Happy Workiversary!

Looking for a way to acknowledge your team? Something to celebrate? Why not make your team feel special on the anniversary of their first day at work?  It's easy to get that info from your HR department.

One company I know acknowledges their team members' anniversaries by giving them special items to wear that day. 

Dollar Stores are great to pick up fun items such as:

* A tiara

* A sash (have some fun with labels on the sash.  Some ideas include: "Miss Understood" or "Miss Taken" or "Miss Placed"... you get the idea!)

* A sign for their desk congratulating them

It gives everyone in the office something fun to talk about and can spark some smiles.

And.... Relax!

Most of us are aware that our attitude drives our behavior which, as a Manager, drives our team's attitude and behavior.   So what should you do if you find yourself in a grumpy mood on your way to work?  Here's a relaxation technique that's worth a try:

Progressive Muscular Relaxation is a technique to help you relax your body when you - and your muscles - are tense.  The idea behind PMR is that you tense up a group of muscles so that they are as tightly contracted as possible. Hold them in a state of extreme tension for a few seconds.  Then, relax the muscles normally. Next, consciously relax the muscles even further so that you are as relaxed as possible.  Practice this twice a day for the first week or two until you get to grips with it.  The better you become, the quicker the relaxation response will “kick in” when you really need it!

 

Tip:  If you are trying this first thing in the morning, park the car away from the office when you do this.  Having a team member walk by as you clench and relax might make for an awkward start to the day!

Delegation....

"You can do anything, but not everything." - David Allen

Have you ever delegated to a team member only to have that task land right back on your 'to do' list?  That’s called reverse delegation and here’s how to prevent it:

1.  Set clear checkpoints up front and have the employee come and report to you on their progress.  When they come to you, they will present their progress with more ownership.

2.  When they share their progress and present an issue, resist the urge to solve the problem.  Instead, use that time to generate alternative solutions.

3.  Beware of falling for the line, "you can do this much better than I can."  As flattering as that may be, it might be a sign that they need a boost of confidence. 

Happy delegating!

Fire Sprinkler Test Today

Notice: At 2:00 pm, there will be a required test of the building fire sprinkler system. Please be sure to remove any papers or other items from your desk and work area that may be damaged by water. It is recommended that you cover your computer, keyboard, and printer with plastic bags that are being provided by the support center.

Please call the support center to arrange for a representative from your department to get the bags for your work area.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Happy April Fool's Day!

Reward The Positive!

When our teams demonstrate positive behavior, it should be rewarded.  It's easy to point out the mistakes - it should be just as easy to highlight the good stuff!  For a tactical, visual reward program, why not consider giving Lego pieces as rewards?

How it works:  Every time you observe a team member do something well, give them a piece of Lego to keep at their desk.   As their good deeds build, so will their stockpile of Legos and they can begin to build.

Side effects:  When individuals begin to gather enough pieces to build, their desire to get more pieces to build a bigger item may drive them to do display more positive behavior.  And who doesn't love Lego?

Alternative idea:  Create a Contest!  Make it one that everyone can get involved in - fill a jar full of jelly beans and place it on reception. Let employees guess the answer and give a small prize to the person who guessed the closest.

5 Whys

Have you ever had an employee issue that refused to go away? No matter what you did, sooner or later it would return, perhaps in another form.

You might be trying to solve the wrong problem.  Here’s a technique worth trying, it’s called the "5 Whys" and it’s used to get to the real, root cause of the issue. Good news, it’s easy!

When a problem occurs, you uncover its nature and source by asking "why" no fewer than five times.  Here it is in action.  

Problem:  Bart is often late for work.

1. Why are you late, Bart?  Traffic is bad.
2. Why?  'Cause I leave during rush hour.
3. Why?  'Cause I sleep in.
4. Why?  'Cause I’m up late.
5. Why?  'Cause I like to watch my favorite show and it's on at 11:30 pm.

Interesting.  Now we know that, we can talk about focused solutions rather than assuming a bad attitude, or tips on navigating traffic or buying alarm clocks!

Get Up Offa That Thing...

James Brown was onto something.  Researchers have found that sitting for six hours a day greatly increases the risk of an early death.  Sitting for long periods is the most underrated health threat of our modern time. Yet every single day, millions of American workers do just that.

Sitting for long periods is hard on the body. It strains the back and causes the muscles to become slack. It slows the processes that metabolize calories, increasing the risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and some cancers.

So, how can you help your team?  Here are a few quick and easy tips to share:

• Be a role model - get up and walk to see people rather than send an email or call
• Don't sit at your desk to eat lunch, get up and change locations
• Set an alarm as a reminder to get up and move - try 3 squats every hour on the hour
• Clean your desk up before leaving at the end of the day - even work-related task help add movement

Need a little inspiration? Get up offa that thing