Winning Direction
Charting A New Course
Amid the Turbulence of
Competition
By
Fred Martels
Oliver Wendell Holmes said “Greatness is not where we stand, but what direction are we moving. We must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it—but sail we must, and not drift, nor lie at anchor”.
Many industries are once again sailing against the wind and faced with many competitive challenges. With that in mind, what direction is your company moving? Do you have a clear sense of direction? Or is your organization drifting or even lying at anchor.
Your options are either to continue to nothing and drift or decide to take action and chart a new course for your company. Charting a new course in these challenging times requires strong leadership and a team of employees who stay on the job, are customer focused, and committed to sailing against the wind—and winning.
As the captain of the ship your first responsibility is to your employees. They are your most important asset—right? Now is the time to prove it. You cannot expect to achieve your goals without a team of employees who stay on the job and are customer focused. Your employees influence the perception of quality and customer shopping decisions. Pay attention to the things that build commitment and motivate your employees.
Reducing employee turnover and
building commitment from employees to go the extra mile takes on greater
importance especially now. Interestingly
though, not many employers are stepping up their efforts to retain and motivate
their employees during such a vulnerable time. Management can actually appear
to be indifferent to employees as if to say, “hey you are lucky to be here….
for now.”
Studies by the Gallup organization and People Solution Strategies have found that individual motivation and commitment, and consequently customer loyalty can be enhanced through a positive work environment high on strong relationships with peers and management, feedback, recognition, and a clear understanding of expectations.
The relationship between managers and employees is a key area of concern. Studies conducted by People Solution Strategies consistently show the significance of this relationship. The stronger the relationship is between employees and their manager, the greater the impact on turnover and on customer loyalty.
Giving timely feedback can have a positive impact on
employee performance. Uncertainty can decrease their level of performance.
Provide them with the opportunity to periodically give and receive candid
feedback on work performance, business practices and suggestions for
improvement. A recent survey conducts by “Market Facts” found that more than 90
percent of employees believe they have good ideas, but most of them won’t speak
up, with 62 percent of the respondents believing that their employers are not
interested in listening. What would your employees say about that?
Set and communicate measurable performance standards
that satisfy expectations. Then, provide feedback on their progress and explain
how their efforts are making a difference.
Recognize Employees who go the Extra Mile
Why is it
that something that is so easy and fun to do is so hard for managers? Exceptional leaders know that recognizing workers
for their contribution to the organization builds self-confidence and
commitment. Effective leaders
make it a point to create an atmosphere that encourages and affirms. Catch your
employees doing something right; then tell them why it was right; and watch
their commitment soar.
Provide Clear Expectations
To achieve goals and objectives in your own organization
your employees need clearly defined expectations. To be successful, they need
to know what their job is, how to do it and what is expected of them.
Training is very important to employees and has a
significant impact on turnover and on customer loyalty. Our studies
consistently show that knowledgeable, competent employees have a positive
effect on customer loyalty. Learning
their job is critical to your employees understanding expectations and how to
meet them.
There is an old Chinese proverb that says: “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Achieving your goals begins by taking one step, then another, and another until you have finally reached your goals.
In these challenging times when you are sailing against the wind develop your employees so that you are all moving in the same direction . . . the right direction. Be persistent and stay the course.