General Motivation Blog

Help! My Employee Doesn’t Feel Appreciated

admin — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 11:00:42 +0000

Every Employee Wants to be Appreciated

Whether you sense it or you’ve been told outright, having an employee that doesn’t feel appreciated can make for a difficult situation to deal with. Employees who feel they aren’t valued probably don’t perform at their very best, and you may be missing the level of professionalism you’ve come to expect from him or her. So how do you correct the situation?

The first thing you should do is to examine whether or not you really do appreciate the employee. Perhaps you’ve taken their performance for granted, or maybe it’s simply a matter of not having shown appreciation, either through words or actions. If after careful examination you simply can’t conceive of where the problem lies, it’s time for a talk with the employee.

No matter how valued an employee’s performance has been in the past, someone who doesn’t feel appreciated is bound to be a less satisfied worker. So if after some introspection you find that your feelings towards your employee haven’t exactly been positive, it’s not too late to turn that around and bring out the best in him or her. Yes it’s true, sometimes no manner of encouragement will bring forth a great performance, but it’s often quite surprising what will happen by making an extra effort.

On the other hand, you may have discovered that indeed this worthy employee has flown under the radar too long, and has not been given the proper kudos. What do you do? The best way to remedy the situation is to sit down privately with him or her and first sincerely apologize for the oversight. Then ask what can be done in their eyes to reverse the negativity. Do they want simple verbal acknowledgment? Do they feel they were overlooked for a promotion, or are their skills being underused? Listen openly, and if need be, tell them that you want a few days to fully absorb the suggestions they gave. A followup meeting will be necessary in this case. The important thing is to give room for the employee to express their views on the situation so you can better address it and make adjustments. At that point you’ll be able to see where improvements can be made if possible.

If you feel there’s simply been a misunderstanding – that in fact you did show the employee appreciation and they didn’t recognize it as such – find that magic middle ground and offer something else that makes you both comfortable.

When an employee doesn’t feel appreciated, you both lose. The solution may be as simple as letting that employee know the are indeed valued and needed. Other times bigger steps need to be taken; but in the end what you gain for your efforts is a happier, more dedicated employee. And if strides are made to correct an unhealthy situation, your employee will have a deeper respect for both you and the company that worked so hard to show true appreciation.

10 Ways to Cut Down on Office Expenses

admin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:49:26 +0000

Cutting Back can be as Simple as Watching Office Supply Waste

With a tough economy comes tightening of the belt in areas that may have been previously overlooked. If you’ve got the job of cutting down on office expenses, you’ve got quite a challenge! But you need not despair – remember, even the smallest of cutbacks can add up to more significant savings. Following are 10 money-saving tips for cinching the office budget.

1. Save on Electricity – Install timers on office lighting so lights automatically shut off when no one is in the room.

2. Coffee Caddy – Most employees have no idea how much coffee an office can go through. Encourage everyone to contribute to a coffee fund by putting a collection can in the break room, and label it with the current monthly average of money spent on coffee, filters, cream and sugar so everyone is aware of the money needed to keep the coffee brewing. Ask employees to be on the lookout for cheaper supplies when shopping.

3. Cool Down – Rooms that aren’t in use can be left unheated during winter months. Shut vents in unused areas of the building.

4. Take it Down a Notch - For the rest of the building, try turning the heat down one or two degrees. Yes it’s true, this will be one of the less popular decisions, but kindly explain to all that it’s necessary to keep the costs down. Just make sure you don’t knock the heat down too far in money-saving exuberance, however, or you’ll end up with chilled and unhappy workers! That’s not so hot either.

5. Printing Techniques – Print on both sides of the paper whenever possible. And when it’s not necessary to print, don’t. Encourage everyone to refrain from printing for personal use too. You’ll save on paper, toner, and electricity, not to mention wear and tear on the printer. When you’d normally print reports, etc., for clients and customers, try sending it electronically. Let your customers know it’s the more environmentally friendly choice. Most people will know – and understand – that it’s both an environmental and an economic choice.

