Pluto Blog

Okay guys, it's time for part three of our plan. Are you ready? Have you made the commitment to re-energizing your staff? Have you followed the action steps and started to create your "dream department."Well, just in case there is a small handful of you who aren't quite up to speed yet, let's do a short review...We started this whole thing with a discussion of how very important your own motivation level is to the success of your department. Unless you are personally upbeat and positive, you cannot expect your staff to be. Your "action steps for success" suggested that you look at working through any issues that are keeping you from being super-motivated. Then it was time for you to make an official commitment to yourself that you were willing to do whatever it takes to get moving on your re-energization plan.Next we looked at the first three components to the plan:1. Communicating your plans to your employees2. Be involved, be visible and be aroundand 3. Clarifying expectations.Did you complete the action steps directed towards achievement of these steps? I hope so 'cause it's time for steps 4 - 6.Component 4Show 'em you care!!Does this sound like a greeting card company slogan? Probably, but that's okay - I'm really not talking about showing 'em you care in a warm, fuzzy kind of way. There are ways you can do this without making them think you are losing your mind. Like listening to them. Think about it - doesn't it carry a ton of weight with you when your boss listens to you without doing fifteen other things at the same time? And what about when he listens and actually uses some of your ideas. Pretty cool, huh? Well, it's the same way for your employees. They want to be heard and understood. And it's up to you to find a way to make the time for this to happen.Another way you can show 'em you care is to be around to help them out when they need it. As we discussed last time, you'll now be spending lots of time in your department which is where you need to be if you are going to be helpful to your employees. Now I'm not saying that you should put on the baby-sitting hat but do offer to pitch in and help when your employees need it. After they recover from the shock, they'll really think it's great.The next way to show them you care is to show them that you are working just as hard, if not harder, than they are. Your employees cannot stand figure-heads, and neither can we, right? So make it obvious to them that you are busting your butt to make things happen. But please try not to be too annoying about it. There is a fine line between letting employees know that you are working really hard and complaining/bragging. You don't want to sound like some kind of whiner,right? So watch it.Component 5Foster a team atmosphereMan, this is a hard one. Employees these days just don't seem to want to join in on the old "team spirit" bandwagon. But if there is some way, any way, that you can enlist your troops, do it. You can start by talking about this concept. In your department meetings tell them that you really want everyone to come together and create a team. Tell them that you expect them to work together and help each other. They'll secretly snicker at first, but after a while they'll start to think about it.And what's the alternative for them? They get on the bandwagon or they get left behind. When you talk about creating an awesome work environment you can tell them how much you want your department to be the best one to work for in the company. Refer to your "team" often.Be sincere and let them know that you mean it and that you're not just blowing smoke. This will give them a bit of a team feeling right there. Then, as you start to implement all of the components, a bit more of a team spirit will start to emerge. For example using some of their ideas will make them feel part of the solution and part of the team. It shows them that you do listen and are capable of being "big" enough to use something that you didn't think of.And try to create some kind of way for them to recognize each other for their good work. For example, you could create some kind of program where they can fill out pre-printed cards to give to each other as recognition for a job well done. The cards would have info such as:Employee Name:Description of Accomplishment:Date:Submitted by:Then, as they fill these out and start giving to them to each other, more of a team spirit will start to emerge. Everyone likes to be told "Good Job." Even when it comes from a co-worker. Have all employees submit their received cards to you and then do a drawing once a month for a day off or a nice prize. This is a cool program and people LOVE it.And certainly give credit where credit is due. Share credit for the accomplishments made by your department. In a big way - in a really vocal way. Let there be no question that you directly attribute the success of your department to them!!Component 6Make it a constant process!This is a must. Yes, this type of employee motivation plan does take lots of time and energy. And it will continue to. But you must commit that this is a way of life for you as a manager. Once you do implement the components and start to utilize them on a consistent basis, they really will become second nature to you. It just takes a while.As you implement your tools, pay attention to what is working and what needs tweaking. Ask your employees for feedback. Remember, you should be doing a LOT of listening from now on. Ask them if they like the employee recognition program in your department. Ask them for ways to make it better and more meaningful. Do they feel that the team spirit is building? Why? What things can you be doing to make it better? Many brains are better than one, so make sure to enlist them in the process!!Never lose sight of your goals for having a super-motivated, productive, happy staff - the envy of the company. Your boss will thank you because of the increased productivity and contribution to the bottom line. And if that weren't enough, your spouse and kids will thank you because running a department like this does wonders to your stress level and quality of your personal life!!!Now go out there and be a STAR!!

