Go back in history far enough and you reach a time when groups, tribes were self-sufficient: hunter-gatherers eating meat and berries. As civilisation advanced, goods started to be traded between groups on a barter basis. Most of the goods were still consumed by the people that produced them. They had a desire to create good quality produce, both for their own consumption and for their trade. The growth of trade and commerce led to the invention of an advanced bartering system – money. Most people still consumed their own produce and traded the surplus. Mistress Goodchild was pleased to sell a few loaves in her village, particularly as everyone knew her loaves were the best. The Industrial Revolution with its focus on specialising changed Mrs Goodchild’s working life completely. She worked for a baker of course, she like to be involved with bread making. Now though her job involved a small part of the bread making process and some days she didn’t see a loaf at all.
Continue readingCategory Archives: Perform
The Honest Manager
Is this such a shocking title? It created a storm of comments when posted on social media. Do managers still think they need to hide their human self, to act like invulnerable superheroes? You know that people, human beings, are quite good judges of people. You know changing a bad opinion takes a long time. Why not just be the best human you can. Think carefully about your actions and decisions, and always be ready to explain why you made those choices. You won’t always be right. Just so long as you made the decision for good reasons, your people will still believe in you.
Continue readingIdentifying The Symptoms Of Bad Leadership
A popular website search last month was “How does bad leadership affect you?” While I do not generally like to dwell on the negative, it may be therapeutic for the sufferers. The sufferers being both the badly led and the organizations employing them. The most potent outcomes of bad leadership are the feelings of the people involved and the effects on the organization. Anyone who has worked for a “bad leader” understands how damaging the experience is to one’s concept of self-worth.
Continue readingA quiet chat with your manager
How do you feel when your manager has asked for a quiet chat? Are worried or excited? Is it unusual for your manager to talk to you or is it normal? Do you think over all the things that didn’t go so well lately? Do you think of all the things that have gone well? Are you expecting punishment or pain?!
Continue readingEmployee Motivation
Do you drive a car? You have to fuel a car to make it go. What happens if you skip the regular maintenance? Before long the car is reluctant to start, loses some of its pep and, generally, becomes reluctant to move fast at all. What if people were cars? Fuel would be the salary and maintenance would be the motivation management. Just like a car, if you ignore motivation, the maintenance, then the person will eventually stop, no matter how much salary you pour into them!
Continue readingAutomation
More thoughts on automation. This could be a great boon to mankind. But if we’re as good at managing robots as we are at people management then it will be a bane of society. Thought is needed about what you are doing!
Continue readingMoney As A Motivator
Many people, managers, and academics believe that money is the prime motivator. But motivating people is a complex business with multiple environmental influences. We, in 21st Century European society, are not in a harsh environment. The old and recently developed countries provide their citizens with physical security, allowing the development of higher self-actualising needs. We have the security to play piano as a hobby and not worry about tomorrow’s basic life needs. This article looks at money as reward for work done in a developed country environment. This encompasses everyone from football stars to the unpaid volunteer at the local hospice. Money means different things to different people. Our surveys indicate that hirers and firers regard pay as the most important factor in recruiting and retaining staff. This is despite the fact that 60% of job leavers want to get away from their boss and are happy with their job!
Continue readingThe Herd Instinct
It is much less stressful following the herd. You don’t stick out and if something happens, another of the herd is likely to be brought down. You don’t get to be leader of the herd either. So you don’t have to lead, don’t have to make your own decisions, don’t need to be brave enough to go against the herd mentality. Is this for you?
Continue readingNew Ideas
I was trained to think that a good Engineer could do for £1 what any fool could do for £5. The lower the cost, the less energy and resources are used to create the item. The mindset of continually reducing waste, improving performance, and increasing value is very powerful. If you look at the business scene in the UK, you will find great examples of success in continuous innovation. But how do they do it? It is a simple process. You get a new idea and see if you can use it to good effect. It is that simple.
Continue readingMeasuring Employee Engagement
How do you measure employee engagement? Why do you measure it? Why is it important? If employee engagement is a means to an end – productivity, performance, creativity – then why not measure success in terms of your purpose? Scientifically, the more directly you measure something, the less opportunity for error and bias is created.
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