Archive for April, 2008
5 Smurf-tastic Tips to Work Like a Great Team
The Smurfs are great role models because they understood how to work happy. They had many great traits that every company would love to have.
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They worked as a team
They knew that they couldn’t do it all alone, so they came together to fight off Gargamel (the bad guy who wanted to eat them). They gathered all their collective intelligence and got the job done.
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Papa Smurf made quick decisions
Everyone would look to Papa Smurf to assess the situation and make a quick, but thoughtful decision. More CEOs should watch some Smurfs to see how Papa Smurf kept everyone calm. Wouldn’t it be cool to see Bill Gates or Larry Page watching the Smurfs before they left for work?
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They always look on the bright side
The Smurfs always landed into trouble, like all good cartoons. They never thought that they couldn’t escape a situation, except for Brainy. He always thought they were doomed, but his negativity never rubbed off on the other Smurfs because they knew that they had to stay positive to get back to the village safely.
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They laughed, sang and danced
They were always celebrating. This cool article about celebrating was written by Tom Volkar at Delightful Work. We need to celebrate our wins and flops. Yes our flops too, so we never forget the mistakes we made. Check out my post about creating a monthly fun plan to keep spirits high.
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Every Smurf had his role, but was always willing to pitch in.
Every Smurf understood his/her strengths. Papa Smurf was the leader, Brainy was smart, and Handy was able to build anything, but no matter what they were involved in – they were never afraid to chip in and help each other to get the job done.
Next time you are stuck in a difficult situation ask yourself, “What would Papa Smurf do?”
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How to Get Your Boss Naked
Wouldn’t we all like to see what our boss looks like naked? Even the ones that aren’t that beautiful would still be intriguing. I’m not talking about seeing them in their birthday suit. I’m talking about seeing them emotionally naked. I know that I would love to be a fly on the wall when my boss is talking to her best friend.
You will probably never get your boss to talk to you like she talks to her best friend, but you can create a relationship that’s based on trust. This trust will create appreciation for you, and the more your boss appreciates you the more enjoyable your work experience will be.
Times have changed from thirty years ago when everyone wanted to keep their emotions out of the work place. Back then employees were paid to do a job while keeping their mouth shut. It was before my time, but I’ve heard plenty of stories. Employees used to trust the company to take care of them, but as our culture changes we need to take a more active role in making sure that we are cared for.
Creating a more intimate relationship with your boss will encourage your boss to be honest with you. You could find out privileged information that might let you know that you need to start looking for a new job because of layoffs, or information that might help you get a promotion. On the other hand, if you have a cold relationship with your boss you will most likely get the short end of the promotion.
I’m not condoning politicking your way to the top, but I am saying you should create a genuine relationship with your boss. Some people call it brown nosing, but I think we need to redefine it. There are different levels of brown nosing and the authentic kind is the one we need to embrace. I don’t think it’s sucking up if you are honest and smart with your compliments, questions, and conversations.
Talk to your boss or manager without being intimidated by their stature. They are human like you and me. They have their weaknesses and strengths. The more you understand this the easier it will be to create a solid relationship.
Some bosses don’t like a lot of talk about family, but maybe he enjoys car racing. Just because you don’t understand your boss’s interests doesn’t mean you can’t talk about him. So poke around with questions and comments and see how he reacts. Maybe you’ll find common ground between the two of you. Once you do you’ll make your relationship more open and naked, right where you need it to be to get the most out of your job.
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How to Relieve Back Pain after Sitting at a Desk All Day
My back would usually become sore and tired around the same time every day. I would get so caught up in my work that I wouldn’t make time to stay aware of my slowly tightening muscles. 3pm would arrive and I would always complain to my co-worker. When she pointed out my routine I knew I needed to make an adjustment. I began by watching my habits throughout the morning and early afternoon.
Now that I was paying attention to my posture and back I noticed that the tightening would begin an hour after I was back from lunch. I knew that I needed to circumvent this pain by being proactive, so I created a little schedule.
I stretched at the top of every hour for two minutes. I would stand up and gently twist back and forth, touch my toes, lean from side to side and reach my arms in the air. Some of my co-workers made some snide remarks, but I pushed on. After a few weeks I noticed a big difference. The stretching reduced my back ache by at least 50%. There are some days I don’t have any back pain at all.
If you have back pain because you sit in the same position all day long, try a little stretching at the top of every hour. You’ll probably notice that stretching also relaxes you. Taking the time to relax at work will help you relieve the stress that builds throughout the day.
Do you have a regular routine that helps keep you healthy and happy at your job?
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It’s the Little Touches that People Remember
I recently stayed at a Double Tree Hotel in Dallas for training and their little touches were right on the money. When we arrived they had plenty of people working the front desk. The computers were freezing as they processed our check-in, so while we waited for their computer to boot back up the lady gave us some warm chocolate chip cookies. They even had a woman call up to my room fifteen minutes after I walked in to make sure everything was satisfactory. That wasn’t even the best part.
