Leadership Risks Worth Taking

Safe, predictable, tried and true – while these words might put your mind at ease, stepping out of your comfort zone and trying something a little risky can pay off in a big way.

In business, there are times when you need to make a bold move and times when playing it safe is the right course. The key is learning which risks are worth the gamble.

Trust Your Employees. Some leaders fear giving employees too much freedom. Instead, they micromanage every task to prevent employees from ever making mistakes. For perfectionist managers, letting go of control is scary. If you struggle with delegating, step back, and evaluate how that affects your team.

According to the American Management Association, micromanaging discourages employees and kills creativity. Show some faith, and give your team a longer leash. If they fail, that’s okay. Resist the urge to reclaim control. Instead, let them grow in their roles. Taking chances on your team will lighten your load and empower your employees.

Give Credit. No manager is an island. Some leaders, however, seem to forget this notion whenever the boss or a top client is within earshot. They worry acknowledging others’ contributions will damage their reputation. But in reality, people value humble, team-oriented leaders over those who claim to do it all on their own.

While it’s great to compliment employees one-on-one, private remarks can’t replace public recognition. When team members play a significant role in making a project succeed, make sure you openly acknowledge their efforts.

Say “No.” Savvy leaders understand that sometimes “no” is the best answer – even when the pressure’s on to give the green light. Whether that means turning down a project or passing up a promotion, the ability to say “no” at the right times is just as important as knowing when to say “yes.”

Accepting every request that comes your way doesn’t do anyone a service – least of all you. Knowing your limits and understanding what’s right for you will prevent distractions from bogging you down. Take a risk, and say “no” when the time’s right – others will appreciate your honesty and your ability to take a stand.

Try Something New. “That’s the way we’ve always done things.” Who hasn’t heard this mantra repeated in the boardrooms and cubicles of their organization? Just because the ‘same old, same old’ is what people are comfortable with, doesn’t mean it’s the most effective way to get things done.

In a new book called, Buy-In: Saving Your Good Idea from Getting Shot Down, the authors discuss how naysayers can keep great ideas from ever launching. Imagine what the world would be like if leaders and inventors like Alexander Graham Bell or Henry Ford hadn’t pushed to see their visions become realities. We might still be relying on telegraphs and riding in horse-drawn carriages, respectively.

Successful managers know when to take chances and when to play it safe. Taking risks to courageously lead the pack is exactly the sort of thing top leaders are renowned for. So, step out of your comfort zone, and challenge the status quo.

3 Great Ways to Shake Up the Workplace

Let’s face it, after feeling the impact of the recession, from salary freezes to paycuts and layoffs, change in the workplace had a bad rap. We all wanted stability and security. But now, businesses are worrying about turnover and employee engagement as more and more employees feel frustrated with the status quo. John F. Kennedy once said, “change is the law of life.” It’s inevitable. But it’s also important to remember that change isn’t always bad. Often times, it’s great. If your employees are tired of the same ole’ same ole’ at work, now may be the perfect time to shake your workplace up and make some changes for the better.

Here are three easy ways to get started before the new year.

Renovate Your Office Space
Changing your environment can change your entire outlook, and the great news is, it doesn’t have to be big. Anything from a fresh coat of paint to finally getting to that overdue cleanup-day can go a long way to brighten up your work environment and refresh your team’s perspective.

Rearranging office space into specific zones like a meeting and brainstorming space that’s far away from distracting emails and phone calls will be conducive to an environment of focus that can help increase productivity. And switching cubicles and changing workspaces can mean building a more cohesive team that works well together.

Makeover Outdated Policies and Procedures
Policies and procedures are important to every business, but they can quickly become out of date. Doing something a specific way simply because that’s how it’s always been done doesn’t mean it’s always the most efficient way. If you suspect you have some outdated policies or procedures in place, ask your team to offer suggestions for improving things. It will give your employees a chance to share their input and ideas, make them feel like they’re contributing to the overall department, and hopefully mean innovative and effective changes for your workforce.

Declare a “No Meeting Day”
In a recent survey by Express Employment Professionals, 51% of business leaders said meetings were the biggest drain of their time. Studies show the average worker spends approximately six hours a week – more if you’re a manager or executive – in meetings. If too many meetings are taking away from your employees’ already busy schedules, break away from the norm and pick a day in the week where you declare meetings off limits. Take time to evaluate some of your regularly scheduled meetings to see if there’s anything you can cut out or find ways to make them more productive. Just think what you could do with even just an extra hour a week. Think about what it would mean if every employee had an extra hour or two to complete projects or brainstorm new ideas.

