Things are not getting better for lots and lots of businesses.
While many have been able to heed the wise words from Winston Churchill that we shared last November…
some may not be able to take the heat much longer.
For the ones that can last until things get better…things may very well get worse.
That’s because when the economy gets better, the people we rely on every day to do work for us will be candidates for the jobs that become available. And for those of us still working to beat the heat, the cards will be stacked against us.
One of the reasons is something you’ve probably heard before…that “people don’t leave companies, they leave managers.” It’s substantiated by numerous polls conducted by the likes of CNN. Polls that reveal the main reasons people leave their jobs as: a poor relationship with their manager and ineffective leadership.
Neither would normally apply to any of us, right?
But these are not normal times. We may be doing the work of several people. Running in many directions. Scared. Tired. Stressed. Worried. In survival mode. All of that rips the soul out of what makes us good managers and leaders.
Our minds are too tired and fuzzy to provide clear direction and expectations. We’re too busy to give guidance and support.
When we are haunted by unknowns and uncertainty, how can we do the thing workers wish for so deeply…to be kept more informed?
When we are crushed, how can we coach them through their fatigue and stress?
When we are hanging on for dear life, how can we take time to thank them for taking on additional work? How can we show deep gratitude for doing this with no additional pay? Maybe even less. How can we show true concern for them, their families, their well being?
See what I mean about the cards being stacked against us?
And that was just the first deck….the one that has to do with our reaction to all of this. The second one is about theirs.
They are being asked to do more. Getting paid the same if not less. Working more than one job.
Take a look at these numbers from a July 2010 survey conducted in the United States by Monster Worldwide on behalf of Spherion Staffing Services*.
- 53% of survey participants had taken on additional work or responsibilities because co-workers were laid off.
- 93% of those did not receive additional compensation.
- 57% of those who had taken on additional responsibilities felt burdened and overworked.
- 53% said their workload affected their health in a negative manner .
- close to 33% had found or created new or additional ways to make money outside of their primary job.
- 95% said they would consider looking for a new job in the future or were already doing so, regardless of whether or not they enjoyed their job.
They are tired, worn out, stressed, worried. Afraid of being laid off. Wishing they could quit.
Some actually have quit. But they haven’t left.
They are still there.
Taking up space.
Lowering productivity.
Mucking up morale.
If we are going to have any chance at all of “getting through hell”, we need to have a fully engaged team working together to make the best of this situation. We need them – every single one of them – to do their jobs.
And they need us to do ours.
They need us to do the job many of us have been too tired and stressed and overwhelmed to do. The job of leader.
They need us to take charge in effective ways. That means things like:
- providing clear direction, goals and expectations.
- keeping them informed about how things are going.
- asking them for suggestions and feedback.
- giving guidance, support and recognition.
- helping them stop occasionally to focus on the good stuff that has happened.
- showing genuine interest in them, their families, their well being.
- thanking them for taking on additional work, taking less pay and whatever else they do to help us make it through the fire.
And they need us to stop, turn away from the computer screen, put our Blackberries down and look them in the eye for at least some of this.
Doing even a few of these things will help beat the odds so that when things finally do get better – they stay better.
And actually if we do these things consistently, we have an excellent chance of seeing things get better even before things get better.
Postscript: The above list of ways to take charge is long and overwhelming for many. The easiest and most logical place to start this week is #4-6. There are several suggestions for this in the Thanksgiving section of Holiday Halls. Then next week…how about if we talk about a leadership coaching program designed to help you take charge during these tough times? Wouldn’t it be great to have someone help you through this heat?
*source: Workplace Snapshot
copyright 2010 – Business Class Inc
Jan is a coach, teacher and author who loves helping leaders develop and implement plans that help them get 2 goal. It’s all about taking charge more effectively to make things happen…and inspiring others to do the same.Related Articles:
