C’ing Your Way To Success

“To win in the marketplace you must first win in the workplace.”
– Doug Conant, CEO of Campbell’s soup

Is your workplace a winner? Are your employees working to the best of their abilities and in the best interest of your business? The five ‘C’s: clarity, connection, compliment, concern, and collaboration in the workplace can help you win in the marketplace.

Clarity. When an employee knows why they are doing something and can relate it to the company’s goals, it just makes more sense to them. Then they are better able to not only get their job done but also most likely do it better than expected. Make sure you are clear on expectations and what specific steps the employee will need to take to complete each task. Help employees understand the bigger picture. You will see the majority of employees want to be a part of a compelling future. Employees want to feel good about where they work, the products they sell and the reputation of their company. If they are clear about their goals and the company goals, then it is a win for the workplace. Ask the questions, “What do you want from your job, me as your manager, the business/organization?” in order to help your employee identify their clarity and satisfaction. Let them in on what is going on within the company as well as how their jobs contribute to the big picture. When you keep your employees informed, they tend to feel a greater sense of worth.

Connections. Having connections with your employees builds rapport and trust. Make the extra effort to connect on a personal level. Carve out some one-on-one time and offer your undivided attention. Keep lines of communication open. Engaged and connected employees are innovative. They’re always looking for a better way. Set attainable goals for your employees and let them know along the way how it is going.

Compliments. Complimenting your employees and providing consistent feedback to them should be almost a daily occurrence. Employees want the opportunity to develop and improve. Make sure you highlight the positive. Always be on the lookout to catch them doing something right. Pay attention to which employees excel in certain areas and help them foster that growth. Simply by paying closer attention to each employee’s performance, you will find opportunities to praise them. When people know what they’re doing well, they’ll keep doing it and do more of it. Providing someone with a little recognition on what they’re doing well can go a long way toward boosting morale. You do not ignore the weaknesses; you just don’t make the weaknesses the only focus area of feedback. Just make sure you are giving more positive feedback than negative. For every one negative comment you make to an employee, make sure there are at least four good ones. The moment employees understand that they are appreciated and that their efforts matter beyond earning a paycheck, performance will normally increase. Employees need to feel validated and that they are a valued part of your workplace.

Concern. Listen to employees’ opinions and treat their concerns seriously. Ask them, “Is there anything I could do more of, less of, or differently that would improve your job satisfaction?” Make sure the workplace has a good atmosphere. “Is there anything I can do to make your job easier here?” Show care, interest and concern for your employees. Ensure employees have everything they need, from training to supplies, to perform their jobs to the best of their ability. Be open-minded and encourage them to express their ideas and perspectives without criticism.

Collaborating. Encourage team members to take responsibility and work through problems or issues collaboratively. As they say, “There is no ‘I’ in Team.” Working together can only multiply your company’s goals and your bottom line.

As a business owner, make sure to stock up on your ‘C’s as it will go a long way to ‘c’ing your employees and business suCCeed!

Important dates: June 10 – CV Chamber business mixer at Caspian Services.

Please contact our office for more details on any event. How to reach us: (818) 248-4957/ crescentachamber@aol.com / www.LaCrescenta.org / 3131 Foothill Blvd., Ste. D.