MEMORIAL DAY...

Memorial Day has become the long weekend that kicks off summer. Children look forward to school ending soon so they can explore new horizons outdoors (hopefully) rather than inside a classroom (though some are already looking forward to returning in the fall to see friends they might not otherwise see). Some (though not all) parents see the weekend as “the beginning of the end” as they must scramble to find qualified caregivers to watch over their children whom are so looking forward to their time off.

Some employees are beginning to plan vacations – time away from both the job and the home – in an effort to “refresh and recharge.” Others are planning their escape from the tight economic times that have surrounded them – seeking a place of sanity (or at least where they can “leave it all behind”). What the private sector has lived through (and from which it is beginning to emerge), the public sector is just now beginning to experience.

The weekend has become a time to do lawn work, spend time on the golf course, swim in a lake – to simply enjoy time off (which began for many at least a day early if you look at the traffic!). With predictions of high temperatures and only light rain, what could be missing from this holiday weekend? ONLY, perhaps, why the Holiday exists!

During your time away this weekend, enjoy your gifts and blessings but make time to thank those who sacrificed much so that we could have what we so often take for granted. Take a moment to honor those who gave their time, their freedom – even their lives – so that we might have a “daily life” from which to escape. Thank someone who lost a loved one so that you might continue to live in this great country or actively support someone currently fighting for the concept of freedom – whether it be through a note or within a prayer.

This weekend, even if just for a moment, be a living memorial to those that have passed before AND those now sacrificing for us. Let us all rightly and appropriately recognize them for all they have given. Reflect upon all that our country stands for – all that you have ONLY because someone else considered it valuable enough to defend.

DREAM BIG

One can only become what he or she perceives as being achievable. If one “dreams big,” great things can happen. If one chooses to live within their present abilities, he or she may never realize the fullness of their potential. When we stretch our goals – reaching for fruit from the highest branches rather than accepting only low hanging fruit – we will taste success far beyond that shared by the masses.

I would guess that few individuals could have imagined the impact a river could have on the landscape prior to the Grand Canyon’s formation. Who would have imagined that the Wright Brother’s first flight could have taken us to where we are today? So many conveniences in life began as a dream but materialized because someone had faith their idea could become reality. If we can work towards a cure for cancer, why do so many find it impossible to find fulfillment in their life’s work?

I have spoken to several individuals recently about career changes – about becoming something they wish to be rather than what they are. The conversation typically focuses on things they do not like about their present job RATHER THAN around those aspects they enjoy. They speak of things they would “rather do” instead of building upon the things they do well. They seek to avoid their weaknesses rather than maximizing their strengths. Should they choose to “run away” from a current situation RATHER THAN running towards a better one, will they ever be truly happy?

Use the talents you were given – leveraging your strengths as you strengthen your weaknesses – and you will never work a day in your life. Dream big – the seemingly insignificant streams that course through your life may take on the power of waterfalls (if only you believe)!

ACT BEFORE YOU FALL...

I recently spoke with an individual ready to pursue additional education so that she could switch fields completely and move as quickly away from her current job situation as possible. While she enjoyed the WORK she did, she did not respect her boss, was disappointed that an excellent co-worker recently left the organization, and felt the Organization’s Board of Directors had “no clue” as to what was happening within the company NOR did anyone care about its future. Her choice was to leave what she enjoyed to seek a greener pasture (as she had done before) – to be as but water over the dam, flowing freely from one situation to the next. Before talking about these issues, however, we talked about several different things when we met.

Her boss (new to the organization) did not have the proven experience or demonstrated ability to do his job. She was so wrapped up in her own feelings and frustrations, however, that she had never asked him how he felt, what he wanted to do (or needed help doing), or where he saw the organization going. She had talked herself into running away from what she liked to do (she liked “the work”) because of things she did not know OR seek to influence (she knew nothing about either her boss’ or the Board’s plans for the organization’s future). She was like a river flowing rapidly along its banks – blindly moving towards a fall from which there would be no return.

