I have been asked many times throughout my professional career about solving problems. Problems with attitudes, behavior, work performance, conflicts, negativity, and all the rest of what we call problems in most any business or working environment.
Most any of the problems you are currently experiencing in your business stem from two things:
1) No clearly defined vision & mission statement.
This is the key to any successful business. When everyone involved is working for the same, unified mission, and vision for the company, most superficial problems will never come up. They just simply are not part of the true values set forth in the guidelines and principles of the mission statement.
Take for instance the mission statement of Disney,
"To make people happy".
Pretty simple right, but the depth of the meaning is what matters. If your only mission at work was to make people happy you would never allow yourself to be unhappy. It would not be acceptable to act in any matter that did not stand up to the mission statement. So things like passive aggressive behaviors, treating anyone in an un-professional manner, or having a bad day would not be tolerated. They would not be true to the mission statement.
The mission statement not only defines what the company may stand for but also the people, their behavior and treatment of each other.
Disney has a very simple mission statement, but with powerful meaning.
Some mission statements may be more detailed and involved.
Dell Computers, "With the power of direct and Dell's team of talented people, we are able to provide customers with superb value; high-quality, relevant technology; customized systems; superior service and support; and products and services that are easy to buy and use".
Purpose: provide customers with superb value technology
Business: high quality, relevant technology, customized systems
Values: superior service and support, easy to buy, easy to use
Notice it says, "Superior Service". Superior, not mediocre.
One carefully selected word can make the difference.
A well-crafted mission and vision statement becomes the glue that binds the various parts of the business together and drives behavior in your employees. It becomes the principles that everyone lives by and each person within the organization is held accountable for living true to principles created by the mission statement.
Is it time to define, or re-define your mission statement?
2) Professionalism
Back in the day when everyone dressed for success all the men wore suits, and ladies were treated as ladies, Professionalism was seen everywhere.
Where did it go? What happened?
The word itself has profound meaning. Try putting the word Professional in front of your title on your name plate, or name tag and just see how it makes you feel and act. I have seen this change a persons attitude and behavior in a instant.
I have a friend who recently became a member of a security company, he was given a uniform, badge, and other security equipment to wear. The first time I met him wearing his security uniform I asked him how did it feel when he put on that uniform?
What was different from what he wore in his previous employment?
He said he felt more like a professional. I told him he was a professional and then asked him what specifically would change now that he was a Professional Security Officer?
He got the strangest look in his eye and you could see the wheels turning inside. You could almost see him standing more erect. Looking more like a person with purpose and substance.
For him the change was almost an instant awakening. He realized that whenever he wore that uniform he would have to uphold the principles of a Professional.
When we begin to be Professionals we dress, feel, and act like Professionals. It can be no other way. For a person to be a Professional holds an unusaid meaning of a way of being, a set of principles to live up to.
Professionalism implies a high degree of integrity, which dictates the actions of the Professional.
Principles of high integrity such as honesty, open communication, living true to a set of values, and treating everyone with the respect that creates a culture of Professionals working with Professionals.
Begin today to become a Professional, and watch as the greatness appears.
Throughout my career of teaching Leadership, Management, Coaching and Consulting I have trained many Professional Leaders with these two simple steps to resolving problems within any organization and have always been successful. While there is a large investment up front of time and some expense the long term results received are often far beyond any expectation.
Call me to set up an initial consultation.
Jeff Nis 509-209-1431
jnis@centurytel.net
SUCCESS FROM SOUP TO NUTS
