Correct, Don’t Condemn and be Sure to Complement.

I make mistakes; how about you?  Sometimes I don’t recognize my mistakes and I need someone to help me see them.  As fallible souls we need correction in our lives.  Good leadership will do this for us.  However, good leaders must correct immediately so that accumulated frustration doesn’t push them to condemn someone.  Condemnation can be very damaging and is difficult to repair.

Compliments are needed too.  Some studies recommend a 10 – 1 ratio of complements to correction.  If someone possessed a good quality, tell them.  If someone does a good job, tell them.  You can tell them and make it even more special with a hand written note.  If you have ever received one you know that this is a powerful way to affirm someone. 

(To be continued.)

Teamwork Gets Things done Fast and Efficiently.

As case after case of breakfast products rolled off our production line, even as a kid, I could see that the three of us working together was a lot more productive then if each of us was working alone.  I learned that there is a synergy and an excitement about what a corporate effort can produce.  Just like the sayings “Two heads are better then one.” and “A triple-braided rope is not easily broken.” our joint effort produced the best results.

(To be continued.)

Work can be Fun.

Making Corn Plops and Pow Juice was fun.  Dad saw to it.  Neither my brother nor I had the slightest sense that we were working.  A key job of leadership is to make the task fun.  How do you do this? Here are a few things that worked for me:

• Use humor by showing a funny related video segment.  
• Hold a contest of short duration, reward with a cheap, cheesy, unusual prize.
• Food always works.  Bring in a pastry, go out to lunch, have a pot luck.
• Consider participating in a sports league.  Older people doing physical things can be hysterical (although dangerous.)  People who work together, playing sports, is widely recognized for its team building characteristics.

Come up with your own “fun plan” and you’ll make your work-place even more enjoyable than making Corn Plops and Pow Juice.  

(To be continued.)