6. Reign in on Incidentals – Most of us have gotten accustomed to Sticky Note usage, but remember there once was a time when they didn’t even exist! Try saving scrap papers and cutting them into quarters to be used for note taking. Paper clips are reusable and in the long run will be a cheaper solution.

7. Cleaning Up – Cleaning supplies can be a huge drag on the office budget. Thinking of the price tag attached to the mounds of paper towel, glass cleaner, and other cleaning products can make one’s head spin. Try purchasing a few spray bottles and filling them with water and vinegar. Or purchase something like the ActiveIon (pricey at the get-go but well worth it) to avoid regular replacement of cleaners. Buying reusable cotton cleaning cloths instead of disposable paper towels will cut down on expenses, not to mention all the extra garbage.

8. Dry Out - For bathrooms and break room areas, replace paper towel dispensers with reusable cotton cloth hand dryers or air dryers. The initial investment means never having to dole out for disposable paper towels again.

9. Break Room Cut-Backs – along with the reduction of paper towels, cleaners, and coffee expenses, make sure the break room is supplied with reusable dishes and silverware instead of disposable. Again, you’ll be cutting back on trash volume. Encourage everyone to wash dishes immediately after usage. By mixing 1/4 cup of dish soap (or less) in an old bottle mixed with water, you’ll hardly ever have to replace that soap! Most are highly concentrated and can handle being greatly watered down without losing their potency.

10. Ask for Employee Input – Holding a meeting, or simply going around the office and asking for ideas, is a great way to get everyone in on the spirit of cutting back. Ask people what they’ve done in their own homes to decrease expenses, and see how you can implement those at work. Most people will be more than happy to share their ideas, and when they see them put to use in the office, they’ll be glad they were able to contribute in any way possible.

It’s the small expenses that often sneak by us, adding up to a big problem. But by taking a closer look at the little money leaks, you’ll make quite a savings in the long run. Be sure to calculate the expenses before and after, and share them openly with everyone. Explain it’s for the benefit of all, not just the company’s bottom line. Sure, cutting back can be hard and it does mean sacrifice on everyone’s part, but being open and honest with employees when it comes to trimming the fat by cutting down on office expenses will ensure you have not only everyone’s participation, but their enthusiasm as well.

Creative Service Awards Ideas – Not Your Run-of-the-Mill Momento

admin — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 15:20:47 +0000

There’s a reason things like watches, clocks, and jewelry are so closely associated with service awards: They’re well-liked and a fantastic way to turn an award into a keepsake. But for every employee that would love to have a watch or a gold ring, there’s another who would more appreciate something as unique as they are. Offering great choices in your service awards programs means adding some things a little less traditional to counter the more common favorites. Here are a few suggestions that will fit nicely into your employee’s at-home game room:

Authentic Gaming Machine – Definitely not your average service award, a slot machine will give your award recipient a bit of Vegas right at home. This beauty is a full-sized slot machine that was once a true blue ringer on the casino floor. Completely refurbished, authentic, and ready for at-home use! Even includes the tokens.

Old-Fashioned Kettle Popcorn Maker – Add it to a game room, even the family room. This one offers fun for the whole family, as movie night is turned into something really special. Anyone can throw a bag in the microwave, but how many people can have their own true blue movie popcorn? This is a manageable tabletop version that stands 18″ high.

Gumball Machine – Another one sure to please the whole family, a gumball machine adds a bit of nostalgia to the household fun area. This one is built the old fashioned way with a cast metal base and a glass globe.

Chess Set – Here’s an award that offers a lot in craftsmanship and style. This chess table features genuine Italian alabaster inlay and comes complete with a full set of handcrafted maple chessmen, weighted and felted. The table includes two drawers for storage. An elegant piece sure to be proudly displayed.

Keeping in mind the varied personalities in your company will go a long way to setting up a great awards program. While the popular choices of watches and jewelry will always have a favorite spot, adding some more unusual items to your awards catalog lets your employees know you understand how unique they are!

