Regardless of what is in the company’s official statement of values, our employees know what we really value and their actions are a reflection of our real values.
Employees do whatever it takes to make the boss happy because that is how they get rewarded (i.e. paid).
It is also how to avoid negative relationships with those who write our paychecks (carrot and stick).
I have challenged many of my classes to give me one word responses to the question “what do you really value”? The responses are usually very predictable.I then tell them that I can look at two things to see what they really value, not just what they say they value. All I need to see is their checkbook, and their calendar. Where you spend your money and where you spend your time reveals what you really value.
If you tell your spouse or “significant other” that you love and value them,yet you never spend any money or time with them, they will not feel valued. The same thing is true with our employees.
There are four factors that affect every organization. These are Safety, Quality, Productivity and Economy (cost and schedule). Our employees know which of these are more important to your organization and their behaviors reflect that. These factors need to be balanced in order for us to be successful. Any over emphasis on one of these factors will come at the expense of one of the others. Our employees know instinctively where their emphasis needs to be also. Keeping the balance requires constant vigilance on the part of every level of supervision and a healthy feedback loop from our employees.
What do your employees think you really value?