TOP 5 things that keep Employees happy

In my dad’s era, people stayed with companies for decades, or their whole career. Of course, companies didn’t do as many mass layoffs back then either. So we get that the corporate culture has changed. “Employee Loyalty” is tough to create, but not impossible to at least raise it! Here is what some research, and some opinions, suggest might help.

5. Care.

NO I mean really, genuinely care about their lives. You don’t have to be their best friend, whether you manage them or own the company they work for. But, authentic compassion counts. You can intuitively tell if they give a rats. Sheer fakeness you can sense a mile away. ~Having a kind, personal conversation, sending a handwritten thank you card or Birthday note (not from an assistant) or a gift cert to Starbucks occasionally doesn’t hurt anyone’s feelings.

4. Humor.

LAUGH. Positivity in the workplace is a HUGE reason people are content and stay a long time. We ALL deserve a break from the stress and results driven work code. There is often a huge need at any job to laugh. Laugh at yourself. Laugh at what didn’t work as you seek to improve it. Laugh often and as much as possible. Create funny content somewhere in the workplace; in your employee manual, in otherwise blah emails, in signs hung in the break-room, on videos that are before or during staff meetings. Play funny (safe, tasteful) tricks. It will go a long way. ~Keep it clean and not at anyone’s real expense.

3. Tell.

Keep them in the loop. People these days are empowered. Obnoxiously so at times. That said, they HATE not being in the loop. So- communication is very key. Bosses who are of the mindset that: “They don’t need to know!” On most things, leave most employees feeling small, disconnected with the company, the leaders, and most importantly the VISION. If they cannot wrap their brain or heart around the vision, it’s a temporary gig. You will be replacing them often. Enroll them. Educate them. Sometimes, do that crazy thing- ask their opinions. (In controlled ways and times) ~Let them know they matter, since they are at the heartbeat of making the business succeed long term.

2. Hire Right.

Everyone has strengths. Period. BUT, too many employers hire or transfer people into the wrong position for that employee. The employer or manager is then frustrated with “What the heck isn’t working??” Your top salesperson almost never makes a great manager- these jobs need totally different skill sets. Your top engineer probably won’t make your best sales rep. Again, generally speaking, the skills, personalities and training needed are way different. So don’t harass people to be good on what they suck at. It’s very UN-motivating. If they are not using their strengths 85% of the time or more in their position, they WILL burn out, and they won’t produce the kind of results you want. (*but their ego and possibly their paycheck increase will have them saying YES to the wrong job- if you offer it)

Get the right interview screenings in place, or hire an Interview consultant. The organizations I consult on Employment screenings use Gallup’s Strengthsfinders version 2.0 (in the US). This will reveal your employees top 5 strengths, in order. Then you and they can both know if they are in a job that organically uses their top strengths most of the time, OR if they can approach that job in their own way, in their best strengths. If they are not in the right role, MOVE THEM to a better one. ~You will both be much, much happier!

1. Acknowledge.

You may have thought money would be here at #1, but it isn’t. Research shows that “Happy Employees” are not as concerned with money as you might assume. General Well Being and happiness come from more than money, and we all know that today. Money can be made or lost, but contentment is tough to achieve. One thing that ALL people love, especially hard working employees, is to be appreciated, treated with respect, and told thank you. EVEN if what they are doing is their job. EVEN if it’s not “your style” to thank people often. Thank them. Tell them “thank you!” in front of their peers as often as possible. Don’t take credit for their good work, give them the credit. Find out where the great ideas are coming from. Give kudos. This promotes them doing those epic things more often. Nothing is more frustrating than the feeling of being taken for granted, every day. ~Remember when someone else took your positive ideas for improvement, implemented them, never mentioning you?

“A good objective of leadership is to help those who are doing poorly to do well and to help those who are doing well to do even better.” Jim Rohn

With charisma alone, influence becomes increasingly more difficult to sustain. With character, as time passes, influence builds and requires less work to sustain.  John Maxwell

sheli  G CILC | CMC | CEBC www.shelig.com Certified International Business, Leadership & Life Success Coach

5 Women Leaders Who Inspire Me

” I will not just live my life. I will not just spend my life. I will INVEST my life.” ~ Helen Keller

Helen Keller’s almost inconceivable journey from her childhood struggles to communicate with anyone due to her many disabilities, to a woman of victory, clarity in purpose, and being the World Changer she still is globally- is in my opinion one of the greatest heroine stories of the 20th century.

Helen’s triumph as a young deaf-blind girl, with her incredible teacher Anne Sullivan mentoring her, is but the beginning of her story. Her leadership skills would be used for activism, in a time that it was very difficult for women to be respected for being outspoken, and taking on the system. She opened the gateway for not only people with disabilities to imagine miracles coming in and through their lives, but she educated those without disabilities, that it IS a disability to limit others with our judgement. She modeled to us that disabilities are just challenges, that like all of us, we can overcome with hard work and determination.

Helen pushed for epic changes in the law, and created a place in our culture for people with disabilities to move from the hidden places, to mainstream education and employment opportunities. Her advancements have helped not only those with disabilities, but have inspired women of all backgrounds and races to realize what a difference one passionate voice can make. –Great leaders harness and use their strengths, and don’t let their perceived weaknesses stop them. 

 

” Love cannot remain by itself,  it has no meaning. Love has to be put into action, and that action is SERVICE . ” ~Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa Devoted her entire adult life to the service and care of the poor, oppressed and the dying. It seemed almost inconceivable, until she did it, with humility. She also struggled with her own dragons so to speak, as we all do. Battling Depression and loneliness, Mother Teresa still chose service to others as her ultimate goal and purpose. She became a global icon for truly selfless Christ-like service to others. She personally cared for 1000’s of sick and dying people in Calcutta, and trained countless other volunteers, staff and as many as would listen, how to do the same.  She was awarded the Nobel Peace prize in 1979. She honored others religious beliefs, while standing very firm in her own. She was known to be incredibly respectful to other cultures, races and traditions. She focused on showing others the pure and holy love of God, in big and small ways every day, until her death. –Great leaders always give more than they take.