Got some more unusual ideas of your own? Let us know! Want to get ahold of something you see here, or perhaps discuss other options? Feel free to contact us. We’d love to chat with you. (We also tell great jokes, and some of us sing on occasion.)

10 Simple Tips for Motivating Your Employees

admin — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:12:16 +0000

Motivation is a beautiful thing.

Sometimes the easiest things are the most effective. These 10 tips for motivating your employees may seem overly simple at first glance; perhaps you’ll say, “Of course! Who doesn’t know that?” But these are the sort of tips that we often forget to put into practice. Making yourself mindful of them will give you more productive – and happier – employees!

1. Smile

2. Find reason to compliment even the most difficult employees. Make it sincere, even if it’s just “Hey, dig those shoes.”

3. Do a favor. I’m not talking about waxing the secretary’s Prius. I’m talking the simple stuff: Buy her a cappuccino; fix that computer glitch she’s been bugging you about; clip a funny cartoon you think she’d like.

4. Say thanks.

5. Admit a mistake.

6. Bring in doughnuts. Or a fruit basket. (You’d be surprised at how fast a fruit basket will empty out! It doesn’t have to be frosted to be devoured.)

7. Listen.

8. Ask for input. Nothing makes an employee feel more valued than to have a boss, a supervisor, a manager ask for their opinion or input on something!

9. Openly recognize talent.

10. Laugh.

At first it looks simple; but be aware of just one or two of these tasks throughout the rest of today, and you’ll find some of them might be harder to implement than you thought! That’s alright. The payoff for everyone is great. In fact, we could rename this post “10 Simple Tips for Motivating Yourself” and read it again. The list is just as effective. Nothing is a more powerful self-motivator than motivating others!

Motivating Your Employees: Turning the Below-Average Worker into an Olympic Performer

admin — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 14:05:49 +0000

A Misplaced Worker is an Unmotivated Worker

What if Shaun White never became a snowboarder? What if, instead, his parents told him, “Kid, enough with the snowboarding already. Crack into those books and aim for a respectable job. That sport’s going nowhere anyway.” Jump to Shaun’s adulthood: He sits behind a desk pushing numbers as an accountant. Think he’d be any good at it? Even if he performed alright, his heart certainly wouldn’t be in it. In much the same way, our employees can be seriously underperforming if they are misplaced. So how do you most effectively go about motivating your employees? One of the best ways is to make sure their job description best matches their talents.

That’s not to say we tell them to trade in their keyboard for a snowboard, building them a halfpipe in the parking lot. But if an employee seems less than motivated, even disgruntled, one area to look at is their day-to-day activities. An employee turning in subpar work may simply be misplaced. In smaller companies it’s easier to get to know an employee on a one-on-one basis than it is in larger companies, but it’s never impossible to learn the likes and dislikes of one’s workstaff. Getting to know more about the personal lives of those who make your company operate is a great way to figure out where they might better be placed, or what new responsibilities may be added to their workday that would motivate them.

Take, for instance, Sandy. A true story, Sandy worked at a factory. She was young and wasn’t planning on making the factory her lifelong job and the bosses knew that. She was placed on a machine producing parts, and the work environment was quite repetitive. Others did very well in that position, but Sandy got squirrelly, wandered around and talked instead of working, and consistently produced bad parts. Other employees complained that she wasn’t holding up to the task, and it wasn’t making for a very pretty work environment. She probably would have gotten herself fired, but her supervisor saw it for what it was – Sandy was bored to tears. She needed movement and mental activity that would change from day to day. Her supervisor moved her to a different position where she would get what it took to make her a top performer in the company. True, she did leave a couple of years later, but for the years she worked there she was happy and a top producer.

As with the case of Sandy, misplaced workers can act out and even disrupt others; but like the image of Shaun White at the accountant’s desk, being misplaced simply means poor performance. Reevaluating a worker’s job description may give you more than a happy, motivated worker – it may just lead to an Olympic performer who has the potential to take your company to Gold-medal status!

