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The day I left the comfort of my old job is that day I decided to jump. I was stuck in a dead-end job with a micromanager who kept blocking my attempts to move up. That fateful day, I sat with my resignation letter second guessing myself if I really should do this. I had been planning my exit for months, but it seemed the circumstances were never perfect. But I knew it was now or never.

The biggest challenge we all face throughout our career is to be brave enough to walk away when we are in situation that does not contribute to our growth and development. Speaking from experience, it’s a scary decision. Change, no matter how big or small, will always be surrounded by some form of doubt. Warning – do not listen to them.

Jump!

Go where you are celebrated, not tolerated. If they can’t see the real value of you, it’s time for a new start.

We spend over half of our lives at work. We all want a job that gives us a sense of fulfillment at the end of the day. Life is too short to put up with a job you dislike or a boss who treats you poorly. No amount of money can compensate for a toxic culture.

The truth is if you keep on doing the same thing time and time again, you will keep on achieving the same results. So, instead of complaining about your job – take action.

Too many of us are hanging around in places, relationships, jobs where we are not being valued – where the life is literally being sucked out of us. Why? Because of fear or lack of confidence in ourselves and in our abilities. We convince ourselves that we can stay in a job that makes us unhappy because we need the income or because we don’t believe we can find another job. But the truth is spending too much of it in a bad situation will make you miserable and it can affect your health.

Change is scary, but there are really great positions/great companies out there. Know your worth. Even when the current situation tries to make you think otherwise.

” There is freedom waiting for you, On the breezes of the sky, And you ask “What if I fall?” Oh but my darling, What if you fly?” – Erin Hanson

I would like to let every single person know that it is possible to replace your job. You don’t have to stay stuck in a dead-end job that consumes your life. Although the job market is tough, start taking small steps to where you want to be. You deserve so much better! Send out resumes, take courses online, learn new skills and make sure to network. Maybe it’s even time to start your own business. Life is too short for anything else.

Check out my latest Bestselling Book

 Leading the Workforce of the Future

Employees are a company’s greatest asset. Yet many companies treat their employees poorly. Sadly, our system has fallen into a self-reinforcing command loop construct as follows: Increase shareholder value at all costs without regard for the human factor.

The greatest investment you can make is in people. Employees are the backbone of any organization. According to research conducted by Gallup, disengaged employees cost companies $450-to-$550 billion in lost productivity each year as a result of poor performance and high absenteeism. Investment in people improves the performance of the organization. Additionally, developing staff is one of the most effective motivator for retaining them. One of the top reasons employees leave a company is the lack of development opportunities. Employees can interpret an employer’s unwillingness to invest in training as a disregard for their professional development.

Research shows, there is an economic link between employee satisfaction and company financial performance. A happy workplace culture does translate into better stock returns. Happy Employees = Happy Customers = Happy Shareholders.

Train people well enough so they can leave, treat them well enough so they don’t want to. – Richard Branson

Your front-line employees know your customers best; they interact with them daily. They have the answers on how to improve customer service and your products. They use your internal tools and systems every day. They have the solutions on how to improve systems which can save money by driving efficiencies. When you empower employees, you promote vested interest in the company. This allows creativity and innovation in the workplace which is necessary to succeed in today’s volatile marketplace.

Your employees are your most valuable asset – Don’t take them for granted or treat them poorly. They are your best brand ambassadors. Employees who have been pushed to the point where they no longer care, will not go the extra mile. They will not take the initiative to solve problems. They will end up treating customers the same way you treat them.

If you believe, that employees are your most valuable asset, you will create a healthy work atmosphere and provide them with the tools and support to do their jobs effectively.

Instead of just focusing on the bottom-line; Why not invest in the people responsible for the bottom-line? At the University of Pennsylvania, researchers discovered that businesses that spent 10% of their revenue on capital improvements saw a 3.9% productivity increase. But get this—when that same 10% was invested in employees, productivity went up 8.5%.

Employees are the heart beat of the company. And if the heart stops beating…What will happen?

Check out my latest Bestselling Book

 Leading the Workforce of the Future

Listening is the most important skill a leader can master. It is the basis of so many other skills and traits that make up a leader. However, it is a tough skill to master as it requires us to be more present, attentive, engaged, open and flexible. Good listening skills in this digital era, due to information overload and shortened attention span, is fast becoming an endangered species. Listening involves paying and making nonverbal cues, appropriate to what is being said.

Many of us are guilty of starting a conversation and putting a thought or question out there, but we don’t give ourselves a chance to listen to what others have to say because we never stop talking, or we are so busy formulating our reply to what we assume they will say. Don’t just listen with the outer ear but with the inner ear. Listen with the intent to hear and understand.

The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t said. – Peter Drucker

Listening forms the foundation of good relationships. Why? Because it shows you care. Empathy and listening go hand in hand. You can’t display empathy or emotional intelligence if you do not listen. The quality of our listening determines the quality of our influence. Employees want to be heard and they want to be respected. Listening transmits that kind of respect and builds trust. This leads to more motivated and committed team members.

On average, we retain just 25 percent of what we hear, which is because of our busyness and lack of listening skills. What is your speaking to listening ratio? Listening is crucial to gaining a complete understanding of situations. Without this full understanding, one can easily waste everyone’s time by solving the wrong problem or merely addressing a symptom, not the root cause.

