15 comments

• 

  lruettimann

  7 months ago

  YOU BETTER BE HAPPY BECAUSE YOUR JOB DEPENDS ON IT.
  
  Yikes, this market is so weird and causing people to behave like animals. Who's leading, these days? Not HR.
  reply
• 

  Frank

  7 months ago

  Laurie, I wish I had written that as the headline. Excellent.
  reply
• 

  Ron Ulrici

  7 months ago

  You better change your attitude about this, Frank! (just kidding).
  I used to have a boss that told his staff how to feel all the time - my mother did the same thing when I was a kid. Today, I own my feelings; I just don't share them when I'm feeling down especially in the workplace.
  I also choose to be positive because there is always a pony in that manure pile.
  reply
• 

  Frank

  7 months ago

  Positive works...we're feeling it in our shop...and I think it's contagious. Threatening in happiness...I don't think that ever worked, except in the Court of Louis XIV.
  reply
• 

  rick

  7 months ago

  I agree that the example you gave borders on the insane--or merely stupid. I do however believe that aside from the masses, a company should expect its leaders to speak and act professionally during difficult times. Too often, I see leaders griping in front of the people they are supposed to be setting an example for.
  
  I do not mean that they should freeze a stupid smile on their faces while the company is going through hard times. I do mean that they can share their experiences about having gone through other economic downturns, try to get people to understand and focus on what will add value during this period, what to do and how to act differently than during the boom times, etc.
  I will make fun of some of the more stupid cost cutting policies my company has implemented but in the same moment help those newer in the workforce to understand that doing some of these things is how companies survive when sales and profits are hard to find.
  Companies can expect, and should demand, leadership from its leaders. They should not demand happiness from its workforce.
  reply
• 

  Frank

  7 months ago

  Rick, you're right, I do think there needs to be an expectation of professionalism. Your concluding sentence...brilliance. I'm going to quote you on that. Really brilliant.
  reply
• 

  rick

  7 months ago

  We split proceeds from the bumper stickers. Right?
  reply
• 

  John H.

  7 months ago

  Worked for Vince Lombardi - If you are not fired with enthusiasm, you will be fired with enthusiasm.
  reply
• 

  Frank

  7 months ago

  John, I loved that quote when you first told me it. It's great. Apropos.
  reply
• 

  John H.

  7 months ago

  Although I'm pretty sure you can say whatever you want to motivate when you have a well-documented history of winning and pay in the 99th %ile of all professions.
  reply
• 

  Frank

  7 months ago

  John, you're so right. If you're a superstar business, then it changes things. Someday I'd love to be around that place. ;-)
  reply
• 

  Chris Young

  7 months ago

  Great post Frank - thanks for sharing!
  
  Your story brings up some important issues when it comes to employee morale -- the most important I feel is how HR and leaders in general look at morale and employee engagement from the wrong perspective. These aren't issues that can be "fixed" with a training program or outright threats to an employee's job security. There simply isn't an on/off switch when it comes to employee morale and realizing this is the first step in the right direction.
  
  I have featured your post in my weekly Rainmaker 'Fab Five' blog picks of the week which can be found here: http://www.maximizepossibility.com/employee_ret...
  
  Be well Frank!
  reply
• 

  Frank

  7 months ago

  Thanks very much, Chris. That's an honor.
  
  Morale is going to be a hotter topic as the next year wears on. Engagement will be out...motivation will be in.
  reply
• 

  Mindy Stewart

  7 months ago

  This was a great blog. Thank you for your perspectives. I'm just sorry I am chiming in so late. I didn't see this one until today. I have actually worked for an agency where the Executive Director (he also "handled" HR) actually sent a memo to everyone that stated they weren't able to talk to eachother about work - especially in the bathroom. I couldn't make this up if I tried!
  
  I work with quite a few HR departments around the country on issues of workplace child care and you are right about qualifications. I have found that in most businesses the HR department isn't even trained on important issues in their own field. They are generally the ones who know how to sign up for health insurance and beyond that, they are seen as largely unimportant to the business.
  reply
• 

  Frank

  7 months ago

  Mindy...that memo is a classic. Maybe we should cook up a site that's like Passive-Aggressive notes, only something about "notes from nutty bosses." LOL.
  
  The great HR people I know are business people. They so beyond get it...and they could work anywhere in the company and make a difference. The bureaucrats -- they gotta go. Paper pushers and rule makers are not our friends in this economy...or any.
  
  Thanks very much for chiming in. I appreciate it.
  reply