FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: John Tschohl August, 2008 (952) 884-3311
E-mail: quality@servicequality.com
Note to Editor: Feel free to use all or parts of this news release. John Tschohl also is available for personal interviews. You can contact him at the phone number or e-mail address above.
ARE YOU MAKING YOUR EMPLOYEES SICK?
A new poll indicates bosses might be the cause of an increase in employee sick days.
By: John Tschohl
Results of a recent poll had some rather startling results. After interviewing more than 100,000 people, Healthways, Inc., a disease-management company based in Tennessee, reported that people who are not happy in their jobs take more sick days than those who are. With the rising cost of health care and the impact of health on productivity, results of the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index are significant for employers—and for ineffective supervisors and managers. “The lousy supervisor will no longer be tolerated,” Healthways’ Chief Innovations Officer Bill Gold told a reporter for the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Service quality expert John Tschohl agrees. “It isn’t money or lack of promotions that drive employees away,” he says. “It’s the fact that they work for unbending, unresponsive, dictatorial bosses. They don’t feel valued or respected. Too often people are promoted because of their technical skills, but they don’t have a clue when it comes to motivating and managing people. The cost of their poor interpersonal and managerial skills, in terms of dollars and morale, is impossible to measure.” What can supervisors and managers do to improve those skills and develop and lead a team of employees who are dedicated, loyal—and healthy? Tschohl recommends taking the following steps:
Train yourself and your employees. “Read books on management, buy training programs, enroll in workshops and seminars that will help you become the type of leader you would like to work for,” Tschohl says. “And train your employees. When you invest the time and money to do so, you are letting them know that you value them.”
Communicate clearly—and regularly. “Employees perform best when they know exactly what is expected of them and are given feedback that is specific, sincere, and timely,” Tschohl says. “Two-way communication is important. When you let employees know that you are willing to listen to what they have to say, they will open up to you—and who knows what wonderful ideas they might have to share.” Treat employees with respect. “No matter how menial the job or low the pay, every employee deserves to be treated with respect,” Tschohl says.
Recognize employees. “People need to be caught doing great things,” Tschohl says. “Too often the only time they are recognized is when they make a mistake. But, if you make it a point to praise employees—and do so in public—they will continue to work hard for you. People are hungry for recognition and will accomplish significantly more if they receive it on a regular basis.”
Motivate employees. “Too many managers think money is the ultimate motivator; it isn’t,” Tschohl says. “Nothing is more effective in motivating an employee than a pat on the back, a simply ‘thank you,’ or a public word of praise.”
Coach employees. “If you want to have a winning team, you must coach each member,” Tschohl says. “You must nurture your employees. Recognize their strengths and help them to improve on their weaknesses.”
By taking the steps Tschohl recommends here, bosses not only will improve productivity and employee loyalty to the organization, they will increase their chances of being promoted to even high positions within the organizations. “It’s a win/win situation,” Tschohl says.
John Tschohl is an international service strategist and speaker and founder and president of the Service Quality Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Described by Time and Entrepreneur magazines as a customer service guru, he has written several books on customer service, including Achieving Excellence Through Customer Service, Loyal for
Life, e-Service, The Customer is Boss, and Ca$hing In: Make More Money, Get a Promotion, Love Your Job. The Service Quality Institute has developed more than 26 customer service training programs that have been distributed and presented throughout the world. John’s bimonthly strategic newsletter is available online at no charge.
John Tschohl is an international service strategist. Described by Time and Entrepreneur magazines as a “customer service guru,” he has written several books on customer service, including Achieving Excellence Through Customer Service, e-Service, Loyal For Life, The Customer is Boss, and Ca$hing In: Make More Money, Get a Promotion, Love Your Job.
To be removed from the media release mailing list please email
mediarelease@servicequality.com and type REMOVER in the "subject" line.