Posted: September 19, 2011 | Categories: Management
Our unemployment rate is high. People are working more hours due to layoffs, more job complexity, and higher demands. A national Human Resource Group reports that 60% of people do not like their jobs. As Matthew Kelly points out in his book, The Dream Manager, “workers who are frustrated and resentful are not fully engaged. If they are only 60% engaged, they are only 60% employed.”
Have you ever seen a situation where someone was upset, and their concerns were brushed aside or discounted? What happened? We know what happened. The anger turned to resentment, and the resentment grew.
One of my favorite shows when I was a kid was Roy Rogers. He was a good cowboy, and also a person who was loved by his employees. Roy could sense frustration like radar, and when he did, he would interrupt his schedule and say, “Let’s go take a walk”. And when he was walking, who do you think was doing most of the talking? That’s right…the other person. Roy listened with sincerity and empathy. He made people feel important, and they responded by giving 100%.
Let’s admit it: It is easy for us to get so lost in our routine that we miss important clues from our people. If we take time to pay attention and get in tune with our people, we can build a more favorable working environment while helping our employees enjoy happier lives.