So...are you guys all revved up and ready to go? Are you committed to doing whatever it takes to motivate your staff and create a super-charged, mega-energized department??As we discussed last time, your attitude and motivation level is absolutely critical to the success of your department re-energization plan. This plan just cannot work if you are anything less that 100% committed and motivated to make it happen. It's up to you to model your work ethic and attitude to your staff.Now I'm not saying all of this to put undue pressure on you. I doubt you need any more of that. I'm just trying to over-emphasize it so that you will never lose sight of the importance you play in all of this. On those days that you find yourself discouraged or un-motivated, remind yourself that YOU are the key to your department's success!!!Okay, enough of that, let's get onto the fun stuff. Uh, let me re-phrase that...Let's get onto the stuff. Or should I re-phrase it yet again, perhaps a bit more formally this time...Let us proceed with the discussion of employee motivation techniques which, when implemented consistently over a period of time, will significantly enhance the attitude, motivation levels and therefore productivity of one's staff.Nah, I like let's get onto the stuff better. But what is this stuff? Well, there are six parts to this stuff. So today we'll focus on parts 1 -3, and next issue we'll wrap it up.Stuff 1: Let them know your plans.As you may have heard me say before, communication is KEY. Especially when you are dealing with a situation like our current one. In our situation we are presuming that employees are de-moralized and de-motivated because Senior Management has been less than truthful orcommunicative. It's up to you to assure your staff that you DO believe in telling them the truth and that you plan to keep them in the loop as much as you can.So tell them you are sorry that things have been especially tough and tell them that you are committed to turning things around so that your department can be a functional AND fun place to work.Announce that you are launching a plan to make your department the BEST and ask for their input. Ask them for ideas as to how you can work together to accomplish your goal of creating the "super-department."Make sure to impress upon them that you are totally committed to the effort and that it is NOT just some B.S. cheerleading meeting.Stuff 2 Be involved, be visible and be around.Now more than ever before it's really beneficial for you to be in your department. This shows your staff that you are involved in the daily departmental issues - you're not just a figure-head sitting in your office reading the WSJ.So get out there. Help your employees out. Walk around and ask them how things are going. Be available for questions or consultation. Show them that you are part of the team and are there to help them be successful.And while you're out there, spread good vibes. Don't seem to be walking around just looking for problems (although you do want to keep an eye out for those). Be an upbeat, positive role-model for your employees. They need it!!Stuff 3 Clarify your expectations.To get this ship running smoothly, you'll need to let your crew know exactly what they need to be doing. Now I'm not talking about micro-managing here. You don't need to hover and hand-hold to make sure that things are getting done to your liking. What I do mean is clarifying expectations in a more general manner.Pull out those job descriptions and review them. Are they current? Are your employees performing functions that aren't really even necessary? Since you are spending more time in your department now, it should be easy for you to get a handle on who's spending their time doing what. Again, ask for their input. Ask them about how they see their role in the department and what they feel their most important responsibilities are.Action Steps for SuccessNow that the first three steps, or should I say "stuffs" have been outlined, it's time to make them work for you.In order to let the team in on your department re-energization plans, schedule a really fun meeting. Put on your best "rah, rah team" hat and write up an outline of the things you are going to discuss and the kinds of questions you are going to ask to get people involved. To set the tone, have food and drinks available. But try to do something unusual. Pizza and donuts are so overdone, don't you think? Onto the be involved, be visible and be around piece...it's pretty simple in theory, but when it comes to actually making it happen, it will be harder than you think. To get yourself in the groove, schedule lots of time on your calendar for this. Make yourself do it. It is really important!!Last, but certainly not least and certainly not the most fun, clarifying your expectations of your team. Pretty straightforward this one, but again the kind of a thing you have to force yourself to do. Who wants to review job descriptions, right? Yuck!! But it's got to be done, so just get it over with. You'll be glad when it's over and it's well worth the effort!!Now don't be overwhelmed. Yes, it's a lot of work, but it is sooooooooooo worth it. Your department will start to run more smoothly, productivity will increase, your employees will be happier and YOUR stress level will radically decrease. So whenever you're discouraged about the plan, remember the outcomes.Now go out there and be a STAR!!

