Let's Get Down to Business

Well, it has been a turbulent month (or quarter) hasn't it? Your employees are reeling with the recession news. They may be reeling with the things that are happening in their personal lives. You probably are too. I know that even though I truly believe that my company is in a good place, when I come home and watch the news, I get nervous all over again.

All levels of management are reeling with how to deal with the current economic crisis. My challenge to you is to focus on the things that we've always wanted - that we still want.

We still want:

• Engaged employees who are excited to come to work every day.
• Managers who are excited about the propect of where our business can go.
• To be innovative and forward thinking.
• To change people's lives for the better.
• To add value to our organizations.
• Good communication - organization wide.

Therefore, I challenge you to do some encouraging reading, even amidst this current crisis and stay positive. Think about the ways that you can still bring positive actions inside your companies.

I had a meeting with some of our most respected managers today who didn't once mention the economic crisis. We were talking about new management training and we discussed:

• Different ways of motivating employees
• Managing generational differences
• Explaining career paths in a flat organiztion
• Providing effective feedback
• Managing and communicating organizational change
• Preventing and recognizing employee burnout
• Deploying employees according to their strengths
• Coaching and mentoring

I would challenge each of you to stay focused on the things that we want, rather than the things that we don't want. We all know what we don't want, but if you show a positive attitude, I think that we can all realize the things that we do - even in these tough times.