The lady that checked us in had a great personality. You could tell that she was working happy. She smiled and joked with us even when she was frustrated with her computer. It made me think of a quote from Charles D. Kerns, PhD.
Both job performance and the employees’ level of happiness impact the potential of success for an organization.
When an employee can manage the little annoyances and still allow for a good customer experience then they will help make their company a success. These employees will also rub off on the rest of the staff.
I never asked the woman at the hotel if she had trained her staff to respond to customers’ requests in a happy way, but when I stopped by the desk to ask for the training schedule a man in her staff smiled and gave me the starting time for the next morning. I’ve been in the same situation in the past and about 9 out of 10 times I’ve been given the look of “why are you disturbing me with such a trivial question.” He seemed to have the same attitude as her manager: happy.
I wish that I could have asked her what her, techniques were, but I could see that she didn’t have time with the line backing up behind me. It made me think of another passage from Charles D. Kerns, PhD.
Perhaps the initial way for a managerial leader to think about how to influence the happiness level of his or her employees is in relation to the employee’s present situation. For example, engagement with one’s work can likely be enhanced by having an individual assess her “strengths” and utilize those strengths in her work. This may include coaching to help the individual use her strengths in innovative ways. An employee’s level of engagement at work, and subsequent happiness, is likely boosted when he or she has the opportunity to do what he or she does best at work – utilizing one’s strengths is a positive experience.
She probably hired people who were like her, or human resources hired “people-oriented” employees who know how to make a customer feel good.
Whatever training or happy plan they had in place seemed to be working, and I’ll be staying at a Double Tree again whenever I have the choice.
Have you ever had an outstanding customer service experience? Share your story.
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Renew Your Thoughts to Improve Your Work Outlook
I’ve stumbled across an emotional tool that I’ve grown to love. It’s renewing on a scheduled basis. I’ve read about it in a few magazine articles, but never took the time to try it out. Once I did, it changed my life.
“We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves; otherwise we harden.”
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Many psychiatrists believe that you need to find out what happened in your past to figure out the present. The method can help, but it can also damage the person’s ability to forgive and forget. It has taken me years to forgive myself for the thousands of mistakes I’ve made. I was very tough on myself and felt that it was the only way I would learn not to make a mistake again.
The Internal Struggle
I used to struggle to wake up and see the enjoyment in the upcoming day or a task at my job. When my old habits of negativity arise I stop, let out my breath, and renew my thoughts. Now I visualize myself getting out of bed and walking to the bathroom with a smile on my face and then I physically make myself do it even when I don’t want any part of smiling. The thoughts start to turn positive. They move toward the things that are easy to enjoy, such as the feel of the soft rug, then toward brushing my teeth. All of these enjoyable thoughts surface and feed off of each other, and before I know it I’m excited to be taking a shower or eating breakfast.
Schedule It
Renewing my life on a schedule has been easier than doing it on a moment to moment basis. I make sure that I do it first thing in the morning, once before lunch, and one time at bed. One day I hope to reach the level of working happy in every moment, but as of right now I have to work with what I’ve got.
What do you struggle to enjoy?
- A specific part of your job?
- A pain in the butt co-worker?
- Your commute to work?
Practice renewing your feelings by letting go of your dislike toward that annoying co-worker and stay in the moment. You’ll notice things that make you feel happy instead of that co-worker that brings you down.
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“Woo” Your Employees
Is high turnover frustrating you? Then start marketing to the employees. Companies have whole marketing departments to “woo” customers to buy and keep coming back, but we forget to “woo” our employees on a regular basis. Of course we “woo” new hires, but after that many companies seem to give up and hope that the employees stick around. You may expect them to be there until one day they are handing you their resignation letter.
The best way to find out why you are losing employees is to ask the staff. This may seem like a simple solution, but many owners/managers are afraid to ask. It’s the old “I’d rather ignore it than deal with it” mentality.
Below this paragraph is a list of questions you can ask your employees about how to improve your turn-over problem. You should conduct these interviews in a “one on one” format. Too many managers or too many employees muddle the answers. You’ll get emotion involved instead of quality answers. As these interviews are conducted you’ll have to place your ego in a little lockbox, so you don’t take any answers personally. This exercise is meant to be an exploration in improvement, not to rag on the company.
Top five questions to ask your employees:
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Why do you think [insert co-worker here] left?
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What do you think we could have done to keep them?
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What can I do to make your job better?
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What do you want to accomplish here over the next two years?
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What education do you think will help you do your job better?
