Companies do what the Boss does....

I love this statement from Jeffrey J. Fox's book How to become a great boss. If you have been a manager for quite some time you would probably agree with his statement from experiences both good and challenging...





Companies do what the boss does-


People take their cues from their boss. The boss sets the tone and the standards. the boss sets the example... If the boss is polite, rude people don't last. If the boss accepts mediocrity, mediocrity is what she gets.

If the boss is innovative and inventive, the company looks for opportunities. If the boss does everyone's job, the employees will let him. If the boss gives everyone in the organization a World Series ring, then everyone wants to win the World Series (p. 6-7).

Personally, I have always had a personal policy in regards to proper behavior towards employees when it comes to chastisement. I certainly would not appreciate an employee raising their voice at me in public or private. I would expect my employees to have enough respect for me to request a private meeting in regards to any personal concerns they might have instead of doing it in public. And I would certainly hope that my staff would give me the benefit of the doubt in regards to possible misinformation they have received or witnessed.

So I feel that as a supervisor I need to set the example. I would not wish this sort of behavior on my staff and thus I certainly do not wish to make my staff feel the way I would if someone working for me did these things to me. They are valuable investments and human beings with inherent value.

Now of course since I do not make it a policy to behave this way towards my staff I certainly will not tolerate such behavior from them towards myself (and I have had to pull staff members aside once or twice to address this a time or two...). I believe though that I must be a teacher first before becoming some disciplinarian, a Team Leader before becoming a "Boss".

Some people just need to be kindly (though sternly) reminded once. We are all human...

Please don't forget friends- There are no problems, just challenges and opportunities for greatness.
-J

The Great Boss Simple Success Formula

1. Only hire top-notch, excellent people.
2. Put the right people in the right job. Weed out the wrong people.
3. Tell the people what needs to be done.
4. Tell the people why it is needed.
5. Leave the job up to the people you've chosen to do it. Train the people.
6. Listen to the people.
7. Remove the frustration and barriers that fetter the people.
8. Inspect progress.
9. Say "Thank you" publicly and privately.

-Jeffery J. Fox

In my experience number two is pretty important (although all 9 should be emphasized). There is nothing that can wreak havoc on your staff morale and departmental work output more than people within who are creating a virus of unprovoked departmental criticism, low job performance, failure to accept supervisory direction (which can be displayed in aggressive behavior) and passive aggressive behavior (which could be the death of an otherwise productive team of people.).

Any employee is an investment that you are requiring a good return on. And just like stocks you are always taking a chance on either getting in with a great company or getting stuck with another Enron.

Obviously people aren't stocks and even the worst employees are still human beings that God calls us to love even in the face of adversity. But that doesn't mean that loving them means that you must keep them on with your department.

"Sometimes the best lessons to show you care for an individual's future are a good termination" a supervisor once told me. I would have to agree with her.

If you are not generating the return you expected out of an employee investment you have to do what those in the market do and that is sell and buy somewhere else. You keep that person around for too long and your other great investments will be so affected that they will begin to produce a low return.

You have to protect your investments. In more humane terms, you have to fight for those who devote themselves for you daily. Sometime that means taking the unfortunate task of removing an individual(s) who may be causing your department to produce a low work output.

Please don't forget friends- There are no problems, just challenges and opportunities for greatness.

-J

Evening Blurb...

Today one of our new Resident Staff members repeated to me a quote I use quite often to staff members who feel frustrated when faced with what would seem to be a distressing crisis (I have these quite often myself!).

It was really neat to hear someone say it as it reinforces your confidence that someone out there is listening to you. Hopefully he will adopt it in his psyche and apply it when necessary.

It is all about perspective really. Looking at events in a different set of glasses than you usually do. It has really made my life a lot easier. It is something that I also have to be reminded of from time to time. What is it?

Simple-

"There are no problems, just challenges and opportunities for greatness."