Titans as Blackberry, Kodak and Nokia have paid the price for leaders who refused to listen. Their leaders operated in a bubble and engaged in group think. The greater your success, the more you need to stay in touch with fresh opinions and perspectives and welcome honest feedback. Listening is the best way to know about your clientele needs to create a successful strategy. Raw truth is needed to make well-informed decisions and steer the organization in the right direction. Good leaders are active listeners.

” Leaders who don’t listen will eventually be surrounded by people who have nothing to say.” –Andy Stanley

It’s no secret that knowledge and wisdom are not gained by talking, but by listening. Listening includes listening to that “still inner small voice”. If something is wrong, just don’t try to justify it. Even if you get away with it for a time, eventually the piper must be paid. True integrity starts with listening.

As a leader, your job is to encourage others around you to be open and honest without a negative consequence. Listening leads to personal awareness and growth. If you do not listen, you will not grow. Additionally, when employees offer their ideas and differing opinions – be open-minded. It is always valuable to listen to your employees. The ground reality is very different from what you may think. It’s more realistic and practical

Poor communication comes with a high price tag. It accounts for businesses losing millions of dollars each year. Companies that remain strong in this competitive market, understand the need to embrace change and continuous improvement. More than ever, leaders will need to master the skill of “Lead with Listening.” The success of your business will depend on it!

Check out my latest Bestselling Book

 Leading the Workforce of the Future

According to Gallup’s research, 85% of employees are not engaged or actively disengaged at work. One reason for this is, many employees feel like their boss does not respect or appreciate them. The truth is great leaders don’t talk down to their employees or make them feel inferior. They make everyone that they come in contact with, feel like they are the most important person in the room. Great leaders are in the construction not the demolition business. They build people up.

Leadership is about inspiring greatness in others. The true measure of a leader is revealed in how they treat others. Show respect, not just for your employees, but all those you come in contact with, inclusive of the kitchen attendant, janitor, security guard…etc. Your real character is revealed in how you treat those who you think can do nothing for you.

Bill Nuti former CEO at NCR Corp – While the company’s revenues grew to $6.2 billion in 2013 from $6.0 billion in 2012, employees showed a strong dislike of their CEO, Bill Nuti. One current employee, while commenting on Glassdoor, wrote to upper management, “We carry your water every day, and you disrespect us every day, we’re just your minions. You put out surveys, obviously you pay no attention to them or things would begin changing.

“I am not impressed by your money, title or position. I am impressed by how you treat others.”

You can demonstrate respect with simple, yet powerful actions. These ideas will help you avoid needless, insensitive, unmeant disrespect to employees.

• Treat everyone with courtesy, politeness, and kindness.
• Listen to what others have to say before expressing your viewpoint. Never speak over, or cut off another person.
• Use employee’s ideas to change or improve work.
• Grant employees autonomy — give them room to get the work done.
• Never insult people, use name-calling or belittle anyone.
• Recognize and appreciate, much more frequently than you criticize.
• Respect employees’ personal time. Avoid calling them after work hours or constantly expecting them to work late.
• Show empathy especially when you know an employee is facing a difficult situation.

Two of the most basic human desires are validation and appreciation — we need to feel like we matter. People want to feel appreciated, respected and like they belong. There can be no loyalty without mutual respect. Let every employee know how important and valued they are. It starts by treating them with respect. Respect is a cornerstone of meaningful work. Implemented consistently at work, these respectful actions ensure a respectful, considerate, professional workplace that can help increase employee morale, engagement and loyalty.

Check out my latest Bestselling Book

 Leading the Workforce of the Future

I can never forget my first boss, Joseph. When I had a personal crisis the first thing he told me was, “Why aren’t you out the door yet, I’ll cover for you.” He was concerned about my well-being. He genuinely cared about his employees. These are the bosses we remember.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to sweeping changes and disruptions in nearly every aspect of our daily life. More than ever managers need to be considering the well-being of their employees. Remember these are not normal circumstances.

Your employees are operating in a crisis. They are:

1. Fearful, anxious and worried.

2. Kids are at home.

3. Running to the store for essential supplies.

4. Under lockdown – Social isolation.

5. Trying to be safe and secure for themselves and vulnerable family members.

6. Grieving- People they know may be succumbing to this virus and they can’t say their final goodbyes.

Empathy is always important, but it is particularly vital during a crisis.

“To be kind is more important than to be right. Many times, what people need is not a brilliant mind that speaks but a special heart that listens.” ~F. Scott Fitzgerald 

You can show empathy and kindness by:

• Frequently checking in with your employees. In this time of physical distancing people want to feel connected. Take the time to listen. Empathy and listening go hand in hand.
• Being understanding. Don’t be quick to criticize others without making the effort to understand how their situation is impacting their choices. Try to remember that everyone copes differently.
• Offering support. “What can I do to help?” Be genuine and follow through.
• Showing that you care. If someone has a sick family member, be empathetic.
• Being considerate. People still want to feel appreciated. If they mention they are out of something. Why not order it through online delivery and send it over?

You may be a manager but above all, you are a human being. It is important to remember that we are in this together—think of others, reach out however you can, and remember to offer help even to those who may seem to be coping well. Be flexible and compassionate. In this COVID-19 pandemic we don’t need numbers-driven but human-centred leadership. We need leaders with a heart for people.

Check out my latest Bestselling Book

 Leading the Workforce of the Future