We eventually moved her past the rapids into an area of relative calm. She began to examine what she liked about the job (AND the organization), what she disliked, what she would need to see from a different position should she move. Many of the things she was seeking were deeply imbedded within her current position but she had been so busy looking at “what was not” that she lost sight of “what was.” We then discussed what (if anything) she could do to help maximize the “good” things about where she was while minimizing the “bad.”

There are many ways to move from one situation to another – but often we embark upon the most obvious escape route before seeking alternative resolutions. We do not simply draw a line in the sand from which we can begin anew – we call in the heavy equipment to excavate a trench that will isolate us from our situation once we have crossed the line. While such tactics WILL move us forward, they often create pain and close the door on any possibility of returning. Perhaps there are “kinder and gentler ways” to move from a bad situation to a better one than to burn our bridges – no matter how good that might feel in the heat of the moment.

GAMES CHILDREN PLAY...

We learn to play many games as children – unfortunately resulting in us learning as much how to follow as to lead. “Simon Says…” is a game played by many a child where creativity and originality are discouraged in favor of doing exactly what is asked, allowed or permitted. Many lessons in life MAY be learned by doing what we are told but far more can be gained through experience. My wife and I took dance lessons several years ago in preparation for a family wedding and an anniversary cruise where I found myself being told “that is not what we worked on…” or “where did you learn that?” often during the learning process. While the instructor tried diligently to transform me into a graceful instrument of dance, she probably became as frustrated with my asking “Why WON’T this work?” as I was by her saying “You are not yet ready for that!”

“Follow the leader” is another childhood game that discourages individuality in favor of simply blending in with a following throng. There can be only one leader while, by necessity and design, there are a multitude of followers. If you are fortunate enough to “lead”, you can pretty much choose your road to success by deciding where the group will go and how it will get there. If you are among the many followers, however, it is hard to have much say in where you are going because you become too busy watching those ahead of you while trying to stay out of the way of those behind you.

In order to grow and develop we must take the principles of what “Simon says…” by watching to see what works THEN building on the learned concepts by expanding them beyond their original intent. We must “follow the leader” BUT only long enough to learn what direction we are going so we do not become lost when going there. It has been said that one learns all there is to know in life by the end of the kindergarten. While I do not believe this (entirely, I DO feel that paying attention to some of the principles taught through children’s games can help us to overcome many of the challenges and opportunities presented by life as we grow older.

I wonder what “ring around the rosy” or “duck, duck, goose” might teach us if we looked at them from a learning (rather than from a playing) perspective…

DREAMS TO DESTINY

Some people sleep without dreaming and awaken rested. Others dream while sleeping and awaken inspired. We must dream what we wish to accomplish before we can expect anything to happen. What kind of life could be based on the premise that what “is” will never change – that bringing the beliefs, values, ideals and accomplishments of several together would serve only to advance each individually rather than collectively enhance the group’s abilities?

People have said that setting low expectations will keep you from ever being disappointed. If we set no expectations – fearing the pain of failure more than anticipating the rewards of success – we may survive but will rarely thrive. We de-energize our relationships when we focus upon shortcomings or why something failed. Rather, we should use failure as a springboard towards implementing a solution. Believing that the “light at the end of a tunnel” is actually an opportunity not yet realized rather than a train heading towards us on a collision course reflects the assimilation of dreams into daily reality.

Destiny is a result of how effectively we balance our dreams with our abilities as we travel an unfamiliar path paved with not-yet-realized thoughts and ideas. Sadly, truth can often keep us from accomplishing our dreams. Far too often we allow our present reality – the knowledge we have about the world in which we live – to stop us from trying new things and entering into situations.

