| Posts from June 2012 |
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by Lisa Rollins
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posted Jun 28 2012 7:14AM
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STOP IT! Are you kidding me? That means more than a 3rd of people in the U.S. believe aliens exist -- and more than 10% believe they have seen an alien ship in the sky.
The study from National Geographic Channel found that 80 million Americans -- or 36% -- are certain alien space ship exist, and of those who believe, 79% are convinced the White House has kept information about other life forms a secret.
It also foundâ¦GET THISâ¦that if an alien knocked on your door, 22% of us would try to befriend the alien, 15% say they would run, 13% would lock their doors, and, only 2% say they would inflict bodily harm.
Furthermore, 55% believe there are real-life Men in Black-style agents who threaten people who spot UFOs.
So, are you among them? Do YOU believe they are here, have been or will be?
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by Doug Dickerson
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posted Jun 27 2012 8:38AM
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Always treat your employees exactly as you want them to treat your best customers – Stephen Covey
In Reader’ Digest a story is told of a factory worker who refused to sign up for group insurance. The problem was no policy could be issued until all employees signed up. Yet he held out stubbornly. The foreman begged him to sign; the shop foreman pleaded with him; the plant superintendent and general manager begged him to sign. Still he said no.
Finally, the owner of the factory took him aside and said, “Listen, if you don’t sign up, I’ll fire you.” The worker grabbed the paper and signed immediately. “Now,” asked the owner, “why didn’t you sign this thing before?” The man replied, “Because no one explained it as clearly as you did.”
That humorous story reminds us not only of the importance of good communication, but of the importance of a positive workplace environment. Recently in Washington, D.C., the 2012 Gallup Great Workplace Awards were presented. The annual awards recognize the top distinguished organizations based on the most rigorous workplace research ever conducted.
The award honors organizations whose employee engagements demonstrate they have the most productive and engaged workforces in the world. According to the story, the Gallup Great Workplace Winners span the globe and represent all facets of business from healthcare to hospitality, retail and manufacturing, banks and insurance.
From the list of the top 27 companies, here is the Top 10: ABC Supply Co., Inc., Adventist Health System, Alegent Health, Atlanta Hotels International, Bon Secours Health System, Central Retails Corporation ltd., Charles Schwab, Compassion International, Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, and Hawaii Pacific Health. It’s quite an impressive list.
Gallup’s Chief Scientist of workplace management and wellbeing James K. Harter said, “Worldwide, there are more than two actively disengaged employees for every engaged employee. The organizations we are honoring are ones that have worked hard to shatter and reverse what is typical and they average nine engaged employees for every actively disengaged employee.” What an eye-opening fact to be sure.
A Mercer survey last year of 30,000 workers worldwide found that between 28% and 56% of employees worldwide wanted to leave their jobs. In the U.S., 32% said they wanted to find new work. Conventional wisdom might suggest that given global economic concerns most employees would rather stick it out with a job rather than do without one. So how can employers bridge the gap between apparent or perceived dissatisfaction and foster a climate that makes their workplace a great place to succeed? Here are three ideas.
Engagement on all levels. As the Gallup awards indicated, the great workplaces are predominately filled with engaged employees. But what does that engagement look like? I believe it is characterized by strong morale, a collaborative work atmosphere, stellar communication, and respect for each individual’s talents and gifts.
Harter further noted, “Engaged employees are more productive, safer, more customer-centric, and more profitable. They are also 3-5 times more likely to be thriving in their overall lives, experience better days, and have fewer unhealthy days. In short, these winners are improving lives as they improve the overall performance of their companies.” That’s terrific.
Commitment to success. Organizations that thrive in today’s marketplace are characterized by those who have made it their mission to succeed. This takes shape when each individual in the organizational structure makes it their goal to deliver the highest quality possible. When this commitment is made on all levels then the sense of purpose and teamwork takes on a greater meaning.
Legendary football coach Lou Holtz said, “Once you learn how to work with people, you can accomplish anything. To do this, you must subvert your ego in the service of a higher cause. You must never forget that there is no “I” in the word team.” He’s right.
Successful organizations are the product of success-minded people. Do you have the commitment of everyone on your team?
The extra -mile mentality. Engagement on all levels and a commitment to success are excellent starting places. But if there is not an “extra-mile” work ethic that captures the imagination of your team then you will be denied “great workplace” status. Going the extra mile may sound like a cliché but being average is not that appealing either.
