Reduce turnover and improve productivity

Reducing employee turnover is an integral part of helping to boost your company's bottom line. The top reason that employees leave an organization has nothing to do with salary -- it's due to frustrations with management.

How can today's employers combat frustrations and burnout?

• Keep your employees connected to your organization by clarifying and communicating your company's goals and mission. Staff can best handle challenges when they understand the value and purpose of their work.
• Reward employees that exhibit behaviors that promote your company's mission. Employees want to do work that is valuable, but most importantly, they want to be valued.
• Allow employees the opportunity to determine how they will accomplish their goals. The highest levels of burnout occur in situations where employees have high levels of responsibility coupled with little control. Delegate assignments and whenever possible let your staff determine how the work will get done.

Giving your employees the latitude to accomplish tasks under their own direction is not only good management, it makes good dollar sense. A motivated and enthusiastic staff member will accomplish more in 8 hours than two disgruntled or burnt-out employees in 12 hours.

Building a top notch organization

There are four winning strategies that can propel your organization to greatness. It's been said that "ordinary happens, greatness is achieved." Just ask the fishmongers at the world famous fish market at Pike Place in Seattle. By employing four simple principles, this team of committed and spirited individuals created a winning and profitable model for businesses everywhere.

Choose Your Attitude:
Not all of us can love the work that we do. But we can choose how we do our work. The simple and conscious decision to choose our attitude every day, it is the difference between ordinary and great. Attitudes are contagious -- does your work team have an attitude that is worth catching?

Be Present:
Business is based on communication between people. How many times have you been dismissive, abrupt or not fully present in a meeting, on the phone, or in person? When you choose to be fully present with others, people will feel as though they are important, they will feel valued, and they will feel you are on the same team. In today's world of impersonal and often slip shod customer service, just being fully present can have a remarkable impact on your clients and staff. Being present builds loyalty and trust with your internal and external clients.

Make their Day:
Simple gestures can make some one's day. You've already committed to having an attitude worth sharing with the world, and you're committing yourself to your interactions with others by being fully present...now what would happen if you went the extra mile and made their day? This might mean your customers receive an added value at no additional charge (ie 5th cup of coffee free; no interest charges for 6 months; movie passes; etc etc) or that your staff receives recognition for their work (ie time off; movie passes; free coffee; or a compliment!). When people choose where they want to spend their money, or how they want to spend their time -- it's with those companies and people that make them feel like they are receiving a good value and where they will be treated in a friendly and respectful manner. The value of positive interactions cannot be underestimated. Making their day is simple and has a lasting effect.

Play:
At the fish market you'll see fish flying and staff laughing and engaging with customers and passersby. It's a playful vibe and it's impossible to miss. The fishmongers are working and playing. While it's not practical for most organizations to fling fish across the lobby, it's not about throwing fish. It's the manner in which they approach the work. Playfulness makes work less like work. There are many different ways that your organization can approach play at work: contests, fieldtrips, barbeques, giveaways -- online booksellers have virtual shelves packed with activities meant to make work more fun. Injecting play into your work day does not mean important tasks are cast aside, but it does create an environment that can lead to increased productivity and employee ownership.

In today's competitive marketplace it takes continued commitment and vision to attract and retain clients and quality staff. Does your organization employ principles that will keep customers coming back? Is your organization poised for ordinary? By engaging in a handful of simple, practical strategies your organization can rise above the ordinary and achieve greatness.