Comments on: Does Your Mission Inspire?

By: Marelisa

Marelisa — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 22:15:59 +0000

Hi Karl: I think that “do all the good that you can” is a better motto than “do no evil”. Same basic sentiment, but framed in the positive. I do appreciate the need for a motto, or a mantra as Guy Kawasaki would say. I’m working on one for my blog

By: Karl Staib - The Work Happy Guy

Karl Staib - The Work Happy Guy — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 13:40:47 +0000

Hi Sara, that’s a great way of looking at it. You pull out the selfish nature of the goal and use someone else as a guide post. You can see this in your blog. You can see that you really care.

By: Sara at On Simplicity

Sara at On Simplicity — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 02:53:13 +0000

I love “Do no evil.” I find that I do my best work when I take it a step further, and make my work decisions based on the goal of doing good. What would be best for the people I’m serving? When I put that ahead of what would be easiest for me, I’m usually satisfied with the results.

By: Karl Staib - The Work Happy Guy

Karl Staib - The Work Happy Guy — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:49:20 +0000

Hi BOH, more companies need to learn from Google’s greatness.

Hi Trey, me too. When you do hire employees let me know if you need any help creating a reward program – letting them know you care is vital to your success.

Hi Lance, a simple question like “how would you improve this?” can who an employee that you value their input and want them to help improve the company. A lot of owners and managers are doers instead of leaders. It’s not easy to lead, but a little reading and research goes a long way.

Hi Stacey, letting people know that you think without them asking is always a good way to get people to take notice. It’s all about picking the right moments and going for it.

Hi Nathan, getting other people’s opinions is key to staying on track. We can’t see it all and we just need to ask them to get some help.

Hi J.D., values in every organization is the driver of where the company is going. Without solid values decisions can get confusing.

Hi Juliet, getting everyone involved and engaged can do wonders for happiness and the bottom line.

By: LifeMadeGreat | Juliet

LifeMadeGreat | Juliet — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 17:15:27 +0000

Hi Karl

What a wonderful philosophy. It’s like that which psychologists follow: Do no harm.

I think it is a good idea to get your employees to decide what they want. Our company is involved in charity work, but I think that it is a select few who decide on where and what. It would be great, and there would be much more involvement and enthusiasm, if we were given options.

Juliet

By: J.D. Meier

J.D. Meier — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:39:54 +0000

Great point on inspiration.

I find the key is connecting to values, both your own and others. I also find passion is contagious.

By: Nathan Hangen

Nathan Hangen — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:19:19 +0000

I don’t have any employees, but I use my wife and family as a guidepost. If I find that I am not inspiring, then I need to re-evaluate my approach. A life uninspired is not worth living and inspiring myself and others is a true passion of mine.

Luckily, I’ve had enough bosses to understand what not to do

By: Stacey Shipman

Stacey Shipman — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 13:49:25 +0000

I agree with Lance. Asking truly is the key. So often we just expect, it seems to me, without asking. In so many areas of our life! People can’t read minds, and doesn’t the saying go “the squeaky wheel gets the grease”. Sometimes it’s a matter of speaking up (respectfully, of course!) and offering a win-win.

By: Lance

Lance — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 11:31:49 +0000

Hi Karl,
The biggest thing I take from this is the importance of asking. It can become easy to do – at a corporate level, at a departmental level, at a supervisory level – to do, and not ask. And not find out what it is that the ‘front line’ is concerned about. What matters to those who spend 40 or more hours of their precious time ‘there’. Ask.

And the thing is, I don’t see this limited to employee/employer relationships either. It can apply at home, in small business, in client/company relationships, etc, etc.

Sometimes all it takes is asking a question, and then really listening to the answers.

Thanks Karl, for this reminder. It’s easy to fall into the trap of just ‘doing’.

By: Trey - Swollen Thumb Entertainment

Trey - Swollen Thumb Entertainment — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 09:37:03 +0000

I can’t wait until I can hire some employees. I’ve worked for some companies, and I’ve always been chomping at the bit to be treated as a real asset to the company, instead of a trained monkey who is good for labor and nothing else.

I think that including employees in these kind of details is one the best things a company can do. It does wonder for morale when people feel like they are valuable!