Fatherly Bosses Ensure Their Companies' Success
CEOs Copying Obama's Fatherly Attitude Will Reap Rewards
Dec 9, 2008
Obama's fatherly, consoling, upbeat attitude echoes those of Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill. All men who saved their countries in tough times. He reaches out to verbally embrace his audiences. If business leaders, company presidents, CEOs and managers copied his manner, it would put heart into battered workers and, perhaps, go a long way towards building confidence and boosting the lagging economy. Mind you, it will mean trading in the "Big Hippo" image for one of " Big Dad" but will that matter if it does the job?
Corporate Family
A business owner who has a clear, positive message when communicating with employees helps build a corporate "family" that will pull together to reach the common goal of building the company.
Happiness and optimism are contagious. While it is admittedly hard to project optimism in the current climate, it is worthwhile doing nonetheless. Senior staff should work at being optimistic so that employees see Monday morning as the start of a thrilling enterprise and not something to be dreaded.
Low Morale - Low Profits
Writes Terri Levine on www.sideroad.com, "studies have proven that the morale of a company's workforce is directly linked to profitability. Low morale - low profits. High morale - high profits. This is because workers who are happy in their job and with their employer perform better, resulting in higher and improved productivity and profitability."
Reassuring Good Workers
Reassuring good workers is key. Employers should make sure that, if there are layoffs, those remaining understand their jobs are safe; fearful workers lack energy and cannot perform. They should task the human resources department with helping those laid off find jobs elsewhere. If a superior older worker has had to be let go because of budget constraints, they should ask whether he or she would like to work part-time or as a consultant. They should ask a worker who is about to be laid off whether a cut in pay would be acceptable if they kept their job.
Conference Calls And Webcasts
If a move to smaller quarters is planned, employers should explain why and offer hope that sales will pick up along with staffing. They should make cuts such as using conference calls and webcasts instead of having workers travel. Micro cuts help the bottom line and the workforce will see that the company is really trying to be responsible. Encouraging workers to make suggestions can increase productivity and save money. Public acknowledgment of the person who has made the biggest contribution or the best suggestion makes workers feel they are a valued part of the company.
Company Functions
Employers can cut back on their costs but shouldn't forgo morale-boosting company functions, nor should they let up on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs because they enable people to bond with each other and enlarge their aspirations. Good ones aren't simply public relations exercises but are part of the company's core values. If people are working together for a larger good, they are grateful to the boss for allowing them to do it and will do a better job. (www.accessmylibrary.com)
Employees should be encouraged to communicate concerns to their immediate bosses and managers should be open with each other and sympathetic to those reporting to them. They must stop any worker conflicts that might fester and hinder productivity.
Advice for employers: Build in a little cocooning. Offer a jokes board, silly competitions, affordable daycare, fitness and weight loss programs and flexible work timetables. Make sure the parking lot is well lit, that heating and air conditioning work and that furniture and equipment is not outdated.
A Fatherly CEO Projects Optimism And Caring
Fatherly CEOs project optimism and caring to employees who, in turn, give their companies their best efforts and enable them to flourish despite bad times. All those business owners worried about the current crisis should analyze Obama to get some pointers.
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