If you're an employer or a manager then work place absence is costing you money, inconvenience, and upsetting your customers. And as we all know, not all days taken off work are due to genuine sickness. Many employees "take a sickie" because their morale is low and they just don't like or can't do their work.
The challenge for employers and managers is to make people happier at work. And if people are happy at work then they are less likely to take a day off every time they wake up with a stuffy nose. Some bosses think that paying more money, improving job security or working conditions is the answer. It isn't and it's also something that can be very hard to achieve.
People who employ or supervise other people need to become more tuned to their employees' emotional needs and find out what really motivates them. This is also much easier to achieve than paying more money or improving job security, however there is no quick fix. Some years ago I inherited a tele-sales operation with low staff morale and poor sales results. It took nearly a year to fix. The long-term benefits were of course worth it in terms of fewer days lost due to sickness and an increase in business.
To reduce the number of sickies there are four steps you need to consider. Firstly, pick the right person for the job. There's a television advertisement running at present for a recruitment company. It highlights the fact that many people are in the wrong job for their skills and attributes. The daft thing is that it was an employer or manager who put them in the job in the first place. We need to get better at interviewing and selecting people. Take more time over it; pay more attention to the applicant's human side rather than their qualifications or experience. Get to know them better.
Find out what makes them happy, how well they get on with other people and how much energy and enthusiasm they have. Make sure they know what they're getting into and be sure the job suits them.
A manager in the telecom industry was telling me about an engineer who was taking too many sickies. He was being blamed for a poor attitude to his work. His job involved working in tunnels under the city repairing and installing equipment. Eventually it was discovered that the poor guy was claustrophobic and was trying to deal with it on his own. He still works for the same team but in a job that doesn't involve small spaces. It's not always easy to move people, which emphasises the importance of getting it right in the first place.
Secondly, you need to believe in your people. If you've interviewed well and picked the right person for the job then you need to trust them to do that job. You need to constantly demonstrate to your people that you trust and believe in them by what you say, your tone of voice and your body language. If you believe that your people are not to be trusted, that they're unable to make a decision without checking with you. That they'll turn up late and go home early, then that's exactly what they'll do. If on the other hand you believe that they'll do their job well, that they can be trusted to make decisions and they will give you a fair day's work, then it is more likely this is what you'll get. As with all theories there is no guarantee that it will work every time, however the majority of employees are reasonable people and if you treat them as such then they are more likely to behave in a positive manner.
The third and probably the most important thing you can do to motivate your people is to give them feedback and coach them. This is where so many employers and managers fall down in dealing with their people; we are hopeless at giving feedback. Many managers are uncomfortable telling staff how they feel about their work performance.
Most employees want to know how they are performing in their job; they want to know if they are doing it right or how they could do it better. If you really want to motivate your people then you need to give them feedback on what they're doing well and what needs improvement.
When you notice an employee doing something you do like, tell them about it. When you notice something you don't like, tell them about it. Do it as soon as possible. Acknowledging a job well done is not much good six months later. Also, if you don't immediately call someone's attention to something you're not happy about, then they'll assume its okay. Either that or they'll think you didn't notice or you don't care. Do it in private. Why is it some managers still feel its okay to reprimand someone in front of their colleagues? Even the mildest rebuke can have a negative effect on morale.
When you do speak to the person use "I" messages. Say things like "I liked the way you did that" or "I'm unhappy with the way your reports are always late and I'd like your views on why this is". Avoid "You" messages such as "You're doing great". That can come across as patronising or insincere. "You're doing that all wrong" may cause conflict, lower morale and may not sort the problem.
Focus on one or two things. Don't run off a whole list of attributes or misdemeanours. Also be specific about job behaviour, focus on what the person did or didn't do, don't make a personal attack.
Employees will feel happier if they perceive their employer or manager as a reasonable and fair individual - someone who is quick to praise but also says when they're not happy about something.
When we start to look at what motivates people at work, it's important to realise that we all have different needs. It's easy to fall into the trap of believing that all our staff are motivated by money. However, research conducted over the years into what motivates people at work suggests some other factors.
Money is important however people are more likely to be motivated firstly, by the work itself. Secondly, by being appreciated for what they do and thirdly by a feeling of being in on things.
The message is - if you want motivated staff then make their work interesting, give them feedback and give them the feeling that they're involved in the business.
