| We've seen colleagues with unbelievable confidence | | | | longer work hours each week and spending less |
| and we have seen those who lack confidence. Do | | | | quality time with their families. Businesses are |
| you know of any successful person who lacks | | | | beginning to realize that unhappy workers are not as |
| confidence? When my youngest son was in | | | | productive. Workers have stated what they want |
| kindergarten I would volunteer for different school | | | | from their companies; there are articles and books |
| events. I noticed that all of the kids would sing their | | | | written about what workers want. The problem is |
| songs with such glee and enthusiasm. Regardless of | | | | companies need to do a better job in listening and |
| pitch or rhythm they all felt that they were doing a | | | | responding to their employees concerns and needs. If |
| great job and they were. Their efforts were | | | | you want a productive workforce and employees |
| acknowledged and praised by their teacher. This | | | | who will give you their all start listening to them and |
| encouragement gave them the inspiration to keep | | | | taking their advice into consideration. |
| trying to be the best that they could be. As this | | | | Two of my favorite companies are tops for a |
| same group of kids became older it was observed | | | | number of reasons. For the purposes of this article I |
| that not as many volunteered to sing along with their | | | | chose these two successful companies because of |
| classmates. Somewhere over the years they lost | | | | how their employee's feel about working for them. |
| their confidence or were told they were not good | | | | These companies have great customer service and |
| singers. | | | | their employee's are always happy. They are |
| When talking to business professionals the question | | | | confident, empowered and always willing to go above |
| continues to be asked, what are the most important | | | | and beyond to help you. I won't divulge what is |
| traits of a good leader? Their responses are similar to | | | | already in several business books about these |
| the example stated above. They are looking for | | | | companies but other companies can learn a lot by |
| leadership that offers support, models what good | | | | reading about what makes good companies great. |
| looks like, offers encouragement and rewards their | | | | If retaining top talent is a goal of your company, be |
| efforts. While some may think the example above is | | | | supportive of your employees, give them |
| juvenile and may not apply to them consider the fact | | | | opportunities to grow and generously reward them |
| many US workers are reporting that they are not | | | | for their efforts. Keep in mind rewards come in |
| satisfied with their jobs. It can be said that if you | | | | various forms; it could be an extra day off one |
| asked most workers they will voice their job | | | | month, tickets to a sporting event etc. Show your |
| dissatisfaction because their jobs are not interesting, | | | | employees you care about them, they have spoken |
| challenging or stimulating. Workers are putting in | | | | loud and clear. A lot can be learned in Kindergarten. |