Building Better Office Relationships

The concept of "You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want" is hard core and practical, yet it's also gentle, loving, and enormously effective. This philosophy works especially well in office settings.

Giving employees what they want

Employers can't always provide interesting work (something that all employees want), but by being fair, open, and accessible, you can help alleviate frustration on the job and increase employees' job satisfaction.

• Take a sincere interest in your employees. People who feel appreciated and respected are more likely to be loyal, happy, and productive. If they really believe that you have their best interests at heart and are interested in getting to know them, they are far more inclined to be dedicated to their work and are thus more productive.

• Express appreciation for the work that your employees do. The cheapest, most effective motivation going is a simple, pleasant "thank you" for a job well done. No, that doesn't include thanking employees for being at work on time and doing what they're expected to do — those "accomplishments" are part of the job. But at the end of the week, if they've done these things, a simple "It's nice to have you with us" goes a long way toward reducing turnover.

Be specific when you praise employees. Saying "I really admire the way you brought this account into line and kept the customer happy at the same time" is far better than saying "You did a good job with the Hilliard account."

• Don't praise workers for doing an average or routine job. Praising mediocrity perpetuates the idea that mediocre work is acceptable. However, when they do outstanding work, your recognition and praise mean a lot.

• When someone does an outstanding job, dwell on it and let others hear your praise. But keep in mind that praise goes only so far, and if an individual consistently does a great job, he or she needs more tangible recognition, such as a cash bonus, a day off, or dinner at a nice restaurant.

Communicate with your employees about what's going on in the company. When employees feel that they are in on things, they don't have to rely on a grapevine that is generally fed by sour grapes.

Accentuate the positive

Too many businesses are managed in the negative rather than in the positive. Managers often say to their staff, "Don't mention the competitor's product," or "Don't forget to make five cold calls this week," when they should be saying, "Emphasize the features and benefits of our services, and remember that making at least five calls on new prospects is a sure way to build your career."

If employees get attention through the use of the negative, they generally continue in that behavior. Bear in mind that people are different, so you need "different strokes for different folks." However, nearly everyone is motivated by positive attention from managers and peers. Some respond to physical reminders, like a note or a bouquet of flowers. Others thrive on public recognition at a meeting. But some may be embarrassed if their names are called out in public and they're asked to come forward and accept their reward or recognition. Astute managers are sensitive to each person's personal preferences and understand that what makes one person tick may stop another's clock cold.

Basing business relationships on integrity

Human nature being what it is, the person in the power position — namely, the employer — is often viewed with skepticism. Frequently, the employee feels that the employer has most of the benefits and that the employee has heard promises before that have not been fulfilled. With this tendency toward skepticism in mind, integrity, which is important in all areas of life, is particularly important in the employer/employee relationship.

When the employer has integrity, he or she builds trust, and when employees trust their employers, they follow the right principles. Real leadership, according to Dwight Eisenhower, is getting other people to do what you want them to do because they want to do it.

Employees also have a responsibility to their employers in the integrity department. Significant sums of money are lost every year because employees dawdle away time at the coffee pot, borrow a few pens, mail a few personal letters, and make a few personal calls on the company's 800 number. Late arrivals and early departures by one employee can hurt the productivity of several people. Employees who take care of their company's best interests will have a place to work for years to come.

It takes everyone involved to make a company successful, and a company is the sum total of its workers. Each person's job is important, and each person has the power to make a positive or a negative difference. Whether you are in top management or you fill in part-time for a temporary service, you have a choice to make every day of the week. Choose to work with integrity. Choose to help create an atmosphere of peace, trust, and security. Choose not to participate in gossip that robs your company of your time. Choose to be a supportive part of the team that makes up your playing field — if you do, good things will come your way.