HR and Small Business Online Forums – A Helpful List

admin — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:00:40 +0000

Get Connected with the Click of a Mouse

Online forums are a great way to gain insight, share your experiences, ask questions, and gather ideas. Most online forums are free and require nothing more than a screen name and a password; if you’d rather just read what others have to say while saving your comments for later, that’s fine too. It’s well worth the effort to check out a few forums. Today we’ve taken some of the effort out by gathering a list of both HR online forums and small business and entrepreneur online forums. (Bigger businesses will find lots of good info here too!)

HR Online Forums:

HR.BLR.com’s HR Forum

About.com’s Human Resources Forum

Topix’s Human Resources Forum

HRmarketer.com

Labor Law Talk

Small Business and Entrepreneur Online Forums:

Home Business Online

Young Entrepreneur

Small Business Ideas Forum

Small Business Forum

These are just a few to start you out, but keep in mind for every facet of life and business, there are most likely several forums out there waiting for you to explore. And if you don’t find what you’re looking for? You may just want to start your own!

If you have an online forum in HR, small business, entrepreneurial, or PR, please let us know. We’d love to add you to future lists. You can leave a comment here or email us.

The Body Language Handbook – Book Review

admin — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 16:04:30 +0000

Whether we know it or not, we’re constantly sending and receiving signals from one another through the language of our bodies. Sometimes the signals are clear and other times they’re grossly misinterpreted. And although many of these signals may vary from culture to culture, much of what our bodies have to say is internationally understood. Helping us sort it all out is “The Body Language Handbook: How to Read Everyone’s Hidden Thoughts and Intentions” by Gregory Hartley and Maryann Karinch. This fascinating book gives readers the 101 of Body Language, describing the various signals received and sent, sometimes in the most unintentional ways.

Hartley and Karinch are clear about one thing: You can’t make a snap judgment about anyone by simply making note of their crossed arms or the way they rub their nose when they talk. Body language reading goes much deeper than that, requiring one to get a “baseline” on the person being observed. In other words, one needs to know how the person normally behaves. Are they standing with their legs apart because they’re trying to take up more space and look more dominant, or do they just have a bad back, for instance? Oftentimes a cultural difference means a person was raised with slightly different signals, such as in the Middle East where it’s improper to gesture towards someone with your left hand. Many things come into play when reading body language, and the whole picture – indeed the whole person – must be taken into consideration.

Perhaps that seems overwhelming and difficult to discern, but we already read body language every day. The Body Language Handbook is filled with photos of people’s facial expressions, posture, and other signals that no doubt you’d recognize. However, I found that when I first started read the photos for myself, I was trying too hardt. I second guessed myself, and time and again I found that my first reaction was the right one indeed. But there were still times when reading someone’s body language from just a photograph was impossible. I didn’t know until it was explained to me what had happened just moments before certain photographs were taken. This helped drive the point home that indeed there is much to take into account.

Most surprising to me was what I learned about myself. I immediately began picking up on signals I use even when no one’s around; for instance digging in my fridge and doubting I’d find what I really wanted to find, I caught myself making a face of disapproval, almost sarcasm, as if to tell the fridge “See, I knew you wouldn’t have what I was looking for!” I immediately recognized my expression as one from the handbook. Of course one can do much more than catch themselves making faces at inanimate objects as I did. Understanding body language can become a useful tool when interacting with others. Relationships both in and out of work would benefit from putting such knowledge to practice. Improved communication will no doubt begin to grow as you learn how to better understand others and project yourself.

The Body Language Handbook is meant to be read straight through first to lay a foundation, but after one has done that, it can be used as a helpful reference. The book is well written and easy to understand, and both authors bring a lot of knowledge and experience to the table. Gregory Hartley taught both interrogation and resistance to interrogation for the U.S. Army and has also provided body language and behavioral analysis for print, TV, and radio. Maryann Karinch has authored five other books with Gregory Hartley, all dealing with human behavior, deception, and body language, which includes How to Spot a Liar. She’s held senior communications positions with a variety of companies in the technology industry.