Accepting that our own (or another individual’s) weaknesses are insurmountable results in our believing failure is a probability. If, however, we merely acknowledge deficiencies as bumps in the road, relentlessly moving forward as we seek to accomplish our dreams, we will invariably find a way to make things happen. Destiny becomes reality only when we truly believe that “the things dreamed of” can become as much “probability” as they are “possibility” – when they become the things we anticipate and expect rather than simply things held tightly within the privacy of our individual hearts.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT IS BENEATH THE SURFACE...until you look...

A Human Resource professional was recently reviewing his organization’s turnover report at a Board of Directors meeting. One of the group’s divisions had experienced an increase in turnover (from 15 to 20 employees representing more than a 5% increase). The turnover, attributed to unreasonable work schedules and a non-competitive pay structure, had many on the Board concerned that a continued exodus of good people might cripple the Organization in the middle of its transition to a new business model. While the “surface” seemed to be turbulent based on his summary analysis, the answers to several questions helped still the waters a bit:

• How many of the 20 individuals leaving were “truly valued” employees? (Answer: 5)
• What was the average tenure of those leaving? (Answer: 7 Years)
• Did the switch in business model have anything to do with increased turnover? (Answer: We DO expect more from our employees and put more pay at risk than ever before but they have not complained much about it.)
• Have you compared your BENEFITS and PERSONAL TIME OFF POLICIES with the organizations to which your employees went? (Answer: We cannot compete with (fill in the blank) organization. They pay whatever it takes so we do not have the slightest chance to retain people.)

Unmitigated turnover can cripple an organization BUT the insidious problems caused by “wrongful hiring” can poison an organization from the inside. Pay is often the easiest thing to blame for turnover BUT working conditions, management/supervisory leadership style, work schedules and even a shift from “stable income” to “pay at risk” often causes more turnover than does pay. A high turnover rate among employees having 7 years service should focus us more on what is different with where we have been than on the bright promise of where we might be going.

It is amazing how many “negative” issues have a positive aspect – how many dark clouds have a silver lining. Never take issues at face value without first seeking clarification or expansion. We can usually find the “cause” for any “effect” – but we must first seek or we will never find!

OVERCOMING FIRST IMPRESSIONS AND MISCONCEPTIONS

When working with people, our “first impressions” often inaccurately influence the way we react to others UNLESS we take time to identify their origins. I have found that:

Unfounded perceptions can negatively influence thoughts and actions. I once worked with the owner of a small machine shop that was struggling financially. A 76-year old machinist became a “source of conflict” within the shop. The owner wished all his employees were as loyal and undemanding – seeing him as a great role model for others. Employees “did not want to end up working until they died because they could not afford to retire,” viewing him as great motivation to seek other employment. Perceptions, however, not reality as the worker in question told me he really did not have to work NOR was he particularly loyal – but that “if I ever met his wife I’d know why he was still working!” Often our perceptions can taint our thinking…always learn all the facts before making a judgment.

We miss much in life when we assume what another is thinking or doing – or limit what we feel they can contribute. One of the most critical components in the development of a Compensation Program is to ask employees what they actually do (rather than assuming we know what their job entails). An hourly employee once told me that the purpose of his job was to “bring to fruition the dreams of the owner so that we can share in his rewards.” While this answer did nothing to define job responsibilities, it DID speak volumes to the owner about how employees viewed their work. He began to pose questions to employees and include them in decisions he would not have discussed when thinking that they “did only what they were told” rather than believing they could “contribute positively to his dream.” Once he began to view employees more as partners than as workers his company began to grow and prosper exponentially – with increased efficiency and a reduced turnover rate.

People (and our thoughts about them) can contribute positively to us OR weigh us down. If we take the time to verify our perceptions before we pass judgment we can often avoid making assumptions that could lead us down the wrong path. If we ask for help and opinions from others before acting they can often make our journey easier. If we listen to what others say, we often find we are not so alone in the world – which support and affirmation can come from unexpected sources. People will always say (and do) the strangest things. Make sure you pay enough attention to what they are saying or doing (and sometimes what they are NOT saying or doing) that they can truly make a difference in your life!