Business Management

Late to work, time wasters, lazy, or simply not showing up at all. As a manager or an employer, these are the issues facing us. Why? In many areas of the United States, the education system is so poorly funded that one teacher can have up to 40 children in the classroom. How many times have you seen someone walking with traffic instead of against it, as is proper. Even college graduates often lack the common sense skills to accomplish what is needed of them in the workplace. With all these challenges, how can we learn to deal with and, better yet, love our employees?
We must do what the social system has not done, equip them with the necessary skills to succeed. This means education. If your employee is willing to spend the time on higher education, why not pay for it. You argue that you can’t afford it. Can you afford stupid employees?
Still, if you are truly strapped for cash, why not teach your own supplementary education programs.
Many logistics companies have in house training programs employees can take advantage of. In my late twenties I learned to drive tractor-trailers, pull double and triple trailers, haul hazardous materials, and become a manager all through these in house programs. Employees need stimulation, and you must provide it for them.
A great way to do this is also through motivational speakers. Many times there are speakers just starting out that are willing to do short hour seminars for very inexpensive in return for the hope of a good reference. Call your local speakers bureau or the chamber of commerce. At least one motivational session per month can do wonders for your employees.
Even better is using good speakers inside your own company to provide presentations. All managers should have the ability to speak before an audience and doing so regularly is great training in itself. You may start them out with 10 to 15 minute presentations highlighting how well the company is doing, how valued the employees are, or how great it is to work at your company.
No one likes a complainer. However, open communication is vital in managing employees successfully. Do you want to find out what everyone is saying behind your back? Don’t be afraid to take a survey with no names attached on your management skills. You may be shocked at the opinions, but instead of being upset, use them to improve your skills and address the pertinent issues on your employee’s minds, whether relevant to you or not.
Of course, we have all had that employee that just won’t show up on time, is always in everyone’s business, or is just downright slow. You can dock their pay, write them up, warn them, or fire them. But there is a secret that is so much easier. Reward them. Yes, that’s right, reward them. Hire your employees at one dollar per hour cheaper than you are willing to pay. At the end of each week, line up all your employees. To those who were on time, didn’t complain, and accomplished their assigned tasks, hand $40. To those who did not, simply say you are sorry, state the reason why they are missing their reward and tell them they can try again the next week.
Once I had an employee who was a hard worker but consistently late. The first week I started this program, I handed everyone a forty dollar check – except him. On the following Monday morning, he was five minutes early. After telling his wife what had happened, she woke him up early, dressed him and personally drove him to work so that he would be on time. Needless to say he was never late again.