We can make the job more interesting by giving people more responsibility, assigning projects and by training and developing them. We need to regularly give people feedback on how they're doing; focussing on what they're doing well rather than on what is not so good. To meet their need to feel involved we should regularly communicate both formally and informally. We could also involve staff in meetings they might not normally attend.
These steps will take time and thought however they'll make a huge difference as to how employees feel about their work. If they feel good and gain satisfaction from their work then they're less likely to find a reason to "take a sickie".
Alan Fairweather is the author of four ebooks in the "How to get More Sales" series. Lots of practical actions you can take to build your business and motivate your team.- http://www.howtogetmoresales.com
Are you content and at inner peace?Or are you insecure... Read More
Taking a Magickal Bath doesn't have to be complicated. It... Read More
Sometimes life experiences can be like a lemon-flavored Tootsie Roll... Read More
Have you ever had one of those days where you... Read More
According to researchers like Martin Seligman, Daniel Kahneman and Ed... Read More
Gail was a quiet, shy, young lady. She has been... Read More
It is now 5 years since I passed out of... Read More
It was a bright Saturday morning in the late fall.... Read More
Did you know that it's up to you?It's actually your... Read More
Too many of us seem to think that there should... Read More
Many ask me this question: "Did moving to Mexico make... Read More
"You cannot capture happiness no matter how hard you may... Read More
The older I get, the more I realize that ninety... Read More
I assume you want to be happier. Searching for greater... Read More
Has someone nearby been sending you emails rather than calling... Read More
The most wasted of all days is one without laughter."... Read More
What is your life like today? What do you want... Read More
Yes, this is correct. Sunny Days are here to stay,... Read More
My grandmother, Mimi, was a great solitaire player. My family... Read More
Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the... Read More
What does it take to be happy? In our age... Read More
Though his racing speed is a maximum 6 feet per... Read More
I love this quote by Zig Ziglar, and think it's... Read More
The Life Path is determined by the sum that is... Read More
Can you remember a time when you became a little... Read More
Is there any necessary connection between our actions and the... Read More
"There are hundreds of languages in the world, but a... Read More
If one thing is for certain, each of us will... Read More
Many people exercise, play sports, or know someone who does.... Read More
Imagine humungous, bulbous, billowing alto-cumulus clouds building higher and higher... Read More
What is the one thing you want more than anything... Read More
Placing your attention, energy and focus on the negative aspects... Read More
Right off the top: What is the difference between dating... Read More
Are you content and at inner peace?Or are you insecure... Read More
The title I chose for this article makes me smile.... Read More
I love this quote by Zig Ziglar, and think it's... Read More
Humans are liable to experience a variety of afflictions, but... Read More
Happiness is worth helping along.The benefits of being a happy... Read More
Without getting into the core basics of philosophy, I will... Read More
Women are conditioned to be people pleasers. Women are taught... Read More
1. Do not act in order to receive a payoff.This... Read More
Sometimes life experiences can be like a lemon-flavored Tootsie Roll... Read More
Long-term success and happiness follows hand-in-hand with strength of character.As... Read More
To maintain an unchangeable sweetness of disposition, to think only... Read More
When I tell you what I heard you'll be able... Read More
Yes, this is correct. Sunny Days are here to stay,... Read More
The Life Path is determined by the sum that is... Read More
Have you ever had an experience where everything you wanted... Read More
I've got a bit of a problem with depression and... Read More
Why Are You Here?When I ask this question, I'm not... Read More
In what areas of your life would you like to... Read More
From what you see around you in your daily lives,... Read More
Our sense of smell elicits strong emotional reactions and triggers... Read More
Taking a Magickal Bath doesn't have to be complicated. It... Read More
We can all be confident when we are sure of... Read More
Don't Let Life Happen To You ... Read More
Just when you think you know it all, some 17-month... Read More
What if I told you that you have the ability... Read More
One of my favorite songs is Bobby McFerrin's refrain, "Don't... Read More
The world is becoming obsessed with money and all things... Read More
So you're stuck in a rut, bored with how your... Read More
What is the one thing you want more than anything... Read More
Placing your attention, energy and focus on the negative aspects... Read More
Imagine for a moment you have been given a task.... Read More
My life always appears to be so hectic. It's as... Read More
Aromatics which include essential oils, perfume, centred candles and incense,... Read More
Finding Happiness |