How does looking at everyone else’s happiness help you?
It’s 9 days until Recess At Work http://recessatworkday.com and I’ll be talking about it today on the Money Matters Radio show at 1:30PM. If you’re in Massachusetts you can listen to it on WBNW AM 1120, WESO 970 and WPLM AM 1390. Or listen/watch at www.moneymattersboston.com. But for now…..
Someone asked me a question recently……..If I had to choose between good pay/benefits or a good company culture which would I choose. I responded with why do we have to choose; why can’t an organization provide both?
The response I received talked about how this guy is managed by an absentee manager (who supposedly is famous), at a company who just went to a four day work week and cut everyone’s hours and pay. This manager then showed up to work with a shiny new high end SUV the next day. Clearly the guy who asked me the question was pissed.
So I asked him why he stays in that type of an environment and I got some whining about not many jobs in his field and how his wife works for a great company with great pay/benefits and a great culture. There were so many dots and ways I could have connected his response, but decided to invest my time on things that matter. So I archived his whiny emails and decided to use it as your lesson today.
But first let’s toss out a few ideas here:
- Maybe the manager had ordered the car weeks/months ago and it just came in?
- Maybe the manager’s personal financial situation should not be roped into a corporate decision?
- Maybe the manager bought the car now, while he felt he still could?
- Maybe the manager is an insensitive jerk with no clue?
- Maybe the employee needs to stop looking at being a victim?
- Maybe the employee didn’t take advantage of the advantages of an absentee manager?
- Maybe the employee needs to look at the extra day off as an opportunity to change his situation; especially if his wife has a good paying job?
- Maybe the employee needs to stop getting frustrated with those above him and get actively involved in changing the pay and culture in his organization?
But one thing is certain to me …………….This company needs a Recess!
The definition of Recess is a break from the norm; a cessation of customary activities of an engagement. It says nothing about fun, games and Play. But why not. Read Stuart Brown’s book entitled Play and you’ll rethink how play can change your business. But I digress……
I’m thinking it was the norm that had led this company to the place where pay and day cuts became the only orders being filled. No creativity. No innovative new ideas. That’s the problem I see. Not reduced work week and pay. I look at it as people who were not watching what was happening and didn’t react, reinvent or change. That’s what I see. Isn’t every employee ultimately responsible for cutbacks, layoffs, scaling-downs, and the ultimate demise of an organization? If you say no, your wife deserves to work at a better company.
Now I’m not going to get into my views on the BP Oil spill (although if you’re a “friend” on Facebook and saw the picture I posted yesterday you probably will figure it out); but BP did reach out to anyone and everyone to come up with a solution. If you had an idea, they were ready to hear it; no matter how far-fetched it may have seen. Organizations need to do this as well. Everyone has ideas. The CEO. Managers. Receptionists. Administrative types. Maintenance people. Everyone.
In my world I imagine people at all levels of an organization gathering to find solutions to problems, create new offerings and design memorable customer experiences that matter. It’s not done in a boardroom. It’s not a meeting that involves nothing but corporate speak. It’s not secretive and behind closed doors. Great business deals have been sealed on golf and tennis courses. Great company challenges can be overcome by incorporating a bit of fun, games, team building or engaging in some creativity in your parking lot or courtyard.
So whether it’s June 17th or not, any day is a good day to take a Recess, communicate the challenges and gather everyone together in a less formal setting to come up with solutions. Then everyone will be happy.
Are you up for the task?
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Need some last minute ideas for your company Recess? Click here for 50 Fun Ways
