That is not a motivated crew! They want to do their work and go home. There is no feeling of ownership or belonging. I am concerned when I do not hear laughter at a company during the course of the day. Laughter indicates a connection among fellow workers. Talking softly typically indicates fear or secrets. Both of these are enemies of teamwork and motivation.

Solving The Problem:

• Evaluate your employees. Mushrooms grow well in darkness, but employees decay. Evaluations can be an extremely powerful motivation tool as long as you indicate what they are doing well, and then choose one or two areas you would like to see improvement. Everyone has areas, which need improvement. Doing this will indicate that you care about your employees and want to see them prosper.

• Give recognition among the group as examples of what you are expecting. Encouragement is Empowering! I once met a high school football coach who had not lost a game in over two years. He told me he only had a few real talents. The rest simply believed they were the best because that is what we told them. “We beat teams that, on paper, we should have lost to, but our guys believed they could win, so they did.”

• Thank your employees for working hard. Praise and appreciation are like vitamins. If you don’t see immediately results, continue with a daily dosage. Soon you will see more energy. I believe most everyone wants to do a good job. If you find someone does not fit with your personality, transfer him or her to a different manager. If they won’t work for a different manager, get rid of them! It only takes a few holes to sink a ship.

Keep up the good work. You can be a great manager!

Ken Bear Cole

A Second Look Business Consulting LLC

Typically managers and sales people are paid bonuses depending upon their profitable production. Sounds good so far, but her lies the flaws. Manager “A” will not rescue any other manager whose project is in trouble, because it could diminish their bonus. They would rather allow the company to take a larger loss then needed. I have actually witnessed one manager sabotage another manager’s project. It lowers company profits, but the first manager looks better.

So how do you solve the problem? It is simple math. Divide the amount of bonus money by the total number of employees. I am sure some of you think I am mad. But read a little further and you will see the positive effects of my plan.

When ALL employees are rewarded for company profits, you create a cohesive team ALL working for one goal, maximum company profits. I believe your lower paid employees cause most losses. It’s a lot like a football team. Your Blue Collar Workers are like the linemen. They don’t get much attention unless they make a mistake. But these people make it possible for the superstars of sales to score profitable accounts. Think back on what has cost you customers. Did it have something to do with your products, or was it the quality of your service? A simple missing screw or mislabeled product can cost you thousands in damages and customers for life.

Your Blue Collar Workers enjoy a pat on the back for doing a good job; just like the lineman who creates a hole for your star running back.

Together Everyone Accomplishes More!

Ken Bear Cole

A Second Look Business Consulting LLC

Threats, spoken or not, will achieve the opposite effect. They will cause an automatic reaction in your employee’s brain, which will cause then to make more errors and cut off their problem solving skills.

Unexplained closed-door meetings are like introducing the flu to the group. Some employees feel secure with their job and will not react, while others will need to take a sick day and upgrade their resume. An information vacuum will suck the life from your workers and replace it with fear.

Your team needs the nutrition of appreciation and encouragement to grow to their potential. You can transform a lagging employee with a simple, “Good Job” or “Thank You.” Utilizing appreciation will make your job much easier. You will also find that appreciation is contagious. You will find your team working together rather then protecting their work by sabotaging others.

It would be easier to work with machines, because they do not have emotions. Simply add a little lubrication now and then, and they will work well for years. Your job as a manager of living, breathing employees, is much more challenging then that of a mechanic. So treat them with respect. They are your number one assets!

Ken Bear Cole

A Second Look Business Consulting LLC.

Building cohesive teams at work is much more involved then company trips or visualization activities. To build a team, it all starts with you their leader. You must be committed to a working environment of honesty and encouragement. You must be willing to view your employees as your number one company asset. But the proof is not in written policies or posters on the wall. The proof is in your actions.

With 35 years of marriage to the same woman, I know a little about commitment and encouragement. It’s not easy, nor convenient, but it has been worth the effort. Building a company team will also not be easy. But the end result can produce a powerful company, in which the employees work together for the betterment of all.

Like most teams, the participants will have varied skill levels. Your job, much like a coach of an athletic team, is to help each team member grow to their full potential. Encouraging your employees is much like fertilizing a garden. It adds nutrients to assist growth. Explaining your plans for each employee will indicate their acceptance into the team.

No one can grow unless they are stretched and challenged. A good manager will create opportunities for employees to grow without risking damage to the company. I do not believe it is unreasonable to ask your employees to do homework off the clock. Just like taking a class, potential leaders should be willing to describe how they would handle certain situations during after hours. Explain that these exercises are for their personal betterment and growth. Do not require participation. This can lead to potential legal problems. Leaders will want to do more.

Ken Bear Cole

A Second Look Business Consulting LLC