Lately in my work to help individuals and organizations take quality progressive steps, answering questions like: “What do you do best?…What do people expect from you?”…or mostly: “What do YOU stand for?” became a reoccurring challenge.  Now don’t misunderstand the issue!  The people and groups are doing fine in their services/products arena…but in their attempt to be “everything to everyone” …they have lost their core identity.  So this week’s TRIPLE III TIME message offers up a few ideas (yes a TOP 10) to help determine: “What do YOU stand for?”

1. Are you the person who arrives to work early everyday to make sure the workplace is open and ready?
2. Does everyone know that you are the one at the end of a meeting that always has one more question…just to make sure everyone is clear on objectives?
3. Do you make sure that workplace looks new and “fresh” so customers feel that you are not selling “old news”?
4. Are you the tough person…the “bean counter” that ensures you get what you are paying for?
5. Are you the best “greeter” who welcomes customers, colleagues, suppliers and partners in person, on the phone or via email?
6. Do you ensure that you/your workplace follows a “promise-made-promise-kept” customer service philosophy?
7. Are you the person people inside and outside of your organization seek out to really talk about action and what should we do?
8. Are you the innovator/creative person that pushes to find that “always a better way” option?
9. Are you the one that encourages everyone to advertise and DO five things GREAT….rather than attempt to do twenty things half way?
10. Are you the “second banana” in an organization that feels unappreciated…but is really recognized as the true “follow-through” person?

Please take some time to determine and maybe re-introduce YOUR core identifiers…and those that truly represent your organization.  Because I believe it is really true…that if you don’t stand for something…you don’t stand for anything.

The John Deere tagline, “Nothing Runs Like a Deere” didn’t always exist. “Although the company has grown, it has always stayed true to its core values – integrity, quality, commitment, and innovation. This commitment is what distinguishes the company in such a competitive marketplace and drives higher levels of performance.” read more from The Legacy of the John Deere Tagline

Photo via www.si.com

Most of the time when you hear the word momentum used it is somehow connected with sports.  Whether it is an announcer highlighting when a basketball team goes on a 18-to-2 scoring run over its competition…or when a boxer wins a series of rounds and truly has his or her opponent “on-the-ropes”! But this TRIPLE III TIME message will stress that momentum is also something felt and experienced in the fields of organizational and personal development.

During my Director years I used to refer to momentum as the “Whatever I touch turns to gold” moments.  For example, there were times when we were lucky enough to win a special grant…that we simultaneously (or soon after) sought and won another.  Likewise, there were many situations that as we introduced a new, innovative approach in our world-of-work, our creative initiative often paved the way to one or two other fun, cool opportunities.  In hindsight, at no time did I/our organization think about the developmental MOMENTUM our action brought forth.  Rather our mindset was that these were just “the right things to do”.

BOTTOMLINE:  Do not ever underestimate the existence and benefit of Organizational & Personal MOMENTUM.  It begins with encouraging and building on a positive, progressive action…no matter how big or small.  Then the “let’s do more” attitude/approach becomes instantly contagious.  The result is a drive to preserve that “whatever I touch will turn to gold” MOMENTUM that is felt by you, your co-workers and your organization.

Each week as I consider what topic to discuss in this TRIPLE III TIME message space, it is fun when a topic seemed to find me.  In a number of friend, colleague and even family conversations, the issue of workplace morale was raised and stressed as a common problem.  “At an all-time low”…“Even the normally happy ones are lack-luster”…and “Maybe we should hire a Morale Officer to help”…are all real time quotes about the challenge of low morale in the workplace.

So armed with this documented need for Inspiring Innovations Advisor assistance, outlined below are my TOP 10 duties for the Morale Officer position:

1. Instruct everyone to smile…a lot!
2. Meet with co-workers to resolve workplace feuds…before bringing in the “higher-ups”
3. Recommend actions to meet customers in ways that promote helpfulness, energy and possibilities.
4. Direct staff to regularly ask questions about changes in work expectations and problems.
5. Form teams to come up with new cool product and service options.
6. Discuss methodologies on how to create the habit of finishing each day on a good note…and starting FRESH the next day.
7. Hold a workshop with all employees on how to eliminate workplace “hiding-spots”.
8. Institute a policy to require co-workers to take turns sharing a “good story” about a work issue each week…rather than repeating bad story news.
9. Have each employee take a pledge to “Not Watch the Clock”. Running from responsibility does not build morale.
10. Bring in the New York Times (or local paper) to assist in developing ways to constructively BRAG about your business/organization and the products/services you offer.

***OK…Now tell me which of these TOP 10 shouldn’t be in YOUR job description.