The Body Language Handbook: How to Read Everyone’s Hidden Thoughts and Intentions ($15.99 retail) is published by Career Press.

Getting a Jump on Spring Promotional Items

admin — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 14:39:47 +0000

This Polka Dot Tote Adds a Touch of Spring to Your Brand

Sure, it’s still cold out. You’re wearing bulky sweaters to the office, and yesterday it took you 15 minutes to scrape the ice off your windshield after work. But regardless of its blustery appearance, winter will come to an end, bringing with it the beauty and warmer temperatures of spring. That means time to start thinking of new and imaginative ways to promote your business – and celebrate the vernal equinox!

Tote bags make seriously good and usable handout items. Not only will customers, clients, and employees enjoy using them again and again, but the totes become walking billboards for your brand! Springy polka dots make this tote a real eye-catcher.

The Chameleon Umbrella Offers the Perfect Backdrop to Your Logo

Stormy weather in springtime is much more pleasant than a winter whiteout! Still, a little rain gear is always appreciated. Umbrellas with the company logo are yet another perfectly useful item that gets your brand out on the street in front of countless potential customers.

The Highlander Comes with All the Necessities

Picnics are the perfect way to celebrate warmer weather. So when someone receives gifts such as this picnic basket with your logo, they’ll be sure to use it season after season, and they’ll always remember where they got it.

By preparing now to promote your company this spring, you’ll have plenty of time to set up some new and different approaches to assure 2010 is a fantastic year. You’ll be ready to give your business name some creative and stylish exposure; because there’s no better time for fresh ideas than spring.

If you like these spring promotional ideas, or if you have your own and aren’t sure where to go to make it happen, give us a call at 1-888/664-6449. We at General Motivation would be happy to help you jump your business into spring!

Sticking Your Neck Out: Discover the Top 7 Ways to Reach Your Peak Performance

admin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:19:33 +0000

Today’s article is by Olympic Gold Medalist Nikki Stone. She is a motivational speaker and the author of the new book “When Turtles Fly: Secrets of Successful People Who Know How to Stick their Necks Out”. We appreciate her sharing some of the secrets of what makes a person overcome great obstacles to achieve the unimaginable. After overcoming a debilitating injury and going on to be the first to win an Olympic gold medal in aerial skiing, her advice is definitely worth more than gold.

Sticking Your Neck Out: Discover the Top 7 Ways to Reach Your Peak Performance

As a motivational speaker for Fortune 500 companies and an Olympic gold medalist, I have seen what makes an individual most successful in the boardroom and on the slopes. Over the last five years, I have researched the similarities of forty different highly-successful individuals — including the likes of Tommy Hilfiger, Prince Albert of Monaco, Dr. Stephen Covey, Shaun White and many more. And no matter the field or endeavor, I have found The Turtle Effect philosophy at the core of everyone’s success.

This philosophy was taught to me by my mother, who told me that I could achieve anything I wanted. I always held it close and adapted it to every situation I encountered. I’d like to help people breathe in this confidence and share the secrets that are common to those at the top of their given field.

1. Have a Soft Inside – let your heart drive your actions

Find Your Passion: Do the things you hate first so you can truly get pleasure from the parts of your job and day that you are most passionate about. First thing in the morning write down five things you don’t like to do. Do each before 11:00 a.m., and check off that you’ve done them. Doing the thing you hate most will allow you to spend the rest of the day or week focusing on the things you enjoy the most.

2. Develop Your Hard Shell – stay strong against life’s challenges

Enhance Your Focus: Try to complete a task or project today as well as you can — without looking at others for approval. Can you bring something to fruition without worrying about the outcome? If you do feel you have to see your “results”, compare them to your own past efforts rather than to what someone else has achieved.

Be Committed: Either give yourself a challenge or challenge a colleague, teammate or friend to decide on a certain goal with you. Write the challenge down on an index card and tape it to the wall to remind yourself of your goal. This commitment will make you accountable to your goals and responsible for your actions.