What if everyone in your organization adapted an “extra-mile” philosophy? How would it change the culture and the success of your business? Wouldn’t you like to find out? As you embrace this mentality you position yourself for greatness.
Workplace greatness begins with you. Are you game?
© 2012 Doug Dickerson |
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by Lisa Rollins
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posted Jun 27 2012 5:40AM
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June is Gay Pride Month in case you didnât know! So, what do you think about this?
OREO COOKIES posted on FACEBOOK, a gay-pride-themed cookie with 6 layers of rainbow colored cream and the word âPRIDE.â The caption reads: âProudly support love!â
The response among Oreoâs 26.9 million fans has been fiercely divided, with many saying they will NEVER buy Oreos again! But itâs also drawn a LOT of support in the form of almost 15 thousand shares and at last report around 87 thousand LIKES.
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by Lisa Rollins
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posted Jun 26 2012 6:24AM
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Being smart makes you more prone to mental errors. A new study in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology set out to study the "bias blind spot," and the inclination to think, in short, that other people are stupider than you are. The study described various cognitive biases to 482 participants, then gave them several questions with seemingly obvious, but wrong, answers. Various measures of intelligence, including SAT scores and cognitive test scores, found that smarter people were more likely to answer these questions incorrectly. Greater cognitive ability resulted in a greater bias blind spot. (AskMen.com)
All I got to sayâ¦DUH!
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by Lisa Rollins
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posted Jun 25 2012 6:46AM
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Fort Lauderdale police arrested 52 year old Patricia McCollum. The 400 pound woman was found sitting NAKED on a bus stop bench. Sheâs charged with exposure of sexual organs in public. She told a judge during her court appearance last week that sheâs homeless and was only attempting to change her clothes. She explained, "That's why I was changing my clothes on the bus bench. I don't have anywhere else to stay but bus benches." Police have reportedly warned the woman about this type of behavior in the past.
Hereâs an idea! Take her to a mental hospital, she has some serious issues!
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by Lisa Rollins
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posted Jun 22 2012 7:21AM
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This makes me hurt all over. Fox News reports that a Yuma, Arizona City Worker is in intensive care after a 16-foot-tall saguaro cactus fell on him and pinned him to the ground. William Mason was responding to an emergency water leak on Tuesday of this week in a Yuma subdivision and while working the cactus fell on him.
Other members in his work crew were able to free him and call 911. The city says Mason suffered multiple injuries to his back and legs and remains hospitalized at Yuma Regional Medical Center.
Saguaro cactuses can weigh anywhere from hundreds of pounds to more than several thousand pounds, depending on how much water they're holding.
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by Lisa Rollins
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posted Jun 21 2012 6:55AM
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A gym in Vancouver, Canada, designed to appeal to overweight people has instituted a ban on skinny clients, saying that thin people, quote, "bring down morale."
Louise Green, founder of the Body Exchange gym, says itâs a "safe haven" for overweight people who may be intimidated to work out in the presence of people who are fit.
Her quote is "Many of our clients have not had successful fitness pasts, so I can see the anxiety before we get started and I can see the relief and happiness after we finish. People are often too fearful to become active."
Give me a break. Being overweight all my life almost I donât find those who are fit firm and in good shape intimidating, I consider them blessed and working to keep what they have been given thru genes or thru hard work! God Bless âem!
So, think about it! Why would this kind of action be seen as acceptable to those who are fit and NOT be for those of us who are fat? We could be discouraging to those who are fit to even have to look at. Wrong is Wrong and THIS is wrong.
Listen itâs a private business and if thatâs what they wanna do, go for it, but, they are wrong in doing so!
What do YOU think about it!
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by Lisa Rollins
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posted Jun 20 2012 9:28AM
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A Texas grand jury has declined to press any charges against a father who beat a man to death when he caught him allegedly sexually assaulting his 5-year-old daughter. Police in Lavaca County, Texas, had announced that the results of its investigation would be turned over to a grand jury for its consideration as a homicide case. The child's father told police he caught Jesus Mora Flores trying to rape his daughter. He dragged Flores away from the child, and punched him several times. The father has not been named. But police said witnesses corroborated the father's version of events--which included his attempt to resuscitate the man. He was defending his child. I find no fault with him at all and would only hope I would be so brave to do the same thing. No, I do not think itâs vigilante justice or justifiable homicide I think itâs the ONLY right thing for a good Momma or Daddy to do!
