My question is: how is your attitude? Over the last three months I have met with each of you individually and collectively a number of times. I believe I indicated that in order for us to grow as a company, each of us would have to grow as individuals. That means that each of us, starting with me, would have to change. More than anything else, it means we would have to do things differently to achieve a different, better result.
Super Job Leaders set the standard for those that they lead. You can’t expect others to change how they do things if you are not willing do change yourself first.
My fourth question to you is this: are you asking your team members questions to stimulate thinking or, do you discourage your people ?
I believe that our employees are a tremendous source of ideas and knowledge. I am convinced that collectively, they know a lot more than we do as managers. I also am of the belief that if we take the time to ask them how to help us increase sales, reduce costs and improve profitability, they will have some wonderful ideas that will help us meet our plan for the year. They are an untapped resource.
My fifth question is this: are you really listening to your team or do you have all the answers?
I am a little concerned that the tension around here is a little high. While we are not making our numbers, we do have time to turn things around. We are not, I repeat not, laying anyone off. No one is having their paycheck cut. Our benefits package remains unchanged. The company remains strong. Secure people can laugh at themselves. The typical child laughs 400 times a day but adults laugh only about 15. My final question to you is this: how much time to you spend getting people to laugh or even smile? People, we (and that includes me) need to move this marketing company forward and it starts and ends with every single one of us.