Overcoming Adversities: Ask yourself, “If I knew I couldn’t fail, what would I try?” After you answer this question, ask yourself why it would be so awful to fail at the task or activity. We learn much more from our failures than we learn from our accomplishments.

3. Be Willing to Stick Your Neck Out – put yourself out there and find the support to make sure you follow through

Build Your Confidence: We all have our strong points and we need to remind ourselves of these attributes. Create a list today of all the personal traits that give you confidence. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses, and knowing your strengths will help you compensate for your shortcomings.

Start Taking Risks: We can’t be afraid of failure. If you don’t try, you have already failed. Why not give yourself the chance to succeed? Pick something that scares you a bit, and decide you are going to take the risk to follow through with it today.

Find Your Teamwork: A support system is crucial in helping you develop a strong character. Go out today and ask a few close friends how they would describe you. If they define you only in terms of your accomplishments, take the time to show them who you are in terms of your relationships. Think about the things you may be doing to project a title rather than a personality, and correct that.

I find that the same factors work to put someone at the top of their game, whether you are a triumphant athlete, Fortune 500 CEO, an accomplished politician, successful educator, or even an effective parent.

I hope these tips help you find your Turtle Effect and encourage you to strive for levels once thought impossible.

Author Bio
At the Olympic Winter Games in Nagano, Japan, Nikki Stone became America’s first-ever Olympic champion in the sport of aerial skiing. What made this performance so unbelievable was the fact that, less than two years earlier, a chronic spinal injury prevented her from standing, much less walking or skiing off a twelve-foot-tall snow jump that launches aerialists fifty feet into the air. She overcame the injury and went on to earn 35 World Cup medals, 11 World Cup titles, 4 national titles, 3 World Cup titles, a World Championship title, and membership in the Ski Hall of Fame. Nikki is also a magna cum laude graduate of Union College and a summa cum laude masters graduate of the University of Utah. Her aerial retirement is less than restful as she trains Olympic athletes and business professionals in speaking/media skills, coaches personal and professional development courses, hosts group skiing adventures, sits on five different charitable committees, and writes articles and columns for many magazines, newspapers, and websites. Nikki’s career focus is now on traveling around the world working as a sought-after motivational speaker, sharing her secrets to success by inspiring her business audiences to “Stick their necks out.” Every spare moment is spent with husband, Michael Spencer, and daughter, Zali, in Park City, Utah.

Nikki is the author of When Turtles Fly: Secrets of Successful People Who Know How To Stick Their Necks Out. For more information, please visit www.WhenTurtlesFly.com.

Unique Awards Ideas – Taking Trophy Awards to a New Level

admin — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 07:00:02 +0000

Tired of the same old trophies? If you’re hoping to award your employees with style, there are some truly unique awards ideas out there that make for not only a fabulous presentation, but an original keepsake for the recipient.

Bronze Statues: Bronze artwork doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag. A decent piece, like this beautiful original called “Majestic Monarch” can be had in a reasonable 7″ size for around $50. Various themes may be selected to match the award occasion, and most come with an engraved plaque for personalization.

Art Glass: Art glass pieces provide a stunning visual and a reminder of achievement that can be easily displayed in either home or office. This piece, by Swedish company Kosta Boda, gives a perfect example of combining recognition with style. Again, various designs offer a selection of themes to choose from. Many of the pieces can even be sandblasted with a name and/or company logo to commemorate the event.

Framed Artwork: A framed print or original painting can easily be chosen to represent the award through its theme. The price points here are endless, spanning from about $35 for a small framed print to over $1,000 for an original artwork. Some pieces can even be personalized on an engraved plaque on the matting, or within the print itself.

No matter what the award – outstanding performance, going beyond the call, or years of service – the standard trophy is far from being the only choice. Getting creative with your awards and offering something with great display potential heightens the excitement of receiving an award all the more.

If one of these unique awards ideas appeals to you, or if you have one of your own you’d like to see become a reality, give us a call at 1/888-664-6449. We’d love to help!