This is something I ask businesses all the time - and the response I get is:- “what do you mean by marbles?”. It’s really easy - marbles are your people - the people you work with and who work for you every day. They are also your customers, and your friends and family.
Marbles come in different sizes, different colours - but they are all marbles. Each one is unique, inexpensive, durable and quite beautiful. Each individual marble plays the game in a slightly different fashion, has a different approach and delivers what you need, but in its own way. Now, if you understand your marbles and how each one works, and you understand how they will work better together - then collectively you can win the game.
"If only it were that simple" - is the response. But it is! It is not hard to find out what makes your people ‘tick', what they enjoy, why they come to work. The key word is ‘understand' your marbles, your people.
Staff morale and employee safisfaction are directly linked to:-
•Productivity
•Rates of absenteeism
•Even creativity within your workplace
How many people do you know of, that have left a workplace because of conflict, poor communication, or because they didn't feel valued? When that employee leaves, part of that organisation leaves with them. You can never quickly replace that level of knowledge - and the cost is often overlooked.
In recent international research, the main reasons staff leave their workplaces were identified as:
•Availability of higher paying jobs
•Organisational Performance
•Organisational culture - reward system, strength of leadership, level of work stress, conflict, low employee morale
•Unrealistic expectations
•Demographics
•The Person - family situation, unsolicited job offer
If you look at that list above, the easiest ones we can change or have influence over are - ‘Organisational culture' and ‘Unrealistic Expectations'. We can start by valuing and understanding our people - and the rest will follow.
It's almost always a surprise when employees hand in their notice. They keep their plans secret because of the lack of trust for their manager and/or management team. They feel that their work will be made difficult or miserable if their manager knows. How many times have your staff felt like they will be labelled a traitor and made to feel guilty for leaving.
It is for good reason that the number one cause of employee dissatisfaction is their relationship with their manager(s). Managers need to be skilled at creating an atmosphere of trust and respect - which helps employees to open up more. Try asking questions like "what do you like most about your job" or "what makes you get up in the morning and come to work". The secret to employee retention is not being a ‘nice' or ‘liked' manager or good role model - it is more about deep and meaningful communication and trust. It is so very important to understand your employee's concerns and their dreams or hopes, to help solve or achieve them.
Low employee morale is also a leading cause of staff turnover - often caused by conflict, poor workplace culture, lack of open and honest processes. Managers should always remember - ‘treat your staff as you would like to be treated', then we will see a difference. Know your marbles so that they can effectively work for you!!!
A colleague of mine recently said to me "first I lost my marbles, then I lost my business" and this colleague has given me permission to use this quote in my business. It is such a poignant statement and helps us remember what is important in our businesses and organisations - it is the people!!
Let's not lose our marbles! Here are 3 action points to improve employee satisfaction in your workplace tomorrow:
1.Find out what makes each of your staff ‘tick' - what do they like and dislike about their work
2.What ideas do they have for the organisation
3.Develop a collective agreement on how staff will treat each other - with integrity, honesty and respect - and make those words visible in the office!
Linda Guirey "The Marbles Expert"
http://lindaguirey.co.nz/