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Do you want to be a motivated employee?
Or for the manager or executive, how much is a motivated employee worth to you?
Do you want to know the easiest way to be a motivated employee and have motivated employees?
Listen to each other.
I was at a big business the other day, and I heard employees say that after the old boss retired, the new boss doesn't listen. One of the workers said, "Things need to be fixed, but he doesn't want to listen to anybody. He issues edicts on how to solve the business problems, but doesn't listen to anyone else." Another added, "The employees were used to being part of the solutions to the problems. The new boss doesn't see the day-to-day and he doesn't know that if we did this we could save money or improve customer satisfaction. It seems like he just doesn't care."
But I know he is in his office right now thinking to himelf, "What is the matter? If I don't turn this around, the home office is going to turn me around."
People actually want to help the businesses for which they work. I read in a recent survey that over 70% of people are satisfied with their jobs. That indicates that they want the business to succeed.
But we don't let them. Hey, who is that "we" person? You know the person that has finally found the lever of power and insists on pulling it all of the time. No listening. No shop meetings. "Fix the factory this way!"
What would the business look like if people got out some crayons and paper and drew what the business looked like?
Would there be rainbows or clouds? Is there a picture of Chucky the horror movie doll, or Mr. Smith going to Washington?
We are all in this game together and listening to everyone is a most important job.
And if everyone in an organization listens there will be ideas that can be used to solve problems. Really, you should try it. And by the way, the buy-in on an idea that comes by consensus is not only usually the best solution but also one that will get implemented, and not be stored someplace in the dead idea bin.
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