Did you hear the one about the wealthy investor who walked into a bank and said to the bank manager, "I would like to speak with John Mervis, whom I have heard is a tried and trusted employee of yours."
The banker said, "Yes, he certainly was trusted. And he will be tried as soon as we catch him."
Ah! Employees...you can't live with 'em and you can't survive without 'em. But today's blog is dedicated to them, because I would have never made it this far without them.
Accentuating the Negative
It is a centuries old custom to dwell on the negative and not the positive. It's so easy to remember his lost sale, her poor presentation, the times they were late. But what about those high volume years, those fantastic presentations, the many months of being early, and the many years of being on time?! Don't they count?
The Night of the Round Table
Participating in a round table discussion one evening at a conference, I heard these comments about employees from fellow business owners: "I can't stand when they ignore job descriptions" and "Doesn't it piss you off when they try to prove everyone wrong?"
And then I listened to Jeff Haden, ghostwriter and columnist for CBSMoneyWatch.com, respond that two of his eight Qualities of Remarkable Employees are:
a) They ignore job descriptions. As he says, "How important it is that employees think on their feet, adapt to shifting priorities, do whatever it takes, regardless of position, to get things done....and being told there's a problem and jumping in without being asked---even if it's not their job.”
b) They like to prove others wrong: "Self-motivation often springs from a desire to show that doubters are wrong. The kid without a college degree often possesses a burning desire to prove others wrong. Education, intelligence, talent and skill are important, but drive is critical. Remarkable employees are often driven by something deeper and more personal than just trying to do a good job."
An Employee Hall of Fame in Waiting
I'd love to see this.
My first 3 nominees
Craig...who despite the high price of gas, drives 45 miles one way, with no other clients in the vicinity, just to deliver 1 special order part his client wanted (not needed).
Perry...who after the store was closed (lights out) was locked in and up on the 2nd floor (no keys, no power, no cell phone) kept right on working for 45 minutes until the security company, hearing noise inside, called the business owner.
Ken.....the stockboy, who having been told (not realizing the joke) that it was the turn of the business he worked for to clean the inside of the porta-john in the public parking lot across the street, dutifully and respectfully did his job...and did it well.
What’s this have to do with life coaching?
Well some of the above characteristics are instinctive, but some are not. I do a lot of Coaching with people in job transition or acquisition. I Coach others in the workplace on how to develop stronger and more meaningful relationships in order to nourish what they have and to cultivate new. I work with many others with one specific agenda: to become the best employee they can be. It's your job, it's your career, it's your agenda, can I be your Coach?
The Whole World Came Together
Barry, a recently hired, junior reporter for a newspaper was frustrated in not getting his editor's attention. He had the most important scoop of the day! His editor was behind the glass, around the table with his senior reporters prioritizing the day's leads with the deadline looming. The editor kept waving him off.
This most recently hired reporter waved his hands frantically and finally tapped on the glass to get noticed. He observed his editor making a call on his cell phone, and soon after his boss' secretary approaches the reporter with a page from yesterday's edition. It contained a full picture of the world. As she tore into many pieces she says to the reporter "Bruce (the editor) says that he needs a bit more time in there...as soon as you put this picture together, you can join the meeting.” Bruce was just trying to buy some time before having to deal with this pesky new guy.
Within minutes this new guy burst into the room with the world picture completely assembled and exclaims: "YOU"VE GOTTA LISTEN TO THIS STORY I'VE GOT!" The astonished editor's only excited response is "how the hell did you put that picture together so quickly?"
Barry responded that on the reverse side of the page was a picture of a little girl. "You see, sir, when I got the little girl together, the whole world came together."
Each of us has the responsibility to put our world together. It starts by putting ourselves, in this case, the employer, together. We can become better at anything. The first step is changing our attitude.
The banker said, "Yes, he certainly was trusted. And he will be tried as soon as we catch him."
Ah! Employees...you can't live with 'em and you can't survive without 'em. But today's blog is dedicated to them, because I would have never made it this far without them.
Accentuating the Negative
It is a centuries old custom to dwell on the negative and not the positive. It's so easy to remember his lost sale, her poor presentation, the times they were late. But what about those high volume years, those fantastic presentations, the many months of being early, and the many years of being on time?! Don't they count?
The Night of the Round Table
Participating in a round table discussion one evening at a conference, I heard these comments about employees from fellow business owners: "I can't stand when they ignore job descriptions" and "Doesn't it piss you off when they try to prove everyone wrong?"
And then I listened to Jeff Haden, ghostwriter and columnist for CBSMoneyWatch.com, respond that two of his eight Qualities of Remarkable Employees are:
a) They ignore job descriptions. As he says, "How important it is that employees think on their feet, adapt to shifting priorities, do whatever it takes, regardless of position, to get things done....and being told there's a problem and jumping in without being asked---even if it's not their job.”
b) They like to prove others wrong: "Self-motivation often springs from a desire to show that doubters are wrong. The kid without a college degree often possesses a burning desire to prove others wrong. Education, intelligence, talent and skill are important, but drive is critical. Remarkable employees are often driven by something deeper and more personal than just trying to do a good job."
An Employee Hall of Fame in Waiting
I'd love to see this.
My first 3 nominees
Craig...who despite the high price of gas, drives 45 miles one way, with no other clients in the vicinity, just to deliver 1 special order part his client wanted (not needed).
Perry...who after the store was closed (lights out) was locked in and up on the 2nd floor (no keys, no power, no cell phone) kept right on working for 45 minutes until the security company, hearing noise inside, called the business owner.
Ken.....the stockboy, who having been told (not realizing the joke) that it was the turn of the business he worked for to clean the inside of the porta-john in the public parking lot across the street, dutifully and respectfully did his job...and did it well.
What’s this have to do with life coaching?
Well some of the above characteristics are instinctive, but some are not. I do a lot of Coaching with people in job transition or acquisition. I Coach others in the workplace on how to develop stronger and more meaningful relationships in order to nourish what they have and to cultivate new. I work with many others with one specific agenda: to become the best employee they can be. It's your job, it's your career, it's your agenda, can I be your Coach?
The Whole World Came Together
Barry, a recently hired, junior reporter for a newspaper was frustrated in not getting his editor's attention. He had the most important scoop of the day! His editor was behind the glass, around the table with his senior reporters prioritizing the day's leads with the deadline looming. The editor kept waving him off.
This most recently hired reporter waved his hands frantically and finally tapped on the glass to get noticed. He observed his editor making a call on his cell phone, and soon after his boss' secretary approaches the reporter with a page from yesterday's edition. It contained a full picture of the world. As she tore into many pieces she says to the reporter "Bruce (the editor) says that he needs a bit more time in there...as soon as you put this picture together, you can join the meeting.” Bruce was just trying to buy some time before having to deal with this pesky new guy.
Within minutes this new guy burst into the room with the world picture completely assembled and exclaims: "YOU"VE GOTTA LISTEN TO THIS STORY I'VE GOT!" The astonished editor's only excited response is "how the hell did you put that picture together so quickly?"
Barry responded that on the reverse side of the page was a picture of a little girl. "You see, sir, when I got the little girl together, the whole world came together."
Each of us has the responsibility to put our world together. It starts by putting ourselves, in this case, the employer, together. We can become better at anything. The first step is changing our attitude.
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