I'm just here to serve

I was in the local grocery store, (Albertson's), on saturday trying to track down chocolate chips. Not being real savey on grocery store logic in the layout of their stores, I walked around for about 5 minutes before I overcame my male ego. You know, the

"No Honey, I don't need to look at a map or ask directions syndrome.

So I walked to the deli section and asked the guy behind the counter where the chocolate chips were. I have been in the store enough to know he was the helpful kind. A gal who had a shopping cart and was talking to him said, "I'll show you." I said, "If you just tell me where they are, I'm sure I can find them." She sprinted off towards the middle of the store with me desperately trying to keep up. She took me right to them then said, "If I can help you find anything else, let me know." I realized she was an off duty employee of the store. OK. Now she gets an A+ for customer service. I already liked the store, but now I tell people about the store!

I'm in the service business industry and probably the biggest problem most service businesses face is; "How Do I Get My Employees To Act Like They Care?"

My answer to that question is;

they won't act like they care unless they do care!

OK. Then, the next question would be...... How do I get my employees to actually care.

1. Some of them won't, no matter what you do.



2. Some of them will, no matter what you do.



3. Some are motivated by money.



4. Some are motivated by recognition.



5. Some are motivated by opportunity.



6. Some are motivated by fear.
   

Number's 1 and 6 are probably not people you want working for you. Number 2 is a GREAT one to have. 3, 4 and 5 are what most people are that you will have to work with in your business.

So how do you find the 2 -5's? It's not that hard.

You gotta care yourself!

If you are lucky enough to find a 2 to work for you in your business and you don't care about that employee as a person, they won't stay too long. The old adage is true in this case; "They don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." I know that business training says,"don't get involved in your employees lives." It doesn't mean you need to spend every weekend with them, go to their kids soccer games or invite them over for the Super Bowl, but there are many ways to show you care without violating the manager / employee code.

• Take time to ask how they are.


• "Catch" them doing something right.


• Help them do "their" job once in a while.


• Praise in public, criticize in private.

If you care about your employees, you will build a culture of trust, integrity, honesty and loyalty with them. They will CARE about you and your business.

If you're coastin', You're goin' downhill

This is a quote from a friend of mine. It is one of my favorite quotes and it is SO TRUE! The road is long, but we can't ever stop learning, growing, serving and loving.

Sometimes in life, you feel like all you want is to find a place to be able to "Coast" for a while, but this hectic pace that we all move at will not let us. You can slow down a little; maybe not climb that hill at 100%, but at 50% instead. You can pace yourself so you don't wear out before the finish, but you can't stop pedaling. If you have a family, especially a young family, you know that you are always climbing a hill. When you are climbing a hill and you stop pedaling, you fall over!

That is easier said than done. It takes hours of conditioning for a cyclist to be able to climb those steep, long hills. It is the same with us in life. You don't just wake up one day and "Poof", you're a great; father, mother, manager, employee, friend, or person. Anything is this life worth having or being takes effort and planning.

Start with some goals.

You can start with some small goals that are short term so you can reach them quickly. When you can see you are progressing and moving forward, even if it is small steps, it is positive. When you reach those goals, you can then set some new goals that are harder to reach and farther out.

Soon you will find that you are making some REAL PROGRESS. The people that are able to accomplish great things, are people who set real, meaningful goals.

Take time to set some goals. Do It Right Now! Start pedaling and stop coastin'. You are too important to waste time going downhill.