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| Published in: Succeed in business
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 Even managers are exhibiting symptoms similar to patients recovering from an amputation. They know that their condition is improving, but there is an understanding that things will not be the same again.
And why should they be? Business strategist Bill Gibson says that now that the economic environment is changing, businesses across the country have the perfect opportunity to put some buzz back into their companies.
“Try to convince your toughest critics last”
According to Gibson, businesses can become more energised if they stay forever entrepreneurial. This means continuously learning new things and taking on new challenges and risks.
“It is a lot like life. People who stay forever young are the ones who are constantly trying new things, meeting new people and taking on new adventures. Companies, like people, need growth
and change.”
Eliminate the ordinary
One of the easiest ways to spice things up is at company meetings. Every second week try to have a different staff member take charge of the company or departmental meeting.
As manager, you would cover a few key issues, but you would turn the hosting over to a designated person. This way, it takes the boredom and routine out of what meetings normally are. It also gives your employees some appreciation of the planning that goes into meetings.
A change of environment can often change people’s state of mind, so meetings can also be held at different venues. This could include a different room in the company building, or even a nearby park
or restaurant.
Meetings can also have a musical or visual element to them. Consider playing a theme song for your team, or start getting employees to wear hats or special T-shirts on a designated day.
Videos can become part of company meetings too. Your team will become greatly energised if you play them a quick YouTube clip of a motivational speaker. A funny comedy sketch works wonders
as well.
“For many people, nothing is more boring and more pointless to them than company meetings,” says Gibson. “If you start by making people excited about meetings this can grow into something bigger.”
Other strategies that can get your team excited again include:
- Positive surprises: give employees unexpected small gifts to start or end the week.
- Morale boosters: plan a company picnic or visit to a game farm or restaurant.
- Good news: start circulating good news about the company, economy and individuals on a regular basis.
- Compliments: when you see people doing things right, compliment them
- on it.
- Useful info: regularly let people know what company changes are taking place, including small things like who is ill.
- One on one time: make sure you are not interacting with your team members only in a group setting. People open up in a different way when it is just the two of you present.
- A “no–negatives” buddy system: each team member has a buddy whose job is to keep them positive and calls them out whenever they are speaking negatively.
- A cause: take on a project that is community orientated. This can bring employees together.
- Shop the competition: once a month visit a competitor and report on the positive things they are doing that your team could replicate.
Goal setting
Gibson suggests giving your employees daily goals in the form of a to-do list. “Goals and dreams aren’t different. A goal is simply a dream with deadlines. Get your team to draw up lists of things they need to achieve each day. When they tick things off their to-do-lists, they get a sense of achievement and this creates energy.”
The same can be said when employees are continually learning new skills. “Mastering new things gives you a great sense of achievement.”
Getting people to want the energy back
When making far-reaching company changes, it is critical to get the buy-in of staff. This does not mean bulldozing through company changes.
“When changes are introduced, people seldom look at what’s in it for the company, they wonder what’s in it for them,” says Gibson. People tend to evaluate something by how it will affect their job security, prestige, style of doing things and feeling of power. If you can appeal to these values, employees will be much more receptive to changes.
Of course, there will always be some people who oppose changes. These are usually people who have been at the company for a long time and are happy to work on autopilot. They seldom want to see a change in how things are done.
People who are also very assured of their position, who do not recognise that a problem exists, tend not to buy into new ideas either.
Gibson says that the best way to get support for your new ideas is get support first from the people who are trying hard and advancing. People with problems recognise that something needs to be done, while those advancing through the organisation want more opportunities to be open to them.
“Try to convince your toughest critics last. Once you have gathered a support base for your new ideas, it’s easier for resistive people to see the light.”
Bill Gibson is the chairperson of Knowledge Brokers International SA (Pty) Ltd and is a Canadian who lives and works 95% of his time in South Africa. He is the author of the book Boost your business in any economy, the author/developer of the Business Success Series Audio CD and Manual programmes, and the author/developer of several comprehensive sales training systems for in-house training of sales teams. Bill has spoken to over one million people worldwide. For more information on his products and systems, to book Bill Gibson as a trainer or speaker, or to enquire about his goal-setting seminar package, call him on 011 784 1720, email bill@kbitraining.co or visit http://www.youtube.com/user/billgibsonspeaker |
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