You don’t have to make big changes around the office to help reengage your staff and improve performance and productivity. Every step you take to better your company, whether it’s by changing the work environment or improving procedures, can make a big difference.

The Results are In: Your Thoughts on Experience vs. Education

In September, we asked you what is more important to your employee selection process, education, experience, or a combination of the two. And the results were conclusive, to say the least. More than 65% of respondents said qualified, on-the-job experience was the most important factor when hiring new employees. A combination of education and experience was selected second by 31% of respondents.

In a distant third, only 3% of respondents said strong college credentials are the most important factor to consider during the hiring process. For recent college graduates, this statistic could be particularly troubling since they typically do not have extensive on-the-job experience.

These statistics also help to emphasize the growing importance of employee retention. According to research by the American Psychological Association, only half of employees say they feel valued on the job and more than 30% indicated they plan on seeking new employment opportunities. And, in a time when the battle for talent is fierce, it’s in a company’s best interest to make every effort to retain their most skilled and experienced workers.

It’s hard to believe with unemployment still hovering around the 9% mark that many companies are struggling to hire new employees. But in a climate where hiring decisions carry even more weight than before, business leaders have to be picky to ensure the investment they make in a new hire won’t be lost due to turnover, poor cultural fit, inexperience, or a wide variety of other factors.

Leadership Lessons From the King

Elvis Presley, known around the world as the “King of Rock and Roll,” built a billboard-topping career that spanned nearly a quarter of a century. During that time he changed the face of music and opened the doors for generations of musicians who followed. Even now, almost 35 years after his death – assuming you choose to believe the King truly has left the building – Elvis is still one of the most universally recognizable pop culture icons in the world.

So, it’s only natural to assume he knew a thing or two about being a leader. It’s time to dust off the vinyl and start shaking your hips as we dig deep into Elvis’ extensive musical repertoire to see what the King can teach us about leadership.

Don’t you step on my blue suede shoes! – Blue Suede Shoes

While the song serves as a warning to all the other flailing feet on the dance floor to refrain from scuffing the now iconic pair of designer duds, these words also work well as a reminder to give your employees some room to step up to a new challenge or take on a leadership role. Sometimes the best thing a leader can do to help employees with C-suite aspirations is to simply get out of the way and let them learn through experience.

You look like an angel, walk like an angel, talk like an angel, but I got wise – You’re the devil in disguise! – (You’re the) Devil in Disguise

Originally recorded in 1963, Devil in Disguise is a tale of love gone awry when the leading lady, and object of Elvis’ affection, shows her true colors, ending the relationship in heartbreak for the King. In the workplace, these words more aptly describe the necessity of transparency. Your employees want a leader they can trust, and it’s your responsibility to be as upfront, open and honest as possible.

A little less conversation, a little more action, please. – A Little Less Conversation

This seize-the-day anthem, written for Elvis for the 1968 film Live a Little, Love a Little, doesn’t so much ask, but rather tells the listener to stop talking the talk and start walking the walk. And in the workplace, that’s exactly what’s expected of a great leader. When projects and deadlines start piling up, nothing builds respect and confidence more than a leader who rolls up their sleeves and dives into the trenches alongside them.

My hands are shaky and my knees are weak. I can’t seem to stand on my own two feet. – All Shook Up

Listed on The Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, this song is said to have been inspired by a “shook up” bottle of Pepsi. However, in the workplace, these iconic words help to remind us of the importance of confidence. Your employees need to feel that they are following a leader who is not only confident about where they are going, but also how they will get there. When management appears nervous and unsure, it becomes more difficult to inspire the people they lead.

The King of Rock and Roll may be gone, but his legacy lives on. Even today, nearly 60 years after he recorded his first single, the music of Elvis Presley still holds up, and there’s no doubt it’ll be remembered well into the future. Inspiration comes from many sources, and who better to pull some helpful words of wisdom from than a man who helped define an entire generation.

Five Things to Do This Month: November 2011

The leaves are changing and we are slowly cooling down from a record-breaking summer. Autumn is officially here – and so is the holiday season. So besides filling up on turkey and football, let’s take a look at five things we can do this month.

Discover North America
November is Native American Heritage Month. Throughout our history, we have adopted several cultural identities from Native Americans. Whether by food, clothing, or art, take this month to discover more about one of our most fascinating and tradition-rich people groups.

Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery
It’s that time of year again. On Sunday, November 6, enjoy an extra hour of sleep as we fall back from Daylight Savings Time. Make sure to remind your employees to set their clocks back, so they can’t use it as an excuse to snooze in on Monday. Firefighters also say this is a great time to change the batteries in all of your smoke detectors. So put a couple of able-bodies in charge of the change, and don’t forget to set your clocks back!

Raise Eyes, Raise Awareness
Okay, so No-Shave November may not be the most professional thing to do this month, but it has its roots in a great cause. Thousands of people celebrate it to raise awareness of male diseases like prostate and testicular cancer. November is a great opportunity to raise awareness for lung cancer, diabetes, pancreatic cancer, Alzheimer’s, and many others. Have your department pick an illness to sponsor and do something creative to promote the cause. Don’t worry – it doesn’t have to involve facial hair.

Share the Harvest
At the end of the month, most of us eat enough calories to last well past winter hibernation. With turkey, ham, pumpkin pie and the rest of the buffet all-stars, we usually have more than enough food. One way to build unity and help empty the pantry is to have a food drive at the office. Place your employees into a few groups and compete to see how many non-perishables everyone can gather for the local food bank. You will help the less fortunate and have plenty of fun along the way.

Embrace the Season
Thanksgiving season is when we focus on what we are thankful for and what matters the most to us. This month, make an effort to tell each of your employees what you appreciate about them. Whether it is saying how impressed you’ve been with the way they handled their last project or how thankful you are for the extra work they put in, encouragement goes a long way in boosting office morale.

Express Associates Work 3 Million Hours in One Week

More than 80,000 people working 3 million hours in one week is cause to celebrate. Express Employment Professionals, one of the nation’s largest privately held staffing companies, announced today that its associates at more than 550 franchise locations in theUnited States,CanadaandSouth Africaworked 3 million hours in one week for employer clients across various industries.

“Regardless of the struggling economy and lackluster job market, said Lee Fossett, owner of the West palm Beach Express office. “We’ve managed to find jobs, put people to work and help employers who need qualified, temporary staff on hand.”

In reaching this milestone Express set a new company record. This is the first time in the companies’ 28-year history this many hours were worked in one week.

“To put this into perspective, 3 million hours is equivalent to the time it would take to build three more Brooklyn Bridges to spanNew York City’s East River or 103 CN Towers to preside over the city ofToronto,” Fossett said. “And, in just one week, Express put more than 80,000 people to work at companies across North America andSouth Africa.

“Express is proud to help so many people find jobs,” Fossett said. “We are seeing companies start to hire as productivity increases, and we are hearing from clients that their business is picking up.”

Worldwide, Express Employment Professionals puts nearly 300,000 people to work each year and has more than 550 offices in three countries. Express provides expertise in evaluation hire, temporary staffing, professional search and human resources and works across a wide variety of industries. Sales for the Oklahoma City-based company totaled more than $1.9 billion in 2010.

 

Employing Undocumented Workers Can Mean Big Fines and Criminal Liability

At Express Employment Professionals, hiring employees with the right skill set and temperament for your staffing needs is of paramount importance. However, behind the scenes is a detailed system in place to keep from hiring the wrong worker—because oversight in this area can mean a lot more than inconvenience.

Take the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency’s policies on undocumented workers, for example, and its five-fold increase in annual audits since 2008. You can be running your business without a care in the world one day and the next be holding an order to produce within three days an I-9 employment eligibility form for each of your employees. According to a July, 2011, New York Times story, ICE audited 2,196 businesses last year and the rules apply to all industries.

That’s why at Express Employment Professionals, we not only thoroughly document all our associates according to current Federal, State and local laws, but also closely monitor upcoming legislation to keep ahead of procedural changes in lawful hiring.

“We’ve always completed I-9 forms prior to assignment for all our associates,” says Lee Fossett, president of Express Employment Professionals’West Palm Beachoffice. “We also E-verify all I-9 information and match the information supplied to us with the Social Security Administration’s payroll files.”

According to Fossett, the staffing itself, however, is only part of the equation. Express Employment Professionals is a valuable clearinghouse of all kinds of employment-related information readily available to businesses to help them maintain good employment practices.

“We’re constantly updating our extensive database of articles, statistics, and changes in employment law and policies,” Fossett says. “We’re available to consult with human resources departments. We help facilitate live programs and simulcasts for guest speakers who are experts in the field. There’s a lot we can help with and we’re just a phone call away.”

Whether temporary employment for periods of peak production, upgrading key positions, outsourcing payroll processes or hiring for HR-related functions, Express Employment Professionals has the pool of qualified candidates to help make your company efficient and profitable.

