5 Ideas for Engaging Employees

How do we engage employees in the workplace? Here are 5 suggestions you might find helpful...

1. Listen. How often do we pass off a comment made in a meeting or session and not really hear what the person is asking for? By increasing our active listening skills we can better understand what the employees are asking. Happily the majority of workers in today's world say they do have input and are listened to. This is a good start but not the ultimate answer. 
2. Share Values. Do your company values reflect your employees values? How often do you review these with new staff? Do they have input when joining a team? Perhaps a semi annual review is in order to ensure these two match up.
3. Ask. When our son hires a new employee, he asks the employee the following questions after a couple of weeks. What do we do here that does not make sense to you? How can we improve our systems? This is a brilliant idea as you get fresh eyes to view existing methods. Often what we think works really well can be improved and it all starts with asking.
4. Coach, Train, Mentor. Do you provide professional coaching to your staff? Why not? Expensive? Much less than inefficiency and lack of self confidence on the job. What about the retirees who are now leaving the company? Do you have a system in place to gather and use that knowledge? Most retirees I know would love to make an extra couple hundred dollars to share their information and wisdom. After all it pays for the golf fees...
5. Teamwork. Such an overused phrase, but we know for Gen Y's it is all about collaboration. What kind of team environment are you building that encourages collaboration? These future leaders are not looking for another meeting, they will use social media, the internet, and work groups to solve issues in a fraction of the time. If they feel part of the team how much more will they share? 

Apologies are not always the same

Have you ever wondered if different personalities apologize differently?

Quite often this is the way it sounds...

The "D" style will say "Well, I am sorry" in a tone that makes you feel it was your fault anyway...:)

The "I" style will usually say "Hey sorry, want to grab a pizza and a beer?" with a big smile!

The "S" style gives the most sincere apology, "I am so sorry please forgive me, how can I make it up to you?"

And then there is my style (Bill) the "C" will just say

Yup, that's right nothing. We "C" styles hate to admit a mistake and so will seldom acknowledge it.

Of course this is a generalization, but you would be surprised how accurate it can be. Think about the people around you and their apology style...

Oh, by the way my "S" is screaming at me "I am so sorry if I have offended anyone with this!" LOL

Leaders on Leadership

We asked Tony Haddad (Past President AMCTO) six key leadership questions for today’s existing and upcoming leaders, here are his responses...

Was there one experience that really helped your career? Why?

      My career was assisted by a secondment to manage a public transit company.  This provided me with valuable operational experience to blend with corporate administrative skills to provide a more balanced perspective toward leadership and providing direction and advice to staff and board of directors.

What do you believe to be the most important leadership skill?

        I think the one of the most important leadership skills is the ability to assess matters and provide advice/direction in a timely manner. The ability to articulate and communicate to your audience is essential to effective leadership.

 What do you consider to be the most important decisions you make in your role as a leader?

       Among the most important decisions leaders make are those based on collaborative consultations with colleagues, representing the best interests of the organization.

 In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge facing tomorrow’s leaders?

In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge facing tomorrow’s leaders?

        Challenges facing tomorrow’s leaders will include support networks that include sufficient experience to support leadership initiatives.  In addition, adaptation to cultural shifts in how we communicate and effectively engage stakeholders and customer expectations.

 What one thing is it that a newly appointed leader needs to be doing more of?

      Newly appointed leaders should ensure and encourage collaborative consultation among the leadership team, comprising diverse representatives to and sustain effective decision making.

 What advice would you give to a new and upcoming leader?

        Surround yourself with a balance of skilled professionals, new and seasoned, with a cross-section of experience as the basis for a dynamic and effective leadership team.

The Seeds of Greatness

The Seeds Of Greatness...

Ah, summer vegetables, fruit and such. How wonderful is the harvest of the season? What about your harvest season?

This tomato was from a single plant in my garden that became lunch today. It grew from a single seed. 

But, look at the abundance of seeds within it! How many more plants could be started from this one piece of fruit?

Sometimes we wonder if we are having an impact in our lives, or the lives of others around us. Sometimes we doubt if we make a difference. 

Next time you feel that way, think of the tomato, it all starts with a single seed and that seed is you. Go make something awesome happen in the lives of others. 

Who knows how many you can inspire?

Employees-Don't beat 'em, Treat 'em

Have you ever watched the TV show Undercover Boss?

The theme is simple, the boss goes undercover to discover for him/her self how the employers are feeling about the company what efficiencies can be improved etc...

More often than not the boss is shocked to learn about their employees. It makes for interesting TV.

The key result every time I have watched this show is that people just want to be recognized for being people.

Sure it's great PR for the company to do this and the employee usually gets a bonus, but the big plus is that the employee is recognized as a human being.

Tears are shed, promises made and change generally happens.

Do you have to go undercover to find these things out in your organization? I don't think so.

By remembering their style either say, "Thanks for a job well done" or "You are awesome!" It's that simple.

