Post by Laurie Simonson
Work Hard, Play Hard
Whenever I mention the word “fun” to a group of business owners, they tend to roll their eyes and think work it just work, it’s not suppose to be fun. The new generation of workers will challenge this idea in a big way.
Did you know that laughter actually creates a bond that brings others together? Imagine a place where employees enjoy one another and share a laugh or two. It may be hard to do but employees who enjoy their time at work will excel. In fact, a fun workplace is not only more productive but it attracts people, profits and customers who like to work with happy people.
New Employee Orientation
A few months ago, my son called to inform me that he had accepted a new position with a different company. He was so excited about his new opportunity and anxious to start his new job. As his first day arrived, I couldn’t help but think about him all day and wonder how things were going. When he called me that evening, I could tell immediately that his day had not gone Well. As our conversation went on, I learned that his new company had not prepared for his arrival. His paperwork wasn’t ready, they had no plan for training him, he had no assignments and they didn’t even have a place for him to sit. In fact, they excused him early. This eager young man left his first day on the new job feeling deflated, unwelcomed and undervalued.
This is precisely why solid orientation programs are so critical. Imagine being invited to a dinner party and upon arrival, they did not have any refreshments, the food wasn’t prepared and there was no place for you at the dinner table. Being unprepared for new hires makes them feel just like a dinner guest without a seat at the dinner table.
Conducting An Effective Meeting
If you’re like me, I attend a lot of meetings. And, if you’re like me, I don’t always look forward to them. After leaving a meeting the other day, I was puzzled as why this meeting and others are so often ineffective. After some thought, I realized that not a lot of people have been instructed on how to facilitate an effective meeting. Many individuals call a meeting, show up with a few topics in mind and hope that all communication barriers are lifted. Instead, people often leave more confused and frustrated than they were prior to the meeting. I have been guilty of conducting those ineffective meetings and I have learned that preparation is the key to success.
Generations in the Workplace
What a fascinating time to be working the business world. For the first time in history, we have four separate, distinct generations working together. I have gotten a kick out of how each generation is able to easily find the faults of the other generations. In particular, I find it interesting to hear the negative comments about Generation Y (born between 1980 and 1999).
Personally, I have been recruiting for public accounting for 10 years and have never been so impressed with a group of young professionals. They are intelligent, well spoken, open-minded, techno-savvy and goal oriented. Our business world needs these young minds that excel at multi-tasking and scheduling of work. They appreciate their family, diversity and have a strong social conscience. I believe that business can learn a lot from this generation and should embrace them into our work world.
People Power: Profits Depend on Strong Staff Retention
Many companies claim that people are their most valuable asset, but the most admired and successful companies show it. In handling the human resource area for three organizations, I know that retention is not a human resource issue; it is a management issue. There is a direct correlation between high retention and profits. Turnover costs organizations 30% – 150% of the annual salary of an employee (even more for higher level or specialized employees). Businesses can improve this area by having a retention strategy that is part of the management culture and training.
Don’t let your key performers walk out the door; treat them with respect, understand their needs and help develop their skills. Employees are not a cost to the organization; they are critical, valuable assets that will ultimately increase profits and help companies move to the next level.