Recently I was working with a client, Bob, on a problem he was experiencing at work. He’s a VP for a high-tech company who has gone through more re-orgs, mergers, acquisitions and other corporate changes than I could possibly begin to remember. But Bob is quite a guy. In fact he’s managed to survive quite nicely through all of the insanity.Bob came to a recent session with a big problem. His troops are getting restless (and unmotivated and disgruntled) because they haven’t received their usual yearly performance increase. It was supposed to happen in January. Oops...It’s true - lots of companies are holding off on raises these days. At least salary freezes are better than layoffs, right? And if this salary freeze stuff is communicated clearly and honestly by company officials, most employees really do understand. They understand what’s going on with our economy. So they get it - times are tough all around. They don’t like it, but they get it.But Bob’s company made a critical error...they cried wolf. And more than once. You see Bob’s company told employees in January that the raises would come in March. And in March officials claimed the raises were coming in May. And in May...you can guess what happened. May came and left - no raises. But the employees did get another empty promise. Just two more months, guys. But alas, it’s November 1 and still no raises.These days the company officials have stopped crying wolf. In fact, they aren’t saying anything at all. First make a bunch of empty promises and then clam up. Brilliant strategy.So what does this stroke of management communication genius mean for Bob? It means that he’s stuck with an apathetic staff who really doesn’t want to work hard for a company run by a bunch of liars.Bob’s problem is a common one - how do you keep your staff motivated when company officials make such bad decisions? Well, it’s really hard! It takes an incredible amount of dedication and hard work to pull it off. But it can be done. It has to be done. And as a manager it’s up to you to re-energize your staff and create a department where communication, teamwork and fun are seamlessly integrated into daily life.And it’s so worth it. Not only does doing this impact your success in your own job and the company’s bottom line, it helps you have an impact on other people’s lives. Just think about the difference your employees will feel going from working for a company that they don’t really trust to working for a manager who is creating a fun, productive fulfilling environment. Big difference, huh?So what’s the plan of attack? Well, it’s a going to be a lot of hard work, so it wouldn’t be a bad idea for you to start off this adventure with a declaration of commitment. I mean there will be times when you just want to throw in the towel and manage your staff like everyone else does. So to ensure that this won’t happen, you must stand firm in your beliefs that your new energized department is worth the effort.Make this commitment to yourself in whatever way is meaningful for you. Some of you need to simply tell yourself that you are committed to doing this. Others may need to write it down or tell a friend. Whatever the case is, make a formal commitment and you’ll have a better chance of sticking to the program.Action Step for SuccessAre you feeling somewhat un-motivated yourself? Work through any issues you may be personally experiencing that are keeping you from committing to this department re-energization plan. Don’t lose sight of the fact that you control your own attitude. No-one else. So choose to get committed to the plan! You’ll be glad you did!Now go out there and be a star!!

