Create a great workplace with these 7 questions
Q: What’s on the minds of your employees?
A: Getting better at what they do and being allowed to contribute to the greater good of the organization. Really, that’s all that is on their minds. Go ahead and ask them.
Okay, well maybe updating their Facebook status is also on their minds. Tweeting that they are in the bathroom. Texting their significant other about the romantic weekend that is being planned.
So how do you get as much productivity and interest as Facebook, tweeting and texting?
It’s easy.
Ask questions.
So much could be learned about employees if we asked them some questions versus jumping to conclusions (or thinking you know it all). Employee morale would improve. Employee engagement might increase. Productivity just might soar. You might have happy employees. But you don’t want truthful answers in order to get those results, right?
Below is a partial entry from Diary of the Happiest Employee on Earth: 52 Provoking Thoughts for Creating a Great Workplace. Why not take some time soon (maybe even today) and give these some thought.
Week #42
Dear Diary,
Arrived to work Monday morning and found these 7 questions on my desk. Boss asked me to answer them by the end of day:
- This is a great place to work because?
- I could contribute more to my employer if?
- In order for me to improve my skills I would need?
- The things I like most about my job are?
- The things I would like to see improve at my job are?
- If I could have any job in the company it would be?
- My latest contribution to the organization was?
On Tuesday morning there was a note on my desk to…
Why not use one of these questions to get to know your employees better? Perhaps use them as a meeting ice breaker. Take a Recess one day next week and have a conversation with your team. And if you want to know what the note said you’ll have to email me or buy the book
—–
RICH DIGIROLAMO, founder Recess At Work, works with organizations to create happier work environments, strengthen work teams, design new programs, and create better relationships with customers and peers. In his new book Diary of the Happiest Employee on Earth: 52 Provoking Thoughts for Creating a Great Workplace he talks about why it is important for every employee to understand as much of your business as possible.
Are you ready to take a Recess with Rich, inject some new energy into your organization and create an even better employee experience?
Now that’s not fun! My Peer Coaching experience.
A little over a month ago my good friend lost his job. Ten years with the company and he received a two week severance package. Woo-Hoo!! (Sarcasm)
Trying to be of help I shared with him something I had been wanting to try…………Peer Coaching. I learned about it while reading some of Marshall Goldsmith’s work. I thought it would help as he moves forward to his next job adventure.
Here is basically the way it works:
At the end of each day (Mon-Fri) we get on the phone and ask each other 20 questions. We record one another’s answers. It’s a quick phone call. No judgments. Positive affirmations. A little bit of encouragement and support.
At the end of the week we each receive a summary of those responses. I designed my own 20 questions (they have been tweaked and changed in the last month); he designed his. Some are business; others are personal. We also decided to ask one another a tough question at the end of each day regarding our responses.
For me it’s been a Recess (a break form my normal work style) and a great accountability tool. Design 20 questions that will keep me on track to personal, relationship, health, and business success. During the day if I find myself suffering from The Bright Shiny Object Syndrome I also have a place I can refer to; to get me grounded; my 20 questions.
So how has it gone?
OUCH!
My life has been like an airplane in a holding pattern for some time now; circling the airport and getting me dizzy. I’ve been dealing with the health issues of a family member and it has consumed more time than I ever would have imagined. In reviewing my summary responses from the last month there are a lot of what might be considered “negative” responses or responses where I continue to take no action.
My immediate thought: This is not fun at all. This is stupid. Run! Get the hell out of this arrangement as fast as possible.
My second thought was that of ego: My good friend, the one who thinks I have it all together, is going to see how “the real Rich” is not so together.
But then I realized I wrote my latest book, got it edited and will be releasing it shortly.
Diary of the Happiest Employee on Earth: 52 Provoking Thoughts for Creating a Great Workplace will be available mid to late October.
So while I didn’t pedal as many miles on my bike as I would have liked; nor spent the time I would have hoped on program and product development I can celebrate the accomplishment of writing the book (and being a good relative).
Is Peer Coaching for you? Is this a way to keep employees and volunteers engaged and excited? Is it a way to boost employee morale?
What do you have to lose?
But more importantly how are you going to celebrate the successes? After all, what started out as me helping a friend has offered amazing insight into my own world.
Is it 5:00 yet?
RICH DIGIROLAMO works with organizations to create happier work environments, strengthen work teams, design new programs, and create better relationships with customers and peers.
So who has ever wanted to murder a coworker?
Please do not take the title of this post to heart. And no, given the verdict in the Casey Anthony trial yesterday I am not suggesting murder and the right defense attorney will actually allow you to succeed. I’m here to have some fun and offer some food for thought………
I’m currently reading the book Murder Packs a Suitcase by Cynthia Baxter. Last night I came across the following paragraph:
“……there was probably no greater mystery on earth than the reason one person was attracted to another. Couples had their own secret life, one that no one else has privy to. Even attempting to comprehend it was usually a waste of time.”