Once you have your answers you must review the information and see if there are any common themes. Is there one manager that needs sensitivity training, or maybe a group of employees that don’t feel challenged? You will see changes that should be made.
Many of your answers will not be used. People get carried away when they feel empowered by the company to make changes. That’s where a good interviewer must make wise decisions and filter through the crap. If there is a theme of changing the dress code and you know your clients won’t appreciate a more relaxed look then don’t make the change just because the crowd wants it. You’ll have to stick to what you know will help the company, not just what the employees want.
Make a list of the all the quality ideas that will help you retain employees. When you have everything written down you must whittle this list down to five. This is the point when I like to sleep on ideas. I like everything to settle down and wake up in the morning to a fresh perspective.
Look at your top five ideas and pick the three best ones. Don’t shy away from the ideas that are difficult to implement because this is where you’ll see the most progress.
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Dedication to employee happiness
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Share direction of company with all employees.
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Flexibility of schedule
This is where the “wooing” will begin. Share this top three list of company changes with everyone. If you don’t let everyone know about your renewed interest in retaining employees they won’t believe your commitment.
Earn Employees Trust
Now that they know that you aim to improve the company-employee relationship you will have to earn their trust. Create a monthly raffle to win a $50 gift certificate to a local restaurant. Make a schedule to share the company’s direction with the staff on a bi-annual or annual interval. Give the employees one extra day extra off per year to do whatever they want; if you throw in a $20 gas card or public transportation card it will reinforce your commitment.
Whatever the top three changes are, you must commit to the ideas or company turnover will only get worse. You may want to implement a better retirement program or a continual education program. You will have to make the decisions that your company feels best fits the employees.
Everyone needs to be “woo’d” on a regular basis, otherwise the passion dies out. I don’t know anyone that doesn’t want to work for an exciting company. That’s why your favorite restaurant is still packing the house and it’s why solid marriages continue to thrive. They fight for the love every single day.
You must remember you won’t keep every employee; some are just meant to spread their wings. But you should track the changes after implementing your “wooing your employees” plan to see how successful it is after six months, a year, and two years. Hopefully you’ll see that dedicating to your employees’ happiness pays off by reducing costs and encouraging a more productive work environment.
If you are successful your employees will stick around to see what new direction your company is heading in because they know that you are trying to improve the company. When they see positive change they won’t have any trouble adapting to this improved direction, even if they have to work a little harder.
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Put People in a Design-Friendly Atmosphere to Inspire Excellent Work
New York City lowered crime by creating an external image that subconsciously signaled people to stop breaking the law. Simple measures such as scrubbing off or painting over the graffiti in the subway made people feel like they were in a safer environment and they acted accordingly.
This is Malcolm Gladwell’s theory from the book “The Tipping Point.”
Apple’s computers and iPods have become so popular because they are designed to be pleasing on the eye. This design enhances the experience of the music, video or what ever else the device is being used for. The same should be said for the design of office space.
I read an article from Egro Consulting blog and it reinforced my beliefs.
“It was the awe of the building that first captivated us. What I hadn’t anticipated was the sense of how the environment invites quality work. One almost feels embarrassed to deliver mediocrity within its walls.”
When a company creates a work-friendly atmosphere, through its beautiful designs, it creates a happier work environment.
“Of course it is true that the environment affects the way people work. But if it is so self-evident, why are workplaces environments that inspire so rare? We have certainly lacked imagination on how to organise our office environments.”
“Sure, money is a factor, but where there is a creative will, there is a way. I’m not embarrassed to say that we furnished our place mostly from eBay. My suspicion is that managers have considered employees and their environments a cost rather than an asset, and have for the most part have forfeited considerable business value by overseeing very ordinary office environments. I wonder what our workplaces would look like if we embraced the link between inspiring environments and productivity.”
If companies put 1/10 of their energy into inspiring their employees, the workplace would be happier and more productive. I believe some of this is being turned around in today’s workplace. Bzzagent is creating a work friendly environment that stimulates their employees. They have an artist Seth Minkin who has his art studio in the same office space. His unique artwork is all over the walls and the employees are excited by the environment that he inspires.
What do you think your company could do to improve its environment?
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Going to Iceland
I’ll be in Iceland all next week for a work happy conference. Just kidding. But I will bring back some juicy tidbits about how the Icelanders work. So tune into WorkHappyNow at the end of April to learn a few tips on working happier from some of the happiest people on earth. (quote from travel book to Iceland)
I’m traveling to the Land of Ice for my grandmother’s 80th birthday. I’m looking forward to seeing all my family. My mother was born there, so I have aunts, uncles and cousins all over Reykjavik. It’s been over six years since I’ve last seen everyone.
Please don’t worry about missing my posts. I’m taking care of you. I’ll be “time stamping “ two posts so they publish while I’m gone. They will be about the importance of creating a design friendly atmosphere to inspire employees on Monday and “Wooing” employees to keep them happy on Thursday.