 

“ The only tired I was, was tired of GIVING IN ” ~Rosa Parks

Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat to a white man on Dec 1st 1955.  This was the beginning of what led to some of the most significant civil rights legislation of American history.

“Each person must live their life as a model for others.”~ Rosa Parks   (can I hear an AMEN here!)

Rosa was an African-American civil rights activist whom the U.S. Congress called the “Mother of the Modern-Day Civil Rights Movement”. WOW!

Her arrest and trial for this “act of civil disobedience” on Dec 1st in the refusal of giving up her seat on the bus, triggered the Montgomery Bus Boycott; one of the largest and most successful mass movements against racism and segregation in our history. This also launched the highly influential Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the promoters of the boycott, to the main-stage of the civil rights movement. Rosa’s role in history earned her an iconic status in American culture. Her life and brave, committed actions have left an enduring legacy for civil rights movements, and all women around the world. –Great leaders sacrifice and risk, to pave the way for others behind them to have more opportunities.

“No longer do you have the luxury of being a bench-warmer. Today is the day to declare and step out with your gifts and share them with the world. THIS IS IT! This is your year. This is the year that you can make a huge impact in the world.” ~Arvee Robinson

Arvee Robinson is a Master speaker trainer and persuasive speaking coach. She teaches business owners, service professionals and entrepreneurs how to use public speaking as a marketing strategy so they can grow their business and get their message out to the world. As a high-energy motivational speaker, Arvee has shared the stage with speaking giants such as: Mark Victor Hansen, Loral Langemeier, Chris Howard, and many more. Her training and coaching programs transform ordinary business professionals to superstars in their industry.

I personally have been trained and coached by Arvee. Her passion, organization, vision and compassion make her one of the top leaders in her field today. –Great leaders inspire others to do more, tell more and BE MORE.

 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed ONLY ONE. Mary has chosen what is better.” ~ Jesus re: Mary & Martha

The story is told in the Bible in Luke 10, of two sisters, Mary and Martha. Jesus comes to visit them, and Martha is busy with (the always endless!) household chores, while Mary sits at the feet of Jesus. Martha complains to Jesus that she’s doing all the work.  Jesus encourages her to be more like Mary.  Martha was too busy being, well… just busy. Meanwhile, Mary realized that to sit and learn at Jesus feet was far more important in that precious moment. Which would you choose. What would you choose today? –Great leaders know how to prioritize, and seize profound priceless opportunities to grow.

If you know a woman who has inspired you with her story, please comment on this blog and give her some well deserved props!

PLEASE Like, send and share this blog if it touched you. Thank you 🙂

Many Blessings,

 

sheli  G
CILC | CMC | CEBC
www.shelig.com

Certified International Business, Leadership & Life Success Coach

5 things my Dog taught me about Business

Dogs are amazing. They innately know some things that we as Leaders deserve to observe and implement about business, and people.

5) If you smell, it’s time for a bath.

Good hygiene and grooming are very important in business. No matter what business you are in, you need to avoid offending people with how you look or smell. Every business has a dress code or culture to follow with great variances. But whatever that code is, be the best in your field. For Leaders and Business Owners wanting to gain clients, there are some keys to your best look:

~ Keep Hair clean, cut and up to date on style. (if you don’t know, go to a salon that knows and get them to help you or at least affirm or debate what you think is a good style/cut)

~ Clothes should ALWAYS, in all ways, be clean, pressed, and be the right SIZE. (when you gain or lose weight, get the new size. Tight on cash? Go thrifting or Ebaying for great deals)

~ Shoes always need to be polished, by you or someone. (unpolished shoes send all kinds of negative messages to your boss, clients etc)

~ Shower daily. Yep.

~ Teeth & breath need to be clean. (if you smoke and or drink coffee, brush after or use a mint or mouthwash please)

4) If you bark loudly and/or often, you will struggle with people- often.

As an extroverted person myself, I learned this important lesson: There is a difference between your inside voice and your outside voice. (If you don’t know what I mean, get a coach or mentor to explain)    🙂

3) Forgiveness is King.

Forgiveness allows the relationship to reset endlessly, love unconditionally, and your tail to wag frequently.

We all make mistakes. It’s called being human. Let 99% roll off, and work out the rest. Save your energy for your work goals… avoid the drama!

2) Train them up in the way they should go.

Dogs act exactly how their owner trains them to. So do people. Be accountable as a Manager, Leader or Business Owner. Train them correctly, support them adequately, and they will succeed. If they don’t, they need more training and support, perhaps more than just by you. Bring in a neutral, objective Business and Life Coach. (*Hint- if your whole team is not acting as you would like them to, it’s not the individuals, it’s the system, the leadership, or both.)

1) The best dogs are irreplaceable.

And so are great people. They are not expendable.

~ Get really good people in the RIGHT job for them. *No one succeeds long-term in the wrong position. (which means YOU need to find, screen and place or transfer them well)

~ Train and support them exceptionally well in business, and their life. (they are not neatly separated with walls as we would like to think)

~ And above all, encourage and affirm their strengths.We get a lot of negative. We need to know what IS working about what we are doing, which propels us to do that more.

Employees, partners or associates will be very loyal to you, as you create and maintain a healthy, positive business culture for them to thrive in.

Many Blessings,

 

sheli  G
CILC | CMC | CEBC
www.shelig.com

Certified International Business, Leadership & Life Success Coach