And it got me thinking of workplaces. Every company has that one person; that person we all wonder why the boss keeps him or her around; no matter how toxic they are to the environment. And you try to make some sense of it! Do they bring in so much revenue that it makes sense to keep them? Are they the biggest source of creativity and new ideas? Are they a catalyst for driving others to be better; even with what might be viewed as arrogance? Workplaces around the world are packed with people who make us all shake our heads in disbelief; lead us to just not understand.
Maybe we’re not supposed to understand. Maybe we’re just supposed to smile, laugh, secretly plot their demise at lunch, and do our best. Maybe those people, in their own “special” way, are giving us opportunity to get better at what we do? While their approach to life might be different and the way they express themselves might not be what we understand or how we express ourselves, perhaps we need to look past that and learn something that allows us to grow?
Maybe we need to question them and the thoughts behind their actions instead of running from those actions or having hallway/lunchtime conversations about those people? After all haven’t we all misinterpreted someones words or actions because we chose not to ask that person directly what exactly they mean, but choose to interpret those actions based on our beliefs? Maybe if we questioned them enough we would understand how they think and find out we have a lot more in common than we believe.
Because if you really think of it, a relationship between a couple is very similar to a boss/employee relationship.
MY follow-up plan dictates how I VIEW OTHERS! Does yours?
- When I meet someone at a networking event I send them some sort of communication within 24 hours. It could be an email, text, tweet, or handwritten note. (Yes, I’m doing my part to keep the USPS in business; why I don’t know at times.)
- When someone makes a donation through the charity I founded, (One Less Meal, Inc.), a personal, silly, fun acknowledgement is sent within 24 hours. Could be a note, email or shout out on a Social Media site. People love to be recognized – especially in public forums.
- When I receive an inquiry about speaking, training or consulting for an organization you get a phone call or an email from me ASAP and never more than 24 hours later. Heck, once I found myself on the phone at midnight. (She sent an email at 11:45 PM; I sent an email saying “wanna talk now?”)
These are my rules. This is how I run my business. If it means staying up past my bedtime I do it.
Do I ever fail myself? Of course.
But here’s the issue………..because that is how I run my business that is how I assume others run theirs. And I like doing business with people who operate with a similar work style or ethic.
- So when I meet you at a business event, and you promise me pricing on a product I don’t want to be waiting almost one week later for your reply; especially when you’re one of many options.
- When I approach you for help/advice (and possibly hiring you) and you tell me to get in touch; and I do, again waiting one week throws all kinds of red flags up for me; starting with what will your delivery be like if I choose to do business with you?
So if you’re a salesperson or in a customer service role (which everyone is) try keeping these two simple ideas in mind:
- Ask people what they expect from you when it involves follow-up.
- If you’re so busy and can’t/won’t respond for days let people know; or perhaps you need to look at your systems.
Some of the busiest people I know make promises to return calls within 3 hours; emails within 24 hours; texts within a few hours. If they can do it, so can I.
So can you.
Reason for Refund: We Suck!
My last two attempts to get a package delivered overnight via the United States Postal Service were unsuccessful. They never got to the recipient the next day. Fortunately in both cases it wasn’t the end of the world.
This morning I went to get a refund for one of those packages. The clerk was doing something on the computer and talking out loud when he apparently came to the “Reason for Refund” field on his screen.
“We suck!” were the words that came out of his mouth.
I laughed. And thought true, yes you guys do suck. But then I thought………….
Imagine if “WE SUCK” was an option. Imagine if the employee chose that option. Imagine if someone up the USPS food chain read that option. Imagine if employees were given that option as a way to express their frustration with poor service by their employer; about being the ones on the front lines who have to deal with unhappy customers like me (and I was a nice unhappy customer).
Imagine if We Suck was chosen more often than Failed Service Delivery?
Do you think it would get the attention of people who matter? Do you think they would recognize that they are providing a poor customer experience and an even worse employee experience?
The more I think about it the more I think the WE SUCK option might have huge benefit for a lot of businesses. It would definitely be a Recess from the norm.
A Trip To The Dog Park
Feeling a bit uninspired today I decided to take an hour off and take the dogs down to the local dog park.
It was our first time there and I didn’t know what to expect. What does one do at a dog park? What do you bring? What if the other dogs start making fun of my dogs? What if my dogs are chosen last when teams are chosen? So many questions; not many answers.
Well I guess you just let dogs do what they do – sniff, romp, sniff, run, sniff, bark, sniff and sniff. Owners have small talk until some one’s “child” gets a bit aggressive and then you take corrective action while the other kids still try to sniff.
Well five of us were there with our “kids”, having a good time, when the grounds person showed up. He was on the cell phone with someone who apparently was ordering him to order us to move our dogs to the far end of the fenced in area so that the grass would have a chance to grow.
“You really think you’re gonna grow grass at a dog park and actually expect the dogs to stay in one area until it grows? This is a dog park. The dogs run all over.” said Daisy’s mom.
Go get em Daisy’s mom!!!
His response was that he needed to grow grass. (Just doing his job obviously; no matter how much truth there might be to her comments.)
I could only chuckle as I watched my dog doing that digging scratching tearing up the grass thing that dogs do after they do “their business”.
