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Are Your Employees Feeling Underappreciated At Work?

9/6/2015

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Managers are tasked with a laundry list of various to-do’s every day. They are the ones that solve the day-to-day issues that arise and keep the organization moving forward. Most importantly they are managers of people. We’ve all heard the saying that “an organization is only as good as its people” and it’s the manager’s job to make sure they are propelling the company forward.

With so many tasks to take on it’s easy for managers to slack in the employee appreciation arena. Many think praise and encouragement is something that can be scheduled into an employee’s yearly review. Yet the truth of the matter is almost half of employees feel undervalued at work according to the American Psychological Association. The consequences of employees feeling underappreciated can be a major factor contributing to the fact that 70% of workers are disengaged from their jobs.

Correcting this dissatisfaction can be easy if managers choose to be self-aware and cognizant of the  importance of showing appreciation to their employees. The pay-offs are huge when employees feel they are valued. Companies that are ranked as the best companies to work for outperform nearly 2 times those in the general market in both the S&P 500 and Russell 3000 according to Fortune Magazine.

Not only do these companies outperform in annualized stock market returns but their employees feel a sense of family and trust. They tend to have less absenteeism, lower turnover and have employees that are likely to go beyond what is expected of them.

How can you make sure your employees feel appreciated?
  
  1. Discover what is important to your employees. Every employee is different, so while one employee values public acknowledgment another may value the feeling of support, others may look for increases in salary. Take the time to ask what is important to them by having one-on-one conversations. They may not have asked themselves that question, but will appreciate you helping them discover what they really need to feel valued. 

  2. Be self-aware of what is happening around you. We all tend to get caught up in the craziness of managing an office but taking a moment to feel the temperature of your staff can head off any growing resentment that might be brewing right under your nose. Encourage your staff to communicate with you and share when they are feeling overlooked or underappreciated. If they learn to trust you they will share with you when things don’t feel right and you can head off a potential “disengaged” employee.

  3. Show appreciation daily. Appreciation can be as simple as a box of donuts in the break room  to a quick verbal acknowledgement that someone is doing a great job. Find a way to show your team you see their efforts and not just when the big project is done, but as they are working their way through it. Tell them they make a difference and watch how the results of  that acknowledgement turns to more dedication and commitment to the team.

Remember at the end of the day we are all in this together and we bring our own set of fears, concerns and hopes with us to work every day.  As a manager you not only owe it to your company’s  bottom line but to those that put their faith you in to lead them and make sure they feel valued. It’s  not about coddling the needy employee but instead creating an environment that sparks creativity and camaraderie. Appreciation is about treating each human with respect and allowing them to make a difference as well.

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Stressed? The Fix! - Part 2

5/26/2015

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Last week we talked about stress and how 90% of top performers shared something very important in common. They were all skilled at managing their emotions in times of stress. Therefore, this week as promised, I'm going to cover some quick ways to handle workplace stress. Hopefully, you'll discover a few ways to become a stress-free top performer as well!

Of course, we all experience stress on some level, but it's when stress becomes chronic in our lives that we really need to figure out a way to get back in control and not let stress harm our health or career. The need to cope with stress is so great that in a 2013 survey conducted by the APA's Center for Organizational Excellence, they found that 36% of survey respondents said that organizations fell short in assisting workers manage stress. 

Here are 5 ways to tackle your workplace stress!

1. Create a work-free zone! We are so connected through our computers and cell phones that we often find ourselves never hitting the “off-work” button. Establish a cut off time and then remove any and all gadgets that connect you to work. Sure this is difficult, but try it for 15 minutes a day and build up from there. You’ll be surprised how quickly you find yourself carving out an hour or more a day.

2. Talk to your manager/supervisor. Have a conversation with your boss to let him/her know what issues you are struggling. Be sure to pick a time when your emotions are in-check and you are fresh. Plus, take some time to plan out what you want to say and try to find a compromise for the situation before the conversation, so you are coming into it with solutions not just complaints. If your boss is the source of your stress because he/she isn't great at managing and a conversation will only enhance a stressful situation then find a colleague to vent to and help brainstorm solutions. Be sure it doesn't turn into a non-stop “rip everyone at work” session that goes on for weeks and months! That will only bring on more stress and keep you focused on what is wrong instead of looking for solutions.

3. Become aware of unhealthy coping strategies. We all have them, like eating fast foods, eating high sugar foods, drinking too much alcohol, not exercising or even shopping too much! Take a few moments at the end of every day to check in and see how you responded to the day’s stress. Did you hit the gym or the fries! Once you can see where the unhealthy choices come in you are much more likely to be able to make small changes that can have a huge impact on your life. For example, take a 10 minute walk during your lunch hour instead of eating a bag of chips from the vending machine. 

4. Invest some time in your schedule. Most of the time we are our own worst enemy because we fail to plan for the future and the demands on our time. Take a really good look at your schedule at the start of every week and assess what needs to be done throughout the week. Then work time into your schedule to handle each task. While things may pop-up and ruin some of your planning, you will find it easier to reorganize your schedule than panic over how in the world you are going to get it all done. 

5. Give yourself a break! Remember that old saying, "Don't sweat the small stuff and it's all small stuff"? Well write it on a post-it next to your phone or computer display. We get so caught up in the day to day issues that we often forget that most of us aren't brain surgeons and lives are not at stake. So when you feel the stress getting ahead of you take a breath and ask yourself, "Is this the small stuff"?  Most of the time you’ll enjoy the feeling of realizing that yes, you are indeed sweating the small stuff.

Remember Professional Intelligence is about having the skills, knowledge and attitude to be successful in your career and if you are stressed-out most of the time, you are no doubt working with low P.I.

I'd love to work with your organization and help your professionals beat the stress and create a P.I. Culture!


Best,
Nicole 

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Nicole Darling  44 Pear Tree Lane, Dallas PA  18612 
​phone: 570-406-2035   email:  Nicole@NicoleDarling.com