According to Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman, when most employees agree with eleven statements about their work, the company has a strong workplace. The statements are contained in the first pages of their 1999 book, First, Break all the Rules. Although written before the dot.com bust and the 2008 recession, the statements still make a lot of sense—enough for you to pay attention to them now.
As your organization recovers from the recession and you begin to rehire, give some thought to the principles in these statements and make your team even stronger. Would your employees say they agree with them? If so, then you will enjoy better productivity, profitability, retention levels, and customer ratings.
Here are the statements:
1. I know what is expected of me at work.
Comment: Written job descriptions covering responsibilities and authority along with a definition of satisfactory performance are a good first step.
2. I have the equipment and material I need to do my work right.
Comment: Ask them, because sometimes an inexpensive tool can significantly reduce cost.
3. At work I have the opportunity to do what I do best every day.
Comment: Not every task falls into this category, but avoid putting square pegs in round holes.
4. In the last seven days I have received recognition or praise for good work.
Comment: If you have the first 3 statements covered, then there will be opportunity to give honest praise. Never “fake” it.
5. My supervisor or someone at work seems to care about me as a person.
Comment: Perception is reality. Be alert to what employees tell you about themselves and follow up with them if appropriate.
6. Someone at work encourages my development.
Comment: Are you growing the skills within your team? Find opportunities to give career growth education to deserving employees.
7. At work my opinions seem to count.
Comment: Listen with sincerity and understand what your team members are saying, even if you disagree or if the idea is impractical.
8. The mission/purpose of my company makes me feel my work is important.
Comment: First: is your mission communicated clearly and repeatedly? Second: does it express the reason you exist and does it show that your business meets a true need?
9. My co-workers are committed to doing quality work.
Comment: Correct hiring mistakes promptly and use assessment tools to be sure you bring in people who fit your company culture and values.
10. I have a best friend at work.
Comment: Maybe this seems unimportant or silly, but imagine if you were isolated from everyone else at work. People are social animals and need each other. Create an environment where team members can build friendships.
11. In the last six months I have talked to someone about my progress.
Comment: If you write job descriptions, then you owe it to your employees to evaluate them and to talk with them about their future in the company.
Use these statements for a little self-analysis. How are you doing as a leader? While you may disagree with the importance of some of the statements, they describe a good work environment. If you are deficient in one or two of these, make it a point to work on them. But be subtle; big changes in the boss’s behavior can be unsettling to team members.
These statements describe many of the things that, according to Buckingham and Coffman, the world’s greatest managers do differently. It is worth considering how to make them a part of your workplace.