Treat them with the respect they deserve rather than beat them into your way of thinking, it does work, heck maybe you want to show this to YOUR boss!

4 Ways to respond to the "D" Style

Here are four simple ways to respond when working with a "D" style individual..
1. Use a firm and direct tone
2. Focus on action and goals
3. Ask: What type of questions
4. Expect a challenge from this style, it shows interest on their part!

Progress at what price?

Recently I was visiting at the Peterborough Hospital.

I used to know the old building pretty well, as two of our three kids were born there.

A few years ago they tore down the old buildings to build a beautiful and very modern Regional Health Centre. It is state of the art and will serve our community well for many years. The modern technology and design all add to a facility that is designed to take the community well into the future with the best of patient care.

As I was walking, I noticed this stained glass window in a wood framed case.It has a special place here but you have to wonder about the significance the world puts on the Good Samaritan today. Whatever your personal beliefs are, this was the sentiment of the day when the original Peterborough Civic Hospital was built.

Kudos to the hospital board for keeping the image and displaying it still. Undoubtedly, it would have politically easier to store it in a warehouse in the minds of many.

In the end I believe hospitals and health care centres are still about mercy and caring and coming to the aid of those less fortunate.

If we leave this behind, what price do we pay for progress?

Only One Captain

Only One Captain

While working on a cruise ship is exciting and a great way to see the world one must always remember there is only one Captain on board.

The Captain is the ultimate authority on a ship. His word is final, and not to be questioned. That is the command role of senior officers.

We have sailed with many different styles of Captains. Some are very reserved, quiet, serious, and all business. They are probably “C” and “D” styles. They are not very talkative when we are on the bridge doing a commentary of the port being sailed into. They are respected for their authority and precision and expect others to do their job as directed.

We have also met Captains who have “S” in that mixture and are a real pleasure to sail with. Talkative and concerned we are comfortable they command with not only respect from their crew but the crew also like them a lot.

Here we are pictured with Captain Tony of the Princess Coral, a really nice guy.

Of course when you are responsible for 3,000 lives and a ship worth over $350 million there is not a lot of room for any kind of joker. This is serious business and every Captain we have ever had the privilege to sail with has demonstrated a no nonsense, serious approach to his command. We have always enjoyed working with these pros.

We may be the Dynamic Duo and meet people from all walks of life through our workshops on Teamwork, Teambuilding, Communications, Leadership, Emotional Intelligence and our newest Bullying in the Workplace, but we know there can only be one Captain. While we may work well as a team there are lines we each respect and don’t cross. When it comes to program content Barb is the Captain, when it comes to relationships Bill is the Captain. This way we both have designated areas of responsibility and we take them seriously.

With all that being said we often have passengers on board who are captains in their own world. Some are captains of industry, manufacturing, religion, and even their own small boats. We have met ambassadors, politicians, judges, even a Supreme Court Justice, who are all captains of their country as well. However on board, there is only one Captain. We see lots of armchair quarterbacks when we miss a port due to weather or other unsafe conditions, but there is only one captain and he makes that decision.

In most companies the most effective Captains operate differently from their sea counterparts. On land these managers/leaders often consult with their deputy managers, for valuable insight into the operation of the various departments. It can be much more collaborative, than in a pseudo military environment.

Land, or the office, is not the place for a command structure and in fact is probably the weakest form of leadership. On land the serving leader is the highest level of leadership. Caring and compassionate with vision and direction is the formula for success in today modern companies.

So as you can see there are different styles for management and effective leadership.

Our hope for your department is that there are no Captain Ahabs at the helm. If there are... we need to talk.

Feeling Crabby?

This past August, Bill was on a cruise ship travelling through New England. One of the taste treats from the Atlantic ocean is Blue crab.

A fisherman I met on the dock explained to me how they catch these delectable creatures. The catching part was not too hard. The keeping part however required a unique knowledge of crab personality!

You see, if you catch just one crab and put it in the pail, it will climb out. You need to put a lid on the pail right away to prevent the escape of your dinner. However once you have two or more crabs in the pail, you can throw the lid away. Why?

Crabs are like some unsuccessful people you met in your life. They do all kinds of things to keep others from achieving goals or improving themselves. This can take the form of office politics, gossip, role-playing, promoting mediocrity, and so on.

The good news is if people try that, you don't have to buy into it. You can stay out of the pail in the first place by refusing to be a crab.

Instead of pulling others down, try raising them up.

There is more success in helping others gain than in being a crab! Besides, crabs are ugly.

Fear

As I sit at the computer this morning trying to come up with something profound for our newsletters, it hit me that my procrastination is usually based on fear.

The fear that someone will be offended by what I write, the fear that it won't be "deep" enough or it may be too deep...

Fear, what is it? I have heard it described as an acronym, False Evidence Appearing Real. However those of us who have experienced fear know sometimes it is real. But only less than 40% of the time according to the University of Michigan.

So why do we have these fears? Newborns, they say, have only two fears, loud noises and the fear of being dropped. So what do we do? We smack their bottom with a loud sound after they fall into the hands of the doctor! Doomed from the start are we...

