Transparently Clear
When you are in management, much of the time, you know, it’s an OK job.
In fact, despite the pressure, it’s nothing like as challenging as compared with doing a day-in/day-out job at the sharp end.
This came to me once when I became an employee rather than a boss.
In fact I was an employee all the time, but as a ‘boss’ on a site of my own, it was almost as good as it being all mine (except for the dictated stuff from above, but let’s not go there for the moment!).
Being ‘done to‘, rather than ‘doing to‘ is a lot worse – trust me.
So as a ‘boss’ you need to be very transparent.
Very, very fair. Very honest. Very open. All these if you want to take your people with you, in a collaboration rather than a very ‘you and them’ situation.
The ‘them’ bit being way distant behind you, when it comes to supporting you, being proactive and going the extra mile for you. Way distant. Miles behind even.
They will drop you like an emotional stone.
There will be no loyalty, poor morale and a distinct lack of motivation and enthusiasm.
Of course those managers who are not alert to their own behaviours will blame everyone else and never themselves – one manager I came across recently, decided to ‘sort out’ some key people by telling them they ‘were rubbish’, literally!
So often, I’ve come across organisations where employees would only get involved in as little as possible.
Why is that?
Yet again there are places where you wonder what the employees are on!
Who gave them permission to have such fun, to fix things fast, to be creative in what they do for their customers?
And, effectively, who are the winners here?
Well, everyone, actually.
How to Make a Difference Every Day
Every day, everyone can make the world a better place. It’s simple; it’s quick and it is free.
All it requires is a recipe containing you (yes, that’s YOU!), awareness and a natural disposition to be brave enough, to change the day of everyone you come into contact with in a positive way.
Appreciating what people do for you, whenever you come into contact with them is the first step.
It may not sound much, but saying a sincere ‘Thank You’ means much to many people – sadly, it is not what they experience normally.
This can be a ‘Thank You’ to someone who holds a door open for you, or maybe to the guy you buy your morning paper from.
It can be to an employee who you manage, for something, for goodness sakes, for anything they did well – in the moment, sincerely.
The next step, when it is comfortable for you, is to explain what it was they did that was great.
So, as an example, it could be to an employee who you manage,
‘Thank you for that piece of work, your effort has made such a difference to it’.
It could be a ‘Well done’ as you stand in front of a display of merchandise
‘What I especially like about it, is how you made such a great impact with the cornflakes’
Outside your place of work, you buy a sandwich,
‘Thank you – can I just say what a great job you did putting that together for me; I truly appreciate it’.
Sharing positive observations that people might not see in themselves, because there is not enough positive feedback in the world creates positivity.
You can make a difference to literally dozens of people every day and makes their lives brighter.
And how do you think they will respond to the next customer; and the next.
Research shows that they will be buzzing for the next 5 interactions with others.
Maybe they will ‘Pay it Forward’ as in the film. (Not seen it? Do!).
This is about small things that you can do every day.
And if you can’t do it consistently? Just do it sometimes – that is much, much better than never at all.
You may never know the positive difference you have made to someone you spend a little time, a little courtesy with – but you will have to live with that delicious ‘not knowing’!
