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December 3, 2006 19:42 - Noticing Employees Strengths
In the busy lives managers and bosses lead it is easy to miss potential and the opportunities that sometimes stare you in the face.
And not being in a position to notice those around you can lead to frustration on their part and, without question excessive workload on you.
The key to making the most of your people is taking time to reflect on who is good at what and leveraging their capabilities in as many ways as possible.
Using individuals who are excellent in an area of your business, elsewhere to utilise their skills to the full is an efficient and effective way forward.
But what about those who hide their capabilities for any number of reasons.
Perhaps they are shy; they don't appreciate their own strengths; they see themselves as small players in the big game of your business or they might even not realise that they have strengths that are valuable and can be recycled effectively on a broader stage.
It's your job, if you want to develop a highly effective team, to make the space in your own thinking to identify and then challenge your people, gently.
By providing stretching opportunities for individuals to shine, in an environment where they know they won't get shouted at for having a go, will release potential like you would never expect.
And that means that you are strengthening overall capability of your team; being much more effective in your work performance; building succession in and making your life far less like a fire-fighter and much more like a facilitator of solutions.
This 'noticing' sense needs nurturing and helping along. If it has not been something you are used to up to now, it might take a bit of getting used to - so be it.
Giving yourself permission to try something new, in helping your people grow in those small ways where they are already showing promise, will help you, help others, help yourself and ultimately help improve your business performance too.
What kind of success would that be then!
December 10, 2006 21:50 - What Saying Yes Does
I'm watching the rerun of 'The West Wing', each Sunday evening right now.
I find it a fantastic series and sometimes there are things to learn.
There were two things I got tonight, the first one that I want to share with you, is about 'Yes'!
Someone said, in a flippant moment, 'Exciting things happen when you say 'yes'', which I thought was quite interesting and likely is quite true as well.
Sometimes, maybe we have to, we need to say 'no', to our people - and this invariably means that less exciting things happen.
In fact, sometimes, that's a good thing!. Yet when we have the courage and preparedness to say 'yes', amazing things can happen.
A 'yes' organization is far more likely to be constructive, creative, risk-taking and fun to be in, than a 'no' organization.
So for this week, I wonder what will happen if you say 'yes' a few times more often and 'no' a little less often.
Go on, give this simple rule a run this week!
And next week, I'll share with you what the second item was.
December 17, 2006 22:14 - The Greatest Gifts
At this very seasonal time of year, and probably when you least want a weekly missive from me, I feel there is an opportunity to share with you what I believe are the greatest gifts you can give each and every one of your people this Christmas week.
The gifts costs nothing (good news!), and if you do provide other gifts of any sort, and maybe Christmas cards, I am going to offer you these extra bonuses that you can give freely, immediately and can continue to give into 2007.
Whatever motivates people in hard terms, like money and prizes and other tangible reward, my experience tells me that there are no stronger gifts than recognition and encouragement.
Many of your employees fight through their lives against criticism and poor and negative feedback.
If you are parent, you will, unless you are Mr or Mrs (or Miss) Incredible, at some time make the mistake of less than positive feedback.
Your employees have (as well for that matter, as you) experienced this throughout the years they have been alive. It has not, usually, been wilful, it just happens. It's the way it is. And yes, of course, I did it myself.
Reaching a workplace, where someone has the kindness and generosity to recognise positively, encourage and believe in someone, makes a world of difference to performance and sometimes, changes lives.
As a boss; manager; supervisor or business owner, you have these gift in your hands, every day. You can make a difference, hugely, to people who you have working with you, under your care.
Over the years, I have reminded thousands of people of the value of the black and white movie, 'It's a Wonderful Life' - voted recently as one of Christmas's most popular films. Yes, it's quite a touchy-feely movie. Yet I want you to try and catch it if you can and think about this.
The efforts of Jimmy Stewart changed peoples lives - he sees the world as if he hadn't lived at all and what difference his being around meant.
Truth is, we all touch others lives, to what extent we don't often know and certainly don't appreciate. You do - every day, in your interactions with others, maybe small things, maybe in small ways, you change a persons life.
By providing recognition and encouragement, within an environment to release potential, you can make a real difference to someone.
And what gifts these are.
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