Perhaps during this season as a child, you had the fear of Santa. Watching the movie A Christmas Story last night on the children's visit to the store Santa and seeing it through the eyes of a child makes me wonder if perhaps this is the root of all that fear!

It is not just you and me who have fears, famous people have them too. Julius Caesar was afraid of thunder (and I think later knives), Peter the Great, was afraid of bridges. He was the absolute ruler of Russia and stood 6 feet five inches tall! Barb is in good company for she too once feared bridges...

Have you examined your fears? Perhaps it is time to take an inventory, I am not a big fan of spiders. Sadly my daughters picked up on that fear and now share it with me. I guess it is true, misery likes company.

Why not make a list of your fears and start working on overcoming them. It is said that fear causes procrastination so if you find yourself hesitating on this little project perhaps there is a fear there?

Here is what the pattern can become in some peoples lives from John Maxwell.


Fear breeds inaction;
Inaction leads to lack of experience;
Lack of experience fosters ignorance; and
Ignorance breeds fear.

See the cycle? Break it!


www.dynamics4u.com

Brain cells vs 000's and 111's

A few years ago while on board a cruise ship speaking I decided I needed a new watch. The boutique on board had many different brands and some were very expensive. I looked at Tag, Rolex, and a few others and decided they were way too much money and not nearly fancy enough.

However, we had a great rapport with the store manager and I knew I could get a bargain on a very fancy upscale timepiece. It may not be diamond encrusted or many thousands of dollars but it would look impressive. I was going for the look.

She listened carefully to my exploding ego talk about what was important to me in a timepiece (none of which had anything to do with telling time) with patience and drooled at the opportunity to sell me a fancy looking high tech gadget.

She showed me a really upscale state of the art watch that had enough buttons to launch the space shuttle. Perfect, I thought that is what I need. This watch had auto synchronization to an atomic clock throughout the world, a solar battery that never needs replacing, different time zones around the world, two alarms, pressure tested to 500 feet (I rarely swim below 4 feet of water) a titanium case, and of courser a great look. It is an aviators watch with a special dial around the crown for figuring out navigational numbers like speed, fuel usage etc.. This is all stuff I really need because it makes the watch look better, not because I have ever piloted a plane.

It looked fabulous, had a heavy feel and was a statement of success, I thought...

Well, it has been several years now, the watch still looks great, (that titanium case really works) I wear with a certain amount of pride as a symbol of a sort of achievement. Vanity at it's best.

The reality? This thing drives me nuts!

Every year about this time I have to change the time for daylight savings, and every year I spend a stupid amount of time trying to get the thing to do what I want. And, its not just here; if we are travelling and God forbid we go into another time zone I am lost. It calls for a trip to the ships jewellery store to find a 20's somebody who actually knows how to make this technological sun dial work!

How important is the solar panel to me now? How much do I gain from the auto synchronization to the atomic clock in Fort Collins now?

If I try to set it, I can't see the flipping numbers or dials. Clearly this was made for an aviator with better than 20/20 vision not an old guy who needs reading glasses.

After 30 minutes both online and with the manual, (I keep the manual right on my desk because I know next Spring this is going to happen again) two cups of coffee, several expletives, the time is now correct.

I think... it may be set for pm rather than am, again, I can't see the darn dials. I will know that tomorrow, when the date is wrong and the whole thing has to be done again...

I am almost to the point of making it my desk paperweight. Either that or re-gifting it to a son or son in law who can still see the dials.

So the moral of the story? While I love technology, I have to watch out for ego, vanity, not to get in the way of making a sensible purchase.

Now about, about that new Ipad 2.....

Still, it looks pretty.... and it was a bargain... justify, justify it...

Preparation

Today as I sit in Canadian Tire getting new snow tires, I am actually ahead of the curve when it comes to winter prep.
How often do we leave tasks like this till the last minute and then wonder why we can't get traction on the issue?
I know In the past I have been guilty of this type of procrastination, how about you?
What "tires" do you need to change to get better results in your life?
What are your "wear indicators" telling you? On tires it is obvious, sometimes in us they are hidden in stress, anger, impatience, to name a few.
Give yourself a check up from the neck up and see if it is time for some new wheels.

Home away from home

When you travel as much as we do, about the last thing we look forward to is another sterile, generic, hotel room. Over the past few years we have experienced some wonderful B&B's. What a refreshing way to spend an evening, and what beautiful surroundings.
Often the other guests are fascinating too! Last time we stayed here there was a judge who shared breakfast with us. Some great conversation happened over warm croissants.
Truly great hosts at this establishment as they remembered us from our visit two years ago, right down to what I take in my coffee. Now theta is customer service. Not like the fancy hotel and cookie blog from earlier.
The message for today's blog is make the best of travel. Don't just opt for another bland hotel room, go for something unique and make it your home away from home.
I have included a picture of Viewfield in Walkerton.