One thing that I wrote on every job task analysis that I did was “keep your mind and eyes on task at hand”

Such a common point and so valid. It wasn’t my phrasing, but something borrowed from JTA training I received, and it applies to all situations.

I said this to my son while teaching him how to drive. I just said, “you need to pay attention to details.” And he replied that the world population would rise if we did that. I did a double take and said “What?”

He explained that if everyone was more careful we wouldn’t have as many car accidents, plane accidents, etc. And those survivors would still be contributing to the gene pool. You know I wouldn’t have even thought about that.

So there is another example of mid and eyes on task and the result of not doing that. A smaller example is me spilling my coffee this morning. This was the result of compound situations. I promised my youngest daughter that I would phone West Chester University for her. To remind myself I added the paper with their phone number to the mess on my desk. Unfortunately it partially covered my coaster, and the coffee cup landed off kilter there and spilled.

Three benefits. Most of my desk is now cleared of the excess paper. It soaked up some of the spill and is now in the trash. My desk is also clear of dust and stains from the past couple months as it got wiped up. It inspired this writing. (that can go in the plus or minus column, depending if you get anything out of it)

Two downsides: Any notes I had scribbled on those papers are gone. I have more laundry as the coffee “waterfalled” onto my pants.

So what’s the bottom line here?
1. Be more organized
2. Follow my own advise (eyes and mind on task)
3. Listen to my kids (wisdom from the mouths of babes)

Whether or not managers want to face it, poor management is one of the most often quoted reasons for people leaving their employers. The reason behind that? Lack of skill dealing with people.

In this time of unemployment and recession that may be even more exacerbated. Some managers feel that the people who are working for them should feel lucky to have a job and that that situation entitles them to treat people more harshly. Guess what? Even in this time valued employees are still not easy to come by. Each and every one still deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. Given enough ammunition at exit interviews a manager may find themselves the ones looking in from the outside.

A “good manager” is a role model and gives people inspiration, not persperation.

A successful manager will achieve quality results through the team they manage and will help the individuals on that team develop. This can be through education and training, or it can be through personal interaction that makes the person feel appreciated. Appreciation, as I have already discussed is all about respect - respect for the individual, the work that they do and the effort they expand.

What is the employee incentive that gives you the most “bang for your buck?” Studies have shown time and again that bonuses and rewards programs only turn into expectations rather than remaining incentives.

The true best thing you can do is personal recognition. No money, no logo t-shirt..no kidding.

But the recognition has to be a genuine contact: a true connection. You, as a manager or supervisor need to see how someone’s behavior warrants recognition and then make a sincere compliment. People are starved for heartfelt praise. It is worth its weight and gold and will bring huge returns. Here is where some managers can run into trouble. It’s easy to be disingenuous and be seen as someone who will pat employees on the back strictly for potential return.

But genuine appreciation is seen as such and truly appreciated. Taken to a different level, you should also recognize your fortune to have employees that deserve praise and by recognizing that, your candid praise will carry more weight and morale can take off.

So we have the 111th Supreme Court Justice sworn in, and what a process it was. However you look at it, it is tough to say that Justice Sotomayor is not an American Success Story. To come from a welfare family and a single parent household, graduate with honors from an ivy league school, and eventually land on the Supreme Court.  Well, in my opinion, it doesn’t get much better than that.

Yet there was great debate on her nomination, as there is with all nomination to the highest court in the United States. When it gets down to it, it’s all about your personal opinions on items that aren’t covered specifically in the Constitution. Pro-life, Pro-Choice, Gun Control, Free Speech, Affirmative Action, etc.

How can someone’s life experiences not shape the way that they rule on cases that come before them? Yet when John Roberts was nominated, the debate wasn’t about his legal experience. When Sonia Sotomayor was nominated, the debate wasn’t about her legal experience. They both had the experience and ability to do the job.

We are all shaped by life. Our point of view is skewed. Not a one of us is identical to another. So how do we bridge that gap? How do we work together for the good of the whole? How can we take that person who doesn’t quite fit and make them a valued part of the team? We need to recognize their value and they need to know that they are valued.

But when we get down to brass tacks, the path isn’t always clear. A debate can go in inside your own head about how to proceed. How do you resolve that? Sometimes it can be through your own experiences and other times you need to rely on those around you. Still other times no one has a clear solution, so you need to consult the experts. The tutorials and communication exercises The People Academy, Inc provides are invaluable tools in your communication and human resource process.

Finding out “what good looks like” and then mapping out a clear path to a solution are initial steps in the process. The tools we provide help you with those steps as well as many others.

Justice Sotomayor figured out what good looked like for her early in life. Knowing that the path out of the projects was education, she took that path and ran fast and far. Her personal dedication to her studies took her far from her beginnings, but her roots stayed with her throughout the process. Kudos to another American success story. Hopefully she is part of “what good looks like” for the United States.