The man didn’t see me. I took my children home before we were asked never to come back. And here I thought I had found an option to saving my grass. Oh well.
Be Willing to Learn. It Earns You Respect.
When I attend a conference as a presenter I always attend sessions of other speakers. Sometimes I attend to get information. Sometimes I attend to get tips on how to be better at my craft. Other times I just attend to have fun. (Okay, most of the time I attend to have fun.) Heck, I even attend to “steal” material and get some motivation for myself. I am a learner.
Monday evening a woman came up to me shared the following thought:
I was sitting with you this morning at the General Session. I was impressed that you were our opening keynote speaker last night and you were there in attendance his morning. You even took notes.
I shared with her that I really liked what he had to say; a lot of what he did complemented my work and I am eager to find out how he and I might be able to help one another. I also told her some words I live by; which are “the day I cannot learn something new is a sad day.”
Jurassic Park III dvd We can all learn; from strangers as well as our peers.
- Untamed Heart full
- If you’re an accountant other accountants can teach you something.
- If you’re a secretary other secretaries can teach you something.
- If you’re a doctor other doctors can teach you something.
- If you’re a Recreation Professional other Recreation Professionals can teach you something.
- If you’re a teacher other teachers can teach you something. Heck even the students can teach you things.
Do I need to go on?
Being willing to learn earns you the respect that you don’t often think about. Being willing to learn separates you from others in your industry – the ones who may think they know it all. They don’t. Neither do you. Neither do I.
So shut up, listen, and learn something today.
Little Things Really Do Go A Long Way
I walked into my hotel room the other day and there was a bag on the bed. Inside was a card welcoming me to a Recreation and Park Society Conference. I was their opening keynote speaker later that afternoon. Inside that bag was also an assortment of my favorite candy – Marshmallow Peeps. After I delivered the keynote I was thanked with more Peeps.
On Monday I delivered a leadership session and a Recess from the way we think session. At the end of each I was showered with more of my favorite candy.
Yes, I was a paid presenter. Yes, they treated me like a celebrity – making sure everything was set up the way I needed, including me in all of the social activities, etc. But it was those Peeps that meant the world to me. That someone took the time to get to know me as we developed a relationship/partnership during the last year. Thanks Daphne, Tony and Audrey.
The Master of Ballantrae dvdrip
It really doesn’t take a lot to make someones day – even in these times when finances might be tough. It doesn’t take a lot at all. So with that in mind………………..
Bob Saget: That Ain’t Right download buy Fall Out-Fall in
Do you have the opportunity to do a little thing today or tomorrow for someone else. Go for it! And make it a habit.
The Spirit of Barbara! Catch It!
I sat next to Barbara on a flight yesterday. We chatted and laughed for about an hour on the flight from Hartford to Washington DC. Barbara was probably old enough to be my mother. We laughed at the crazies in the airport. We laughed at all the people annoyed about our delay. We laughed about the economy. We laughed about lazy people we have (or in her case, still) work with. We laughed about her husband leaving his glasses home (he was sitting a couple of rows back). We laughed about any topic that popped up.
Towards the end of the conversation I asked Barbara if she had kids. She said she had two; now only has one. She shared that her son was killed in an accident at twenty-one years old. We continued talking and laughing. I was amazed and commented.
Then she said to me, you can let the experience kill you too; or make you stronger. We continued to laugh.
Futurama: Bender’s Big Score ipod Chicago 10 rip
What’s eating at you these days? What’s upsetting or worrying to you. Have you taken some time to laugh? Go do it. There’s enough unhappy people in the world; (Quick aside: now it seems that most of them live in Portland, OR.) But there’s one person who continues to laugh – despite one of the worst things that can happen to a mother.
So today I say Catch the Spirit of Barbara and go create some laughter.
Why Aren't People Paying Attention In That Meeting?
Found myself sitting in a meeting recently and noticed the following going on:
- People were texting The Simpsons Movie full
- People were twittering
- People were talking
- People were emailing
- People were doodling
- People were cleaning out their purse
- One person was writing checks
- Another was making a list of some sort
- One was cleaning his finger nails – and then staring at what came out.
- And one guy was observing all of the above (that would be me!)
download 3-2-1 Penguins! As a speaker I know one thing, if they’re doing any or all of the above, it’s my fault (for the most part); I’m not keeping them interested or engaged. But on the other hand some people need a little guidance at a meeting to recognize why they are in attendance. It’s one of the reasons I created The Meeting Playce
Mat™; to give people a tool to take something away from that meeting experience. It’s fun; it’s creative; and it gets you thinking.
Keep the people engaged and we won’t be doing all of those things listed above. But how do you keep people engaged? Here are three ideas:
- Include them by asking stimulating questions
- Offer them opportunity to interact and be a part of the meeting; to put to practice what you are presenting
- Give them new and fresh content – or at least take a new thinking approach to old stuff. Stop rehashing old ideas.
There are many more. But why not start here. If you’re a presenter of any sort; civic meeting; staff meeting; or conference presenter, make a pledge right now to keep those people with you and not looking for opportunity to go to technology land, finger crud world or the ear wax kingdom.
