Here's an idea that is so easy for your business to adopt and empowers your team. In "1 Minute Manager," Ken Blanchard teaches business owners and executives how to thank or correct people in one minute.
Here's how to do it. Actively look for something an employee is doing that benefits your business. Then thank that employee. The best "Thank you's" include details such as "Thank you, Susan, for your attention to detail working on the Acme account. Our business is successful because of people like you". Amazingly, you can create such loyalty and build your business with something that doesn't cost your business a penny. Just 1 minute of your time!
Alternatively, when you need to correct an employee, this too takes about 1 minute. Make sure you say something nice first, such as, "I appreciate your dedication to our business...". Then let them know they did something that was not acceptable, such as, "Yesterday you did ABC, and going forward, we want to be known as a business that does it this way..." After you've made your corrective comment, get their buy-in with a comment such as, "Does this make sense?". Then close with a compliment, such as, "You have done so much good for our business, I appreciate all of your help. Our business is a reflection of the joint efforts of many employees just like you".
To grow your business, you must empower your employees to make decisions. A business that empowers its employees must not be punitive when an employee makes an honest mistake. Employees in your business must feel safe to try, knowing that if they make a mistake, their manager will let them know in about 1-minute.
Comments