I've Been Thinking...

About how bad the news seems to be lately. Despite a call for optimism by a new and upbeat president, the economy, markets and international situations seem to provide nothing but alarming news. I don’t know about you, but I refuse to go through work or life with a doomsday perspective. Today…right now… is the time to change that mindset…to take control of our attitude and approach. Today is the day to create an “Uproar” in the workplace. Change things to be upbeat, energetic and positive.

This month in the Take Action section below, I introduce workplace “Uproar” – a high energy approach to staying positive, remaining sane, getting noticed and taking the lead. This approach looks to change the doom-and-gloom perspective by building in some fun, adding some pizzazz and making all aspects of work and life more positive and optimistic; leave the rest of the world to whine, fight and bicker. Attitude is our choice. To succeed in a tough period requires a strong positive attitude and approach. The way to start is to create a positive workplace Uproar; learn how and do your part.

Speaking of Uproar, my new book, Fire Up Your Employees and Smoke Your Competition, will be out in a matter of days. The book hosts a new and “Uproarious” site at www.FireUpYourEmployees.com. Check it out to see the great new video, download some of the chapters, use the talent assessment tools and the new talent-based interview questions. This is not your normal boring business site. Who has time for that…it is time to create an Uproar in how we invite, incite and ignite employees…check it out.

We work with organizations who want to be more successful attracting, hiring and retaining the best talent, to create a high performing workforce that inspires customer loyalty and advances profitability.

Take Action

Make an Uproar—High Energy Change That Keeps You Sane, Gets You Noticed, and Helps You Take the Lead

Sure, we are all fretting about the economic challenges - more layoffs, more companies struggling, more political bickering. I find I have to turn the news off some days because the information is relentlessly upsetting. So how do you fight back? How do you, at least locally, change things? How do you find the good, the opportunities and the positive in so much negative? You create it yourself. You create an Uproar.

It is up to you to maintain a positive attitude at home and at work. The best way to do this is to commit to a new standard…the standard of Uproar. Here is what I mean. When you have the choice to hire, contact a customer or deliver a product, do it in the most unforgettable and stand out way possible. Attract attention. Make it a big deal. Impress them. Two great things happen when you do things in “Uproarious” fashion: you have far more fun (this changes the mood, attitude and outlook of all involved) and, you get remembered (this is critical for business success).

When things turn around, and they will, you will have advanced your business, engaged your team and stood out when everyone else was hiding, whining and complaining. I know I want to work for or deal with that type of organization.

Here are four great ways to make an Uproar in the workplace:

1. Add some fun. Most workplaces have employees who are “dead people walking” – waiting to be laid off or have their pay cut. Everyday the business is open should be a day to celebrate; every day a great team gets to work together should be a day to remember. So make it an event. Start each day off with comedy, a cartoon, or some form of rallying cheer. Have theme weeks that are fun, inviting and elevate the mood. Have competitions – some personal, some work related. Build energy. Build spirit. Find every reason to celebrate and make the celebrations great. It is your choice to have fun or be miserable…why would you choose to be miserable?

2. Add some pizzazz. Let your inner actor or actress step forward. Don’t do any part of your business in an average way. This is the time, when all other business are cutting back in staff, products, discounts and effort, for you to do something different and better than everyone else. Make an event out of your delivery or service. Make an event out of your phone messages, workplace and facility. Make an event out of the way you hire, promote and reward employee performance. It is your choice to bland or exciting…why would you choose to be bland? Stand out – it gets you remembered.

3. Be the very best. When others are cutting service, product quality and other ways to survive, openly commit to being excellent. Define your standard; don’t deviate from it. Make it known to employees and customers. Help employees observe and assess every detail in the business to ensure that everything is at its best. Discuss and invent ways to constantly improve. Making an Uproar is meaningful when you have a quality product or service worth “Uproaring” about.

4. Constantly focus on the good, the opportunities and the positive. As all good self-help books present that it is you who controls your happiness and success. Readjust your attitude and perspectives to be more optimistic and opportunity-focused. Workplaces that are in a mental death spiral are not open to seeing opportunities for success; they only see doom. Teach employees to hunt for opportunities in every aspect of the business. See the good, the possibilities, the potential – at work and at home.

The solution to surviving tough economic times is to have a talented, upbeat and innovative team with a constant commitment to being the best and impressing customers. The negative news, attitudes and perspectives that seem to permeate the world can disrupt even strong teams and can destroy a business. Counter the effects of a tough economy by creating your own personal and professional Uproar – be loud, have fun, add some pizzazz…be great. And when things turn around, and they will, you will be sane, remembered and firmly in the lead when others start to rebuild.

Create an Uproar in March

We pull out the stops and create an Uproar in our daily BLOGucation section. Week 1 we create an Uproar by looking at ways to have fun; week 2 we look at ways to add some pizzazz; week 3 we focus on being the best; week 4 we focus on being optimistic and opportunity-focused. Make some noise, kick it up. Get everyone talking about you and your business. Help employees focus on the good and the positive. This is the kind of Uproar we need. Check back each day to see our “uproarious” tips and suggestions. Comment each day and we’ll add your ideas. Don’t wait; it is time for an Uproar – an optimistic outlook to help us stay sane and successful.

Don’t hire anyone else until you read this!

How you hire can be killing your business. Whether hiring with stimulus funds or internal growth, learn how to hire for talents – the process of matching the right employee to the right role. This is the key to connecting employees to extraordinary performance.

This approach is presented in the hands-on and effective new resource, Fire Up Your Employees and Smoke Your Competition; How to Invite, Incite and Ignite Employee Performance by Jay Forte. Learn how to implement the complete and proven Fire Up! Process^SM that shows managers, through practical information, exercises and activities, how to attract, hire, and retain the best employees.

The book will be available March 15, 2009. Get your copy on-line at FireUpYourEmployees.com. Also see free chapter downloads, a summary of the Fire Up! Process^SM, talent assessment tools and more practical information to engage employees and drive your results.

Contact Humanetrics to learn how to create a passionate workforce that drives your success; we not only know what to do but specialize in helping you learn HOW to do it. Big results are always our focus. Contact us to schedule your Fire Up! program; it is an investment in your greatest asset – the intellectual capital (thinking and loyalty) of your employees.

The Humanetrics Mission

We offer practical, dynamic, innovative and customized education and consulting to significantly advance our clients’ personal and professional performance.