You’ve invested your nest egg in a small business. Your business plan will work. You have the “fire in the belly” of the emerging entrepreneur. You are not lazy, and you are willing to work around the clock to make your dreams come true. You’ve hired good people, correctly read your success compass or GPD, and are heading in the right direction. You’re a little nervous, but optimistic.
GOOD TALK HABITS AT WORK
So what communication strategies (or “good talk habits”) do real-life entrepreneurs use? I posed that very question to Brenda and Rick Weber, who established and own The Cobblestone Village and Cafe in Waynesville, Ohio. In their own words, they routinely use these seven keys to keep lines of communication open with their employees:
1. MAKE YOURSELF ACCESSIBLE. Routinely ask “How’s it going?” and listen with interest to the responses.
Example: “This is done by checking in with employees daily, maybe several times a day, to let them know you are interested in what they’re doing. That way you don’t isolate yourself in an office everyday.”
2. WORK AS A TEAM WITH EMPLOYEES. Constantly build a “We-Team” and can-do attitude vs. a “Me-Team.”
Example: “We try to do this each day by pitching in and by physically or intellectually helping out wherever help is needed. Do not always be the one who delegates; be the helper too!”
3. INCLUDE EMPLOYEES IN DECISION-MAKING. Especially encourage your quieter employees to speak up.
Example: “The best way this works for us is by addressing job-related problems, improvements, and changes with the employees. Solicit their feedback and solutions, then integrate their ideas with our ideas.”
4. BE FLEXIBLE. Keep focusing on doing what works and making it just a little bit better each day.
Example: “How we do this is by offering different ways or options of achieving the desired result. For instance, if the stockroom needs organized, I let employees pick the best time to do it, as long as it gets finished by the end of the week. Or, I don’t mind if you take a certain day off as long as you work it out with your work partner and let me know.
5. CELEBRATE THE LITTLE THINGS. Celebrate the journey instead of the destination.
Example: “Let employees know you appreciate what they do, and talk about how they do it. If an employee helps you design a Web site for your company and they do a great job, let them know immediately that you love what they have done, and that you really appreciate their talents in this area.”
6. HAVE INTEGRITY. Do what you say you are going to do and be trustworthy.
Example: “We love this one! If you tell an employee that you are going to follow through on something or help them work on a project, then do it! If a circumstance arises so that you cannot participate, then tell them ahead of time instead of just not doing it! Let employees know they can trust you with their confidences.”
7. MAKE IT A FUN PLACE TO WORK. Work is supposed to be fun, challenging, and enjoyable.
Example: “Be happy and positive as a manager or boss. Then fun and happiness will trickle down and follow you everywhere!”
Use these simple yet effective leadership communication secrets as you ride along the two-way communication highway toward a town called Success.
Dennis O’Grady
Dennis O’Grady is the author of Talk to Me: Communication Moves To Get Along With Anyone. He is a Dayton-based corporate trainer and can be reached at www.drogrady.com.