No Dress Rehearsal!

Maybe our workplaces have been in “dress rehearsal” mode for the past couple of years…think about it! The run of a very successful show came to an end (with the recession) and the preparation for a new show (the upturn) now brings change and a “new normal” - new scripts, new roles, a change in directors/producers, renewed focus on advanced ticket sales, realigning budgets, and, above all, working the new and existing cast members very hard – all in anticipation of another opening night and successful run!

Will the cast’s “top performers” stay if they are not led and directed effectively? Asked to play too many roles without the proper training or sufficient number of supporting cast members? Will patrons (customers) continue to buy tickets and refer others if the box office delivers poor service or is closed most of the time due to budget cuts?  I think not!

We’re hearing more about the early stages and signs of an economic recovery. One sign of better economic times is when more people start finding jobs. Another is when they feel confident enough to quit their current job - yes, I said quit!

Take a look at some recent findings:

• According to numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the quits rate — defined as the percentage of people who have voluntarily left their jobs — has crept steadily upward in private industry over the past year. In April 2010, nearly 2.1 million people voluntarily left their jobs, up dramatically from just the prior month, when 1.5 million quit.
• Recent data from the Kenexa Research Institute's WorkTrends database, an annual survey of approximately 11,000 workers, the global rating of leadership effectiveness is 51 percent. Indian and Brazilian workers reported the highest ratings (69 percent and 59 percent, respectively) followed by workers in the United States (54 percent).
• Another survey published in the May edition of the Harvard Business Review, about 25 percent of companies’ top employees said they plan to leave their current job with a year. The survey questioned 20,000 workers who were identified as “high potential” by their employers.

Think about your answers to the following questions…

• Can your organization afford to lose you or even one of their top 25% now that we’ve come through the worst? 
• How have survivor syndrome (doing more with less) and the lack of positive, effective leaders/managers affected performance, results, and growth – personally and organization-wide?
• How has the pull back of training dollars for essential skill-building, leadership and professional development programs affected long-term, sustainable growth – employee attraction and retention at all levels, market share, and bottom-line results? 
• Have we cut back too far? Have we been and are we continuing to be “penny-wise and pound-foolish?”

The Bottom-Line: Leaders and managers, listen up! You have the power to create a workplace environment that will attract top talent, drive engagement and boost retention. There is a direct link to improved results, higher bottom-line performance, earnings per share and total shareholder return. It’s proven!

Ever looking at the bright side, I see good news in all of this! It’s time to turn up the dimmer switch once again! The “new normal” brings opportunities for all organizations at all levels – it’s time to rebalance and reprioritize – Now! This is “no dress rehearsal!”

• Employees, the #1 asset of any organization have realized their potential; are willing to invest in themselves and work hard; will expect more from their employers regarding professional development and career opportunities.
• Managers/Leaders – All Employers will hopefully realize they need to invest in the future of their organizations by reallocating budget dollars for leadership and professional development programs and motivational conferences – for all levels of employees.
• People Looking for New Jobs have worked very hard at getting ready for the upturn! They have re-invested in themselves - created a re-freshed life/career plan; re-built core and technical skills, and more…As others choose to move on, let’s open the doors and windows of new opportunity to these “employees-in-waiting.”

The road to results is through our employees!  Having the right people in the right jobs at the right time…This is no dress rehearsal!  The show must go on…Now!

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Stay tuned for next month’s edition…

MJ Paris

P.S. Do you know someone who needs "Positive Energy" in their workplace? Feel free to forward this issue to friends, family and colleagues!

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About MJ

Mary Jane (MJ) Paris brings a broad base of experience in management, leadership and employee development gained from more than 25 years in sales management, retail banking, training, recruiting, project management, event planning and community leadership.
Her common sense approach and practical experience combined with her dynamic presentation skills provide a solid foundation for understanding her client’s needs and challenges.

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