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by Lisa Rollins
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posted Jun 19 2012 8:16AM
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The winner of the 15th annual Wacky Warning Labels Contest, sponsored by the Center for America, have been announced, which highlight absurd, self-obvious labels that manufacturers think are necessary in our litigious society. The winners are:
⢠Grand Prize -- "These globes should not be referred to for navigation." -- from a 7-inch decorative globe
⢠2nd Prize - "Never use while sleeping." - from an electric razor for men
⢠And 3rd Prize - "Keep product away from infants and children." - from a neck pillow marketed for children
Do you think manufacturers are going way overboard with these warnings, or do you think they are really necessitated by our litigious society? Have you ever seen a warning label that was so absurd that it stuck in your mind? If so, what was it?
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by Doug Dickerson
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posted Jun 18 2012 10:35AM
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So much of what we call management consists in making it difficult for people to work. - Peter Drucker
A story is told of a man flying in a hot air balloon who realizes he is lost. He reduces height and spots a man down below. He lowers the balloon and shouts, “Excuse me, can you tell me where I am?”
The man below says, “Yes, you are in a hot air balloon hovering about thirty feet from this field.” “You must work in information technology,” says the balloonist. “I do,” replies the man, “How did you know?”
“Well,” says the balloonist, “everything you have told me is technically correct, but it is of no use to anyone.”
The man below says, “You must work in management.” “I do,” replies the balloonist, “but how did you know?”
“Well, says the man, “you don’t know where you are or where you are going, but you expect me to be able to help you. You are in the same position you were before we met, but now it’s my fault.”
That humorous story illustrates not just the difference between IT and management, but the stereotypes people have about management. Stephen Covey said, “Effective leadership is putting first things first. Effective management is discipline, carrying it out.” And while Covey’s definition is an applicable one, a recent study reveals that we’ve lost much ground as of late.
In a story by John Eccleston in Personnel Today, he cites research from The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development revealing there is a “reality gap” between how good managers think they are in their roles and how effective they actually are.
The research reveals that three-quarters of employees report a lack of leadership and management skills, and believe that too many managers have an inflated opinion of their management abilities. The research highlighted contrasts between how managers said they manage their people and the views of their employees.
Six in 10 said they meet each person they manage at least twice a month to talk about their workload, meeting objectives and other work-related issues. However, just 24 percent of employees say they meet their managers with such frequency. In addition, more than 90 percent of managers said that they sometimes or always coach the people that they manage, but only 40 percent of employees agreed.
The glaring disparity between what managers believe they are doing verses what employee’s say they are is revealing. When asked about the disproportion, Ben Willmott, head of public policy at CIPD said, “Too many employees are promoted into people management roles because they have good technical skills, then receive inadequate training and have little idea how their behavior impacts others.” And he is right. So what steps can be taken to bridge the gap between the necessity of good management and strong leadership? Here are a few tips.
Focus on relationships. Whether you are in management in your office or in another form of leadership within your organization- relationships are critical. Relationships are the gateway to successful coaching, mentoring, and staff development.
The mechanics of office management are what they are and can be mundane, but good relationships are the key to team development. Get out from behind the desk and get to know your people.
Grow leaders. At the end of the day, it’s leadership that matters. Want to be a good manager? Grow as a leader. Want to be the best salesperson? Grow as a leader. The secret to your success and that of your organization is found in leadership development.
John Maxwell says, “Everything rises and falls on leadership” He’s right. The day you discover the secret of leadership is the day every other dimension of your organization begins to improve. How are you developing the leadership skills of your people?
Be intentional. Think of all of the required components of the operation of your organization. Careful thought and planning goes into goal setting, staffing and payroll, taxes, budgets, etc., but how much time and emphasis is placed on leadership development? John D. Rockefeller said, “Good leadership consists of showing average people how to do the work of superior people.”
An average manager becomes superior when shown a better way; the same for average employees. In what ways are you being intentional in the development of your team?
By no means is this an exhaustive list of steps that can be taken, but it’s a start. We do know this, there is a gap between management skills and strong leadership and the gap between the two is taking a toll. It’s time to fill the leadership void.
© 2012 Doug Dickerson
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