They do have the internet there, so I’ll do my best to accept and respond to any comments. I’ll see all of you when I get back. So work happy and enjoy a week of work while I’m basking in the hot springs of the Blue Lagoon.
We all need a vacation every now and again. So where is your next vacation to rejuvenate your mind, body and soul?
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All Employees Deserve Respect
Employees get in sticky situations with customers because of various reasons. When the customer complains the manager brings the employees into their office to reprimand them. This has happened to me and millions of other employees. This happens because of two reasons:
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Manager fails to listen to the employee’s explanation
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The employee fails to speak up
We need to improve this communication gap in the workplace by not jumping to conclusions. Alex Kjerulf of Chief Happiness Officer wrote an article, Top 5 Reasons Why the “Customer is Always Right” is Wrong.
The fact is that some customers are just plain wrong, that businesses are better off without them, and that managers siding with unreasonable customers over employees is a very bad idea, that results in worse customer service.
You don’t have to put up with a customer that’s out of control. You have a right to tell them to stop. If they don’t stop then find a way to make them stop. Maybe you have a great manager who is willing to take the bullet or perhaps you just walk away, but either way you deserve to be treated with respect.
Alex also posted some great responses from of his readers. My favorite was:
Marie wrote:
We recently had a customer who bounced a check, and had the audacity to call my customer service manager with a tirade of yelling & profanity (before she could explain what had happened). She was calm and waited for him to settle down and tried to explain… He continued to use profanity, only to stop when my CS Manager politely told him that if he didn’t quit, she would hang up… Later, he emailed a complaint to the corporate office stating how rude and unprofessional she had been…
The customer DOES NOT have the right to harass my employees. I just happened to be in the office that day and could hear him screaming at her over the phone. I think she handled it WONDERFULLY; I took her out to lunch!
I don’t believe that a customer has the right to verbally assault my employees and I have trained them not to take that type of abuse from anyone.
When a manager and company cultivate trust with their employees, workers can be happier and more productive. Next time the customer is being a jerk and they ask to speak to a manager, try to convey the message to your boss or manager that the customer is being unreasonable. If the manager fails to listen and gives you the old line, “The customer is Always Right,” then maybe it’s time to find a more forward thinking company that supports its employees.
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Use Your Imagination
Most of my earlier working life had been a struggle. I swung between complicated and simple perspectives, hardly ever straddling the middle. I was afraid to let go of my limited view because I thought that if I just simplified my work I would be happy. A simple life is good, but there will always be sadness, happiness, fear, and passion in every job.
“Life’s like a movie, write your own ending. Keep believing, keep pretending.”
- Jim Henson quotes
The tool of imagination is one that we usually reserve for kids, but as adults we need to cultivate this skill because it’s so versatile. It helps us see life from a perspective that can make our lives enjoyable, peaceful, and interesting.
We like to keep our lives simple and pleasant. The problem with simple and pleasant is that our brains seek passion and excitement. That’s why people love to complete big projects. The stimulation brings the feeling of accomplishment.
When I’m at work and I’m having a rough day I imagine what I look like in the sweetest old lady’s eyes. I see this glow of love around me and this glow starts to penetrate into my heart, filling me with joy. This perspective usually picks me up and helps me see past my negative self view.
When I was fired from a job in my mid twenties I felt like crying in the managers office (I know I’m a big baby). I hugged him good bye (he was a good man, it was the owner that didn’t like me) and promptly went into a depression. I was lost for almost two months. I went on unemployment and rode around on my bicycle. It wasn’t until I hit my lowest point that my creativity finally kicked in. Love showed up in everything and everyone. The grocery store check out lady would smile at me. My parents helped me pay my rent. I felt like I was surrounded by love. I decided to write a book about how I found my joy. I turned my life into a story. That book spurred this blog and the rest of my life.
Your imagination is a tool that can help open doors to new parts of your life. Doors that will help you tap into the work passion that you need or just turn a bad day into an exciting learning experience. The best way to do this is to start off slowly because if you start too fast you might give up. I want you to slowly tap the mind for imaginative solutions to old problems. What do you struggle with on a daily basis? Who bothers you in your life? Try using your imagination to see a new angle. If that co-worker keeps hassling you, try to imagine that he had a rough childhood. Do you do monotonous work every day? Try imagining that you are a movie star playing the role of a lifetime. You’ll be amazed at how your imagination can improve almost any situation. You’ll bring a hop back in your step.
If a bad situation keeps popping up then your creativity will only take you so far. You are going to have to change the situation by find a new job or talking to human resources. But sometimes we just need to get lost in our imaginations to make the day a little more enjoyable. In my eyes, there is nothing wrong with that.
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