all have been erased, forgotton or changed.  Most of the time it's because our resolutions are unreachable and too hard to obtain.  So this year, why not start small? Why not do something that can change your life forever or make an impact to others?  One of the best parts of writing my book is the reaseach I did in order to offer you sound advice, tips and tricks.

For this New Year, I give to you a "tip" of how to turn your frown upside down!  It's about being grateful.  Every day, think of 1 thing you are grateful for, journal it or tell someone what it is.  Every 2 months increase it by 1 other thing, so by the end of the year you are thinking of 6 things you are grateful for every day.  It's amazing how this can train your mind to be happier, think happier thoughts or make someone else happy!  If you already do this, try another tip, Make someone smile 1 time a day or give them a compliment or do a nice deed.  These resolutions are not temporary like going to the gym, losing weight, etc., they are habits that can last a lifetime and make you happier along the way!  Happy New Year friends.  I wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous 2013!