We’ve all heard people say “I have a system”. Ever since I was a little girl and watched my mother put together a grocery list, I’ve known -- and used -- the power of systems. Systems help take the frustration out of daily living. They help you do what you WANT to do in an easier, more consistent way. A system practically does the work for you. You don’t have to over-think it, you don’t have to spend time figuring it out. It pulls you forward when you are tired, when you’d probably just throw in the towel and give up. It’s Instant Willpower because it makes things easier.Let me share some simple every day systems that I use to give me Instant Willpower. #1. “Are these dishes clean or dirty?” That was a constant question in my house. I tried the clean/dirty dishwasher sign, but we always forgot to flip it over. Now a small custard dish stays in the dishwasher all the time. When the dishwasher runs, it gets full of water. When someone puts up the dishes, they simply empty the water in the dish, and put it back. Once glace – full or empty – tells you if the dishes are clean or dirty. You already have a lot of systems in your life. Some of your systems work great, others not so well. For example, in college a friend of mine got in a bit over her head, and discovered that she had more money going out than she had coming in. When I asked her how she decided what to pay, she grinned and said that she got them all in a pile, then threw them up toward the ceiling, and whatever stuck, that was what she paid. Considering all the late notices I was seeing, obviously, not a good system. Now that’s a silly example, but I mentioned it in order to stress the point that jst because you currently have a system, doesn’t mean it’s doing what it’s supposed to do. A good system is one that creates an environment that lets you be your best self. #2. I’m never going to enjoy working out. It’s just not my style. Over the years, I’ve tried many different activities, machines, gym memberships, you name it. I really want to exercise because I like the health benefits it gives me, but it’s a challenge for me. It was very easy to talk myself out of going to the gym (I could come up with a million excuses), or even walking to the bedroom to use the expensive piece of equipment I had dirty clothes hanging on (you too?). I began to look for a system that would pull me forward, help me use that machine, help me go to the gym instead of making it far too easy to wimp out.Now, as a caveat, let me say that I 100% believe in making a commitment to yourself and sticking to it. But we’re human, after all. Sometimes we need that external force to help motivate us. I decided to budget some money towards a personal trainer. (I could either buy a new couch, or try out the trainer, and quite simply I made a conscious decision to clean the couch and hire the trainer.) The trainer comes to my home 2 times a week at a predetermined time. I could of course call him and skip my sessions. But he’s paid in advance, he’s ready and willing, and for whatever reason you want to call it, just knowing that he’s scheduled is enough to get me into my tennis shoes and meet him with a smile on my face. He’s my system. He’s my instant willpower. A system set up correctly either pulls your forward to do what you want to do, or sort of “forces” you to do something that may not come very naturally. #3 If you are trying to stop overspending at the mall, and you always use your credit cards, make a conscious effort and simply stop carrying them. That’s a strategy or a system for finding a way to stop spending for things you don’t really need, but may find it difficult to overcome in the moment. Some people have a “24 hour rule”, in which case they never buy unless they sleep on it. In the case of the credit cards, it will at the very least make you go home to get your cards, then return, which will give you time to think about it and make a conscious decision to overspend. Systems work for things that you even love to do, but tend to let get pushed to the side by other more in-your-face things in your life. For example, #4. I love to read, and my type of work demands that I read a lot. But because of that, I found that over the years reading for simple pleasure (mysteries are my choice) had fallen to the side. I joined a local book group, where you show up once a month and discuss a mystery book that the group has decided on. It gives me a target, and makes it easer to do something that I might otherwise let slide. Take a look at your systems. Are they working? Or are you throwing the bills onto the ceiling and seeing what sticks. Try some Instant Willpower!

"Mom, what did the doctor say about your liver function
tests?" Martha and her mother Leah spent plenty of time on
the phone the days before the follow-up doctor visit talking
about what this abnormal blood test could mean. With a heavy
sigh Leah said, "Well, the doctor looked like he was having
a hard day, and there were lots of people in the waiting
room and they looked very sick, so I didn’t ask." Martha
said, "If you took care of yourself with just a fraction of
the nurturing you give to everyone else in the whole world,
you would be in great shape."
