You can't say enough about dependability...

a·bil·i·ty

/əˈbilədē/

noun

      1.    possession of the means or skill to do something.

      2.    talent, skill, or proficiency in a particular area.

 

de·pend·a·bil·i·ty

/dəˌpendəˈbilədē/

noun

1.     the quality of being trustworthy and reliable.

 

Throughout my career in hospitality HR, attendance was the #1 cause of progressive discipline and reason for termination. Given that, most hospitality managers would agree with today’s quote. Because an employee’s performance – their talent, skill, or proficiency, is either enhanced or diminished by how trustworthy and reliable they are. So, while it’s good to assess a candidate’s skills and abilities during an interview process, it’s equally, if not more, important to assess their attitude – like optimism, flexibility, and resilience. The ones that predict whether they are trustworthy and reliable. Whether they’ll come to work and diligently approach their duties and responsibilities every day. That, I suggest, is possibly more important that if they can perform as expected. Why? Because you can’t teach attitude – people either have it or they don’t. If they do, you can teach and coach what’s needed technically. If they don’t, you’re apt to be disappointed. You’ve just got to learn what to ask and look for. That’s what I did for the more than 125,000 employees we hired during my tenure and it’s one of the main reasons our annualized turnover was under 10%. I’ve said it many times before, and I’ll say it again: hire for attitude and train for skills today.[1]

 

Robert Anson Heinlein (1907 – 1988): American science fiction author, aeronautical engineer, and naval officer.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_A._Heinlein

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[1] If you want to learn more, contact me at arte@sdwnet.com

Your word is your bond...

We’re judged by our promises. Not so much by the things we say – that’s why ‘talk is cheap’. But a promise is a personal commitment no different than a contract – in that light, we must be careful what we promise. That said,

·      “It is OK to say 'no': you may be questioned why so it’s always good to have a reason.

·      It is OK to say 'I will think about it': just don’t forget to do that and always get back to the one to whom you made the commitment.

·      It’s OK to say ‘I’ll try’: make sure to follow through and keep everyone updated.

But once you promise something, do it. If you subsequently can’t follow through, make that known immediately to everyone concerned. But it’s not just actual promises that this applies to – if you say you’re going to do something, promise or not, the person to whom you said that thinks it’s a commitment – and most people consider them the same. Maybe it’s a gray area, but to the people relying on you, it’s not gray at all. It’s all about being dependable – if you say you’ll do something, do it. If you subsequently can’t, speak up immediately. And it’s all about common courtesy – someone is relying on you and others may be relying on their reliance on you. Stay in touch with them, provide updates, make sure there are no surprises. This is one of those areas where talk is NOT cheap – so don’t be cavalier when someone is relying on you and your word. More than many other things in life, this is the stuff of reputations: don’t blow something off if someone is relying on your word. Keep your promises today. 

 

Izey 'Victoria' Odiase: Self-Care & Personal Development Advocate.

Give one heart to get back two...

Leaders must earn the respect of those they lead. And even though bullies and some new supervisors think respect comes with their title, that’s never the case. They can demand respect and delude themselves into thinking they have it, but it is only an illusion. Because those being led will know that their leaders don’t respect them, that they don’t respect their leaders, and that the environment of disrespect will eat away at their self-esteem, morale, performance, and the quality of their work. That’s why parents teach their children to be respectful, why every religion preaches tolerance and respect, and why you should make respect – genuine, two-way respect, a cornerstone of your policies and culture.  You might consider getting rid of all the other rules and policies in yo9ur handbook and replace them with The Golden Rule – to treat others the way you want them to treat you, and to respect others as you want them to respect you. Anything positive or negative about someone’s performance and behavior can be defined in those terms. And even if you don’t want to go that far, just start talking about respect with your team, show them respect, and ask for it in return. Start catching people being respectful today.

 

Paulo Coelho de Souza (born 1947): Brazilian lyricist and novelist and a member of the Brazilian Academy of Letters since 2002. His 1988 novel The Alchemist became an international best-seller.

Be a role model for ethical leadership...

In this quote, Einstein was referring to how he acted towards people he worked with at a university. That same philosophy should be applied by all of us towards others where we work, especially as we get higher up in the organization. Think how you felt when executives spoke to you, or remembered your name, or asked what you thought. Like you were a big deal. Probably told your family about it around the dinner table that night. A leader’s actions and words – positive and negative, often have greater impact than they realize. Simple recognition or a pat on the back will be remembered. Empathy and interest are hugely motivating.  A little coaching goes a long way. Conversely, the leader who walks past employees without paying any attention or speaks down can have a negative effect on morale and overall positivity. It’s important to be seen, but it’s more important to be engaging; one without the other is a lost opportunity. Together they set a tone of caring, concern, and team that are at the heart of trust, respect, and ethical leadership. And it sets the model for leadership at all levels. Speak to everyone in the same way today.

