By Chris Swistro
As we reach the end of the year and take a moment to
reflect on all the events of 2008, it's hard not to let the
daily media coverage of economic pain and hardship
become the only thing we are able to see and
contemplate. As a small business owner, I, too,
wonder about the future and how my business will
sail through these high seas.
The answer I have found for myself and which I
offer
to you is: choose inspiration. I have been
inspired
by
the many stories I'm hearing about executives making
a difference for themselves and their employees in the
face of economic uncertainty.
Each reiterates the power of communication and
positive thinking to dampen worker anxiety. All concur;
leaders need to communicate their company's
position, strategy and future to their employees on a
continuous basis. Many are going further to divert
attention away from worry and onto the positive, and
these efforts don't need to be expensive. Managers
are boosting morale with a hand-written thank you
note for a job well-done, a worker recognition
celebration, and the creation of in-office
decompression zones - relaxation spaces or
opportunities to laugh. The mind is a terrible thing to
waste on worry. The Boston Business Journal recently
featured a story about an executive who decided to
take a simple step to change minds. Each day, she
says to herself, "This is the best day ever." It's printed
on her office door, and she and a co-worker have
agreed to greet each other with this simple phrase
every day. Seem artificial? Psychologists, successful
entrepreneurs, and executive coaches agree: positive
thinking is not trivial. In fact, it may be the single most
powerful tool available to us to manifest success.
In this season of celebration and reflection, I invite you
to think about how this has been the best year ever -
revel in the successes you've achieved. Find
inspiration - it's all around you. On a recent, rushed
taxi ride to the airport, worried I would miss my flight
and stressed out about an upcoming presentation, I
caught sight of a stand of birches in a wooded area off
the highway. The beauty of their shining white
branches, gracefully reaching up in the wind, stopped
my mind in its tracks as I absorbed their simple
beauty.
So, rein in the personal spending, make a charitable
contribution to the needy if you can, and then turn away
from the anxiety - it is not your friend, and it will not
grow your company, feed the poor, or put money in
your bank account. The option is right in front of you - -
make these the best holidays ever!
Coming up in 2009: Practical Talent
Management
Talent Management is a philosophy and practice
framework optimized to help organizations recruit,
deploy, develop, and retain the best workforce. As
budget belts tighten, effective talent management will
enable managers to do more with less. I recently had
the good fortune to work with thought leaders across
the country to author a white paper called "Poised for a
Talent Management Breakthrough: A discussion of
research, practices, and programs to recruit and
retain a high-productivity workforce." Stay tuned for a
discussion of talent management and how you can
put these techniques to work in your organization.