Leah’s life is guided by two words: "Be nice." In her
perfect day, everyone gets along, she anticipates and meets
the needs of others and goes to sleep knowing she’s a worthy
person because people tell her so. Leah avoids conflict and
she would never dream of making a scene. When she gave the
cashier at the grocery store a $20 bill for a $7 item and
got back $3 she didn’t say a word. Her perfectionism usually
heads off criticism, but sometimes it backfires. She tried
to help her adult son, who said with annoyance, "Mom, stop
being such a people-pleaser." Leah’s darkest fear is that
she will not give enough and wind up all alone, abandoned by
her friends and family.
While being nice sounds like a good idea, there’s a problem.
It doesn’t work. People pleasers often take care of others
at the expense of themselves. Activities that promote
health, like the daily walk and a good night’s sleep are
sacrificed when someone else is in need. Trying to avoid or
ignore conflict and anger is like trying to hold a beach
ball under water. Unexpressed feelings can pop up as
physical ailments, such as heartburn or depression or back
pain. When your value as a person is defined by what other
people think about you, and you don’t measure up, food or
alcohol medicate the emptiness.
If you’re a people-pleaser who gets sick, the same behaviors
that got you to the doctor in the first place may stand in
the way of getting good health care. You might not want to
"trouble your doctor" with your problems. If you have side
effects from a medication, you might simply stop taking the
pills rather than tell your doctor that you want to try a
different medication. A cross look from the front office
staff when you ask for a copy of your medical record may be
all you need to decide that you’re not doing that again.
The bottom line is that being nice can be hazardous to your
health. It erodes your health and impairs your ability to
get better if you’re sick.
I invite you to examine how being nice is working for you.
Serving others offers great rewards. Serving at the expense
of yourself comes with a huge cost that ultimately limits
your ability to serve. You can be freed from the
imprisonment of people-pleasing. If you want to treat
yourself with more love and respect, here are some thoughts.
Re-think being nice.
People-pleasing is a learned behavior that can be unlearned.
Although habits may be deeply engrained, small changes can
make a huge difference. Next time you’re asked to volunteer,
instead of jumping in with a "Yes", say, instead, "I’ll get
back to you on that." You will come to understand that "no"
is a complete sentence, and you can utter the word! If you
can’t imagine doing this, use this "fake it till you make it
trick"...tell yourself that you’re taking care of your
children’s father, your mother’s daughter or your pet’s
owner.
Take care of yourself every day.
Get exercise, nutrition and rest every day. Do something
that recharges your batteries every day no matter what. It’s
a cliché, but when you’re on a plane you’re instructed to
put on your own mask before taking care of others.
Bring an advocate with you to the doctor.
Engaging in acts of self-care, like going to the doctor, can
feel like swimming upstream to a people-pleaser. Being nice
takes the form of being a good patient who doesn’t make
waves.
Here is something critical to remember: You are not there to
take care of your doctor; your doctor is there to take care
of you. In the past you may have made your medical choices
by raising your antennae and tuning into what you think will
make your doctor happy. You certainly want your doctor’s
opinion, and in most cases you will agree with your doctor’s
recommendations. Sometimes getting good care means making
waves, like asking , "What are the other treatment options?"
or requesting a more complete explanation or seeking a
second medical opinion.
While it’s always a good idea to take a second set of
listening ears to a doctor appointment, it’s particularly
important if you’re a people-pleaser. An advocate will
assure that you and your health care team stay focused on
taking care of you.
Accept help.
People-pleasers can give from dawn to dusk, but they rarely
accept help, even when they’re sick. When I ask my patients
who are people-pleasers how it feels to help a friend
struggling with illness, the answer is a broad smile. Then I
remind them that when they accept help, they give their
friends a chance to have those same good feelings.
If you are a people-pleaser, your heart might be racing. I
assure you I’m not asking to give up serving others. I’m
suggesting that a healthy life is a life in balance, and I
encourage you to treat yourself as nicely as you treat
others. When you take care of yourself, you offer us the
gift of most fully who you are. Then you can really serve.
It's more important than ever to take an active role in your
healthcare. The best way to get top-quality, safe and
effective healthcare is to actively and knowledgably
participate.