 

Albert Einstein (1879 – 1955): German-born theoretical physicist who is best known for developing the theory of relativity. He received the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein

New supervisors need training and practice...

Too many good line employees get promoted to supervisor or manager without receiving the training they need to be effective. Absent that training, they may have difficulty making the transition, often using inappropriate or ineffective techniques to establish their authority over their former colleagues. It’s a recipe for failure. They need to learn and practice soft skills like communications, coaching, and handling difficult conversations; they also need to be schooled in the ‘what and why’ of the policies they need to manage and enforce; in this, whoever promoted them must be required to a coach and mentor them for at least 6 months as they find their new footing. Without these strategies, you run the risk of losing a good employee and alienating the people they need to work with and supervise. All because you lacked the kind of plan that can make this a successful transition.  You most likely remember when you first got promoted and the things you wanted and needed to be successful – now craft a training program to give them what you know they need. Otherwise, you run the risk of your new supervisor trying to force his or her authority the wrong way – through missteps, potential arguments, and an environment of animosity. Give your new managers and supervisors the training, tools, and support they need to be successful today.

 

Albert Camus (1913 – 1960): French philosopher, author, dramatist, journalist, world federalist, and political activist.[1]

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[1] He was the recipient of the 1957 Nobel Prize in Literature at the age of 44, the second-youngest recipient in history. His works include The Stranger, The Plague, The Myth of Sisyphus, The Fall and The Rebel.

 

Principles matter...

“Integrity is the seed for achievement. It is the principle that never fails.” Earl Nightingale

 

Someone with integrity is known for their honesty, trustworthiness, and strong moral principles. Everyone understands the first two – honesty and trustworthiness, but maybe it would be helpful to list some generally agreed upon moral principles:

·      Respect: Treating others with consideration and valuing their dignity, regardless of differences in background or beliefs. 

·      Responsibility: Taking ownership of your actions and being accountable for their consequences. 

·      Compassion: Showing empathy and concern for the well-being of others, particularly those in need. 

·      Kindness: Being helpful, considerate, and generous towards others. 

·      Fairness: Treating everyone equitably and justly, without bias or favoritism. 

·      Loyalty: Being faithful and supportive to those who are close to you, including family, friends, and colleagues. 

·      Integrity: Acting in accordance with these principles even when faced with difficult situations and choices.

Many companies include one or more of these in their value statement(s), using them as guideposts for expected employee behavior. You want to be around people like this. In life and at work. Make it known: (1) include these principles in your recruitment, training, and employee relation’s policies; (2) make them a part of your regular discussions and reviews; (3) embed them in every aspect of the time your employees are at work. In my experience, employees who live by these kinds of principles have a positive attitude and good overall performance and attendance. Reinforce the importance of integrity today.

 

Earl Nightingale (1921 – 1989) was an American radio speaker and author, dealing mostly with the subjects of human character development, motivation, and meaningful existence. [1]

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[1] He was the voice during the early 1950s of Sky King, the hero of a radio adventure series, and was a WGN radio program host from 1950 to 1956. Nightingale was the author of The Strangest Secret, which economist Terry Savage has termed "…one of the great motivational books of all time." During his lifetime, Nightingale wrote and recorded more than 7,000 radio programs, 250 audio programs as well as television programs and videos.

 

It's about doing what's right...

Our days are filled with choices:

·      Attitude is a choice: decide whether you want to see the glass as half full or half empty. Too many see it as half empty and, surprisingly, don’t seem to understand why. Choose to find ways to fill it.

·      Happiness is a choice: A study published in the Journal of Neuroscience found that it takes an average of 12 muscles to smile and 50 muscles to frown. Why waste the energy?

·      Optimism is a choice: Optimists see that glass as half full and can’t wait to find ways to fill it further – the opportunities are endless.

·      Kindness is a choice: I bet you don’t like it when someone is unkind to you – remember that.

·      Giving is a choice: It’s a shame that it takes so long to learn this simple truth – it’s better to give than to receive. But don’t worry, the more you give the more you get. 

·      Respect is a choice: It’s right there in the Bible, the Torah, and the Koran – they each urge believers to show respect to all people, regardless of their status or background. 

·      Integrity is a choice: Do what’s right, even when nobody is looking.

Choose wisely today.

 

Roy T. Bennett (born 1963): American author of The Light in the Heart.