“People don’t quit their companies, they quit their bosses.” How many times have you heard that phrase? It’s rare that a corporate entity of any size upsets an employee so much that they feel quitting is the only option. One bad manager, however, can empty out an entire department within weeks.
It’s all too easy to imagine a scenario where a manager doesn’t have the skills to motivate his staff or help them feel engaged. In fact, we’ve heard of many situations where one manager brought employee morale down so low it essentially shut down the organization!
Once employees start leaving and talking to friends and family about their experiences at work, word quickly gets around that it was a bad organization to work for. When something like this starts, it can very easily snowball out of control to the point where the company is basically shut down. Not literally, but a severe morale crisis can slow down productivity to the point where you might as well lock up and turn out the lights. And all because of one leader that didn’t know how to build healthy relationships with staff.
Managers have a lot of influence on individual employees and also on the corporate culture as a whole. This influence can be either positive or negative. When it’s negative, the organization is in serious trouble.
Approaching employees openly and honestly enables them to feel comfortable with their manager and at ease. One of the best ways to really engage employees is to ask them for their input to problem solving. If you never ask them for their advice or suggestions, they will never feel comfortable or engaged, no matter how much you pat them on the back for a job well done or give them clear direction.
To manage people effectively, managers need to broaden their role. Not only must they be a decision maker, but a catalyst, coach, and facilitator as well. Many management experts say the answer is to ask more questions and do less telling. In other words, a manager needs to develop his or her “soft” skills just as much as the “hard” skills. For example, a bakery manager may know everything there is to know about the chemistry of baking and oven technology, but his soufflés will still fall flat if he doesn’t know the ways in which his team members differ, and which supervisory style will elicit the desired employee behaviors and outcomes.
This is something HR professionals can help with. The right coaching and training can turn a manager with poor people management skills into a motivational powerhouse, encouraging and empowering staff to work harder, reach further, and dream bigger than ever before.
By: Lynn Lochbihler
Archive for November, 2009
Soft, Real Soft – Managers Need a Full Skill Set, Not Just Hard Skills
November 30th, 2009Power Kites
November 29th, 2009
When it comes to Power Kites you can dismiss all notions of kite flying as a gentle, relaxing activity. There’s nothing passive about this thrilling sport as high speed winds charge participants across the ground, attached to buggies, landboards or nothing at all. Taking advantage of strong winds and the unique design of these mammoth kites, flyers experience a unique rush as the wind and kite become one.
So, you think you’re ready to join in the fun? To get started, Power Kites which are also known as ‘foils’ are the ideal choice as these two-lined models are smaller than traction kites which come attached to buggies or landboards. Flyers can happily glide along the ground or soar into the air using these soft yet durable models without any extra equipment. Older children supervised by adults can also experience the rush of Power Kites, which when used responsibly can provide hours of outdoor entertainment. The main thing to remember is to fly safely by choosing good locations such as spacious beaches or fields for maximum manoeuvring and a soft landing!
For even greater pulling power and control, Traction Kites are the best models on the market. These invigorating kites generate speed quickly with 4 flying lines, 2 power lines and 2 brake lines. Flyers can easily adjust the position and power of these air born giants as they race across the land on buggies or landboards. Without compromising on safety, it’s advised to zoom around with safety helmets and pads in order to enjoy your power kite experience to the max.
If flying a Traction Kite sounds like the sport for you then you’ll need to decide whether to choose a buggy or a landboard. Buggies are typically made from stainless steel and are designed to withstand all types of terrain. Equipped with a comfortable seat for maximum movement and control, Traction Kite buggies should easily fit into most car boots, making it a very versatile sport. Landboards like skateboards demand a little more effort to control from the upright rider, however once you’ve got the knack of these lightweight vehicles you’ll be free-styling across the beach and ripping it up on dirt tracks like the best of them.
As always safety is mandatory when it comes to Traction Kites. Before using your landboard or buggy make sure you’re comfortable with a Power or Traction Kite as the incredible high speeds and pulling power of the wind can be dangerous if not harnessed correctly.
The joy of Power Kiting is very addictive and once you’ve gained some experience with the basic flying manoeuvres you’ll be able to hone your new skills and have the time of your life. Whether you’re competing in a fast paced buggy board race or free-styling alone with the wind, it’s only a matter of time before friends and family will want to take part too!
By: Peter Airdee
Rahm Emmanuel – Serving a Moderate Administration
November 28th, 2009
The appointment of Rahm Emmanuel typified as a conservative Jew has engendered feelings of chagrin and misgivings. Suspicion is rife when high expectations do not quite jibe with one’s picture perfect epitome. Foremost on some people’s minds would be whether Emmanuel would forge a pro-Israel policy, basically a continuation of Washington’s unquestioned support for Israel, which is largely influenced by Aipac and other Zionist lobbyists.
Contrary to points raised by critics, the incoming Obama Administration would be poised to forge a moderate foreign policy and gain the trust of archrival Arabs and Israel to bring about peace in the Middle East conflict.
Rahm has been known for his persistence in getting many bills on domestic issues passed. With no inkling of his views on foreign policy and Israel, one could only presume but it would not be fair to prejudge him. That Rahm Emmanuel is a conservative Jew does not mean that he would necessarily act at the behest of the Zionists and deviate from the tenor of the Administration. Obama would seek the advice of other Secretaries and presidential aides and could certainly hold his own. Moreover, many American Jews can qualify as Zionists or extremists, and hope for a peaceful settlement to decades of conflict in the Middle East.
Critics cited Rahm Emmanuel’s father’s comment that his son’s appointment would be “good for Israel”. It is one of those motherhood statements which does not automatically translate into Rahm being pro-Israel. Rahm is known to hold independent views and not easily swayed. How many children are clones who think like their parents? It would be a non-starter to stereotype; equivalent to asserting that an American would fight for America’s interest or that an African America would be pro-Africa.
Obama presidency is likely to navigate an independent course and would try win the trust of both camps instead of appeasing one and snubbing other. Obama’s detractors have accused him of being a friend of Rashid Khalidi, the official spokesman for the Palestinian Liberation Organization and branded him a terrorist by association. Then the appointment of Rahm has made Obama pro-Jew and pro-Israel.
Sceptics are often obsessed with prejudices that are anachronistic. Irgun (National Military Organization in the Land of Israel) which Rahm’s father was allegedly a member operated as a militant Zionist group between 1931 and 194. Similarly, the PLO is no longer considered a terrorist organizations form part of legitimate governments now.
Rahm would serve the incoming Administration well. He would instill confidence and silence those who are worried of giving away too much concessions to the Arabs in a peace agreement on the Middle East. At the same time, having a Jew would gain the trust of Israelis of America’s good offices in mediating a settlement. This is the sort of change envisaged : to project American soft power internationally.
By: Acosican Grant
