Are Your Diamonds Forever?
Malcolm Forbes is quoted as saying, “Diamonds are nothing more than chunks of coal that stuck to their job.”
Most of us have within our organization some real jewels who have stuck it out and stayed with us through thick and thin. We often wish we could clone “Faithful Jane” or “Good Ole Joe.”
Well, we can’t so the next best thing is to cultivate other dedicated employees who will stick with us and will be there when we need them.
Sometimes they need a special work environment, a workplace that is pleasant to come to every day or job routines that are not overly stressful.
To others the attraction to a particular job is the benefits package or perks that are available. While some benefits may not be economically feasible for some providers, many benefits can be structured within a small budget if you shop around for health coverage, retirement plans and other standard employee packages. You never know what will make a difference.
Many office functions can be structured around a flextime schedule. This id very attractive to parents with small children who have difficulty meeting school schedules and child care drop-off and pick-up requirements. Provider business offices, especially small to medium-sided, are under tight financial constraints that make it difficult to compete salary-wise with local industry. However, when a struggling provider is able to improve the bottom line through higher productivity and better recovery, it is time to reward those contributing to the financial improvement in the form of a bonus or incentive pay plan.
Several things contribute to a special work environment:
- Employee contentment.
- Employee motivation.
- Employee satisfaction.
If you measured the above three items in your business office, would the score be high or low? When contented employees feel good about themselves, the work they do and whom they work for, it is much easies to maintain a smoothly running operation. Treat your employees with respect. Develop a caring attitude. Keep them informed. Be approachable, available and interested not distant. Ask for suggestions, and invite new ideas from employees who offer solutions to problems or conditions that affect their work. The success of the business office is everyone’s concern.
Employee motivation is a delicate process. Give employees a share in the decision-making process: if not deciding what is to be done, maybe how, when or in what way it can be done.
Keep employees informed. As policies and rules change, make sure they know why and when. If new performance requirements are established, involve employees in the implementation of the changes.
Recognize your employees’ achievements. Give appropriate praise and recognition for a job well done.
Employee satisfaction is the last step in transforming coal into a jewel.
Make sure successes are shared with each employee. Accolades that come to the department should be distributed among employees. Pride and self-confidence will foster a stronger desire to maintain and achieve even better results for your business operation.
Do a thorough assessment of your business office fixed assets and begin turning coal into diamonds.
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