By: Larry Fish, President
With the end of this most unusual weather year, green industry landscape business owners and managers are faced with the ongoing challenge of maintaining morale and enthusiasm throughout the workforce now that 2019 is about to arrive. We all know the feeling in our stomach – – plenty of work is expected, however it seems the proverbial “employee engine” is starting to run on empty. What could be the missing ingredient?
The answer is excitement, an element rarely considered in companies large and small. Without it, the most sophisticated organizational structure will fail to reach its potential. With it, an organization can accomplish things that, by all laws of reason, it has no right to accomplish. The excitement in great companies is like the emotion many experience in competition; it carries them beyond their own best performance, beyond what they thought possible.
Excitement is often compared to motivation. At GreenSearch, however, our opinion is that excitement expresses more emotion. Feelings and emotion can make the significant difference between a motivated employee and an excited employee. In the best scenario, the excitement you and your co-workers should feel is similar to the feeling conjured up when recalling particularly meaningful events – – as a child, winning the big game; as an adult, receiving that big promotion, landing the big account or achieving some long sought after goal. With a little planning, ingenuity and creativity, it is possible for owners and managers to create and experience those same feelings in the workplace.
As stated, excitement is an emotion and, like any emotion, it is prompted by a combination of circumstances. It goes way beyond merely attending a seminar hosted by an “industry guru” with wildly waving arms and talented vocal modulations. It really all starts at home and the set of circumstances employers establish that cause genuine organizational excitement. While the same set of circumstances may lead different individuals to different emotional reactions, it is possible to set up a broad variety of positive circumstances that will lead to excitement.
Effective leaders can set the stage for excitement by focusing on positive opportunities and by offering strong support. Initially, it may be like trying to start a two-cycle engine stick edger with straight gasoline (particularly when showing enthusiasm is not the company’s norm). Initially there is a lot of sputtering and no action. Once the problem is corrected with the right “mix,” however, and employees begin to feel excited about the changes, everyone will join in the effort.
There are at least three key conditions for excitement that can be either developed or tapped in an organization. Allowing for as many of these conditions as possible will help ensure success.
Common vision
Selling employees on a vision will be more successful if everyone, not only owners and managers, is allowed input. When the company’s vision is shared, then it becomes a source of drive and energy. Individual efforts will build to propel the organization forward. Each positive step will generate more energy, creating an atmosphere of perpetual motion.
Strength and control
Individuals who are confident in their skills and their ability to impact the direction of the company are more likely to be excited about what they are doing. This confidence must be built and tested by meaningful tasks and activities.
Value-related opportunities
Although values are wide-ranging, most individuals are surprised by the high degree of commonality that exists when values are actually listed and compared. By providing opportunities for people to work within an organization consistent with their values, the potential for excitement increases.
Give these concepts some thought and stay excited!
To learn more about how excitement makes a difference with your workforce, call GreenSearch 1-888-375-7787 or email info@greensearch.com
GreenSearch®
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