Masonry Magazine October 2000 Page. 24
JOBSITE MORALE
# Taming the Beast
by Steve Saucerman
# You thought you had it nailed ...
Work is steady. Profits are respectable even accounting's running smoothly. You've sweated and slaved for years to get your company to this level and you finally feel like you're to the point where most of the technical details have been addressed.
But, something's still wrong something you can't quite wrap your arms around. Lately, you've noticed that your people on the jobsite seem to be complaining a little more than before. You've also heard (third hand) some negative remarks about the company (and you) - remarks attributed to some of your own men.
And it got worse. Last night, the owner of one of your projects called you at home to complain about the attitude of one of your people on the job. Clearly, this isn't good!
Don't Panic. You've merely come face-to-face with that mercurial and mystical monster known as... Poor Morale.
# THE DANGER OF POOR MORALE
There's no business problem more ethereal and more damaging to profits than poor worker morale. An employee's attitude about work blends with every other aspect of his ability to perform.
Getting a handle on this attitude is the tricky part - and a formidable challenge to even seasoned business owners.
After all, tangible items can be addressed. If the copier breaks you fix it- and when office supplies run out -you replace them. Right?
It's not so easy with morale. Morale flickers, weaves, and dodges at every turn. Workers can be content on Monday and disgruntled on Thursday. And even worse the cancer spreads. A young employee hears the older one criticize management. The younger worker, wanting to be accepted and looking for some common ground with his co-workers, begins echoing the sentiment... and so on.
Time goes by and soon the only thing the business owner does know for sure is that efficiency is suffering, negativity is spreading, and somehow he's found himself sitting smack-dab in the middle of a situation that seems to be spiraling out of control!
But, what do you do? You're a contractor-not a psychologist!
Well, there are some things you can do. Simple, focused, and yes, even economical things.
# A "REAL" PROBLEM
You've all heard the old saying, "just knowing you have a problem is the first step in becoming well." Well, it's no different with morale. The subject of morale shouldn't be ignored. It also shouldn't be left alone to "work itself out." It won't. As a matter of fact, it will probably only grow worse with time.
The owner-contractor needs to acknowledge that morale and employee attitude are tangible, addressable concerns one more aspect of doing business that (just as a copier requires service) requires a well-structured, focused, and consistent program of morale maintenance - not just a one-time fix.
Of course, the human psyche is unimaginably infinite in design and complexity. Attempting to discuss even a fraction of what motivates and stimulates the minds of workers would require volumes - hardly containable in one magazine article. But we can, however, discuss a couple of straight-forward methods for corralling morale. Methods that are well within the grasp of the average owner.
# GET THE WORD OUT
I've never been one to call a lot of meetings. I don't like them. We're contractors and contractors make money by contracting- not meeting. But in this case, I think it's in order. Call a meeting of your employees. Tell them that the express purpose of the meeting is to discuss morale and attitude nothing else. Let them know that (for at least this meeting) you want them to be open, candid, and honest. Explain that you're simply trying to understand the situation you now face and that none of their comments will be held against them- and then honor those words.
Now, yes, things might be said that hurt other people's or your own - feelings. That's OK. It comes with the territory. You're all grown-ups and, anyway, thick skin is one of the building contractor's greater at-
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