Masonry Magazine February 1986 Page. 59
Question: Employee Well-being
What happened to the good old days of just hiring someone and expecting them to do their job?
Answer: Employee Well-being
We are finding that the companies who emphasize the well-being of employees are those who progress most rapidly. I believe that poor health practices or personal problems will cost a company dearly in lost productivity. Smart managers know that an organizational culture which encourages a healthy, balanced lifestyle and makes employees feel their contributions and input count, leads to a more satisfied, productive workforce.
Question: Disagreeing with Customers
I know the customer is supposed to be right, but aren't there times when it's okay to disagree with a customer?
Answer: Disagreeing with Customers
Stew Leonard, owner of Stew Leonard's Dairy-said to be the world's largest dollar volume per square foot dairy store tells a story that provides valuable insight on this issue. Just days after he opened his store, a woman complained that the eggnog she bought was sour. Leonard smelled and tasted the eggnog and said it was fine. When he couldn't convince the woman, he apologized and returned her money. But the refund didn't stop the woman from storming out of the store shouting that she would never shop in Stew Leonard's again.
Leonard said he realized that he had lost a customer for good. He immediately wrote two rules for his company: 1) The customer is always right. 2) If the customer is ever wrong, go back and read Rule 1. That's been Stew Leonard's operating procedure for more than 15 years and that's probably why his store's sales add up to more than $80 million a year.
Question: Common Sense Management
Isn't the management of people nothing more than using common sense?
Answer: Common Sense Management
For the most part, managing people effectively is common sense. It's the ability to understand the goals and objectives of the organization and to determine what it takes to make employees meet those goals. Good managers know that effective employees are challenged by their work, see opportunities for advancement, feel that their contributions are appreciated, and have a sense of purpose within the organization. Well over 60 percent of people in business today don't have business training in the academic sense. They're practical people who understand the end objective of the job they and their employees do.
Question: Negative Attitude
My co-workers say my negative attitude sours the office. How can I become more optimistic?
Answer: Negative Attitude
Optimism is really an attitude of hope. Begin to achieve it by believing that "what you think is what you feel." You alone must make the decision whether, in terms of attitude, you will live in a shack or a mansion. To become more optimistic, visualize yourself as a happy person. Then, make a list of what pleases you in your life and what you would change to make yourself happier. Ask others who have been successful in overcoming struggles to share their "turn-around" story with you.
Finally, ask your co-workers to point out when you say or do something that appears negative as well as when you are positive and more pleasant to be around. This will show them you care about how you affect the mood of the office. Monitor yourself and give yourself little goals-when you achieve them, savor your accomplishment.
Author Information
The writer is founder of Fred Pryor Seminars headquartered in Kansas City. Readers with management concerns may send questions to The Workline, Box 1022, Clemson, SC 29631.
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