Gender, Hours and Vacation Affect Happiness

A recent study of Canadian and U.S.professionals by Captivate Network, a leading digital media company, found a noticeable disparity between the happiness of men and women in the workplace.

Compared to women, men are 25 percent happier at work. The research revealed that this is due to a variety of reasons, including the fact that men are 35 percent more likely to take breaks “just to relax,” and women carry a higher percentage of daily household chores while still working full time.

Gender aside, the study also found the top traits of individuals who happily achieve a balance of work and life, with 93 percent of happy people taking vacations and 89 percent of happy people leaving work at a reasonable hour.

All of which goes to show, whether a Jack or a Jill, all work and no play makes one dull and unhappy.

Three Lessons All Leaders Need to Know

Being a leader isn’t always easy. In all honesty, it never is. Even natural born leaders have to work at it every day. There are an infinite number of projects and issues to juggle and manage better, and they’re always changing. But you can inspire, strengthen, and lead your team to help manage the changes and challenges you face together with these three tips from two men who were meant to lead, best-selling authors Patrick Lencioni and Ken Blanchard.

Find sources of inspiration outside of work. As a leader, the task of motivating and inspiring your team and company often falls to you. In fact, achieving that task is what makes you a leader. John Quincy Adams once said, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader.”

Leaders create the vision for the future of their team and their company. And, they determine the strategy to reach it. But, establishing a vision your employees will follow requires inspiration. The distractions and complications of the workplace – even work itself – can make it easy to overlook your own need to be inspired. So, you must find time each week to refuel and find inspiration outside of your company’s doors. Whether it’s a hobby, a seminar, a mentor, or simply time with your family, you need an outlet to best lead your team.

Not sure where to start? See what national best-selling author Patrick Lencioni had to say about the realities of leading others and learn seven sources that will inspire greatness in any leader.

Manage change. Last year plainly demonstrated to millions of companies and their employees the truth that in both life and business nothing ever stays the same for long. The world is a changing place. The way we do business changes. Your customers change. Your employees change. And, even you change.

Change is inevitable. It’s constantly occurring, and you cannot stop it. Often, change is necessary. And, sometimes you must create it in order to meet your clients’, customers’, and even your employees’ needs. Whether change is spontaneous or designed, you should never ignore it. For successful change, you have to know where you’re going, and you must learn to manage change. Read best selling author Ken Blanchard’s insights on change management, to help you stay ahead of the curve and provide your team with the innovation and solutions they need during times of change.

Understand the importance of team building. Your team can be one of your greatest assets. A good team is the foundation of every company’s success. So, building a better team is important to accomplishing the goals and vision of your company, and a solid team is critical to the future of your business. From having open and honest conversations about the strengths and weaknesses of your team to defining what’s best for the company, there’s a lot that goes into great team building. Don’t just keep getting by with your team’s current capabilities. Get ahead by strengthening your staff to build a better team. Start with this advice from Patrick Lencioni.

Maybe you were born to lead, and you know it. You’ve planned, studied, and trained for it. Or, maybe you’re an unintentional leader who humbly happened upon your position of leadership, and you’re just taking it one day at a time. No matter how you got where you are or how long you’ve been there, your team looks to you to provide them with guidance and support. So, find your own inspiration, so you can inspire them. Manage the changes your team faces to create an environment that employees are excited to work for. And, strengthen your staff to ensure the success of your vision, as well as the goals of your team members.

Are You Forgetting This One Thing?

By Brie Hobbs

As a company leader, you’ve probably heard, read and thought a lot about reengaging your employees lately. But, as you juggle a hectic workday and the challenges that come with managing your staff, you may not have had time to stop and think about your own engagement at work.

In the wake of the recession, many businesses have been struggling to boost employee morale and are now concerned with retaining their top talent. You’ve experienced the same frustrations your employees have about doing more with less. But, where most employees are focused on how difficult decisions or circumstances impact their own lives, you have to worry about how those decisions and circumstances impact your entire team. You aren’t just concerned with your time-management and productivity. ou have to worry about your employees’ too. And all of that can be a lot to handle.

If you haven’t had a chance to take stock of your engagement but you’re worried about your employees’, now may be the perfect time to do just that. When your morale is low, it can be hard to find ways to improve your team’s spirit. Plus, chances are the stress and frustrations you feel are contributing to their disengagement.

So as you look for ways to improve employee engagement, take a step back and look at your own first. What changes can you make to your attitude, processes, workload, and environment? Your engagement is just as important as your employees, and it can have a broad impact on the whole team.