‘Do Unto Others…’ – The Golden Rule in the Workplace

What are the things you look for in your job? What makes you want to get to the office in the morning?

Think about that for a second. Better yet, take a moment to jot down the answers that come to mind.

What did you write? Chances are that making money wasn’t the only thing on your list. Job challenge, work relationships, the appreciation of peers, team leaders and supervisors – those provide satisfaction that can’t be measured in dollars.

What do you think is important to the people who work for you? Are the reasons they come to work likely to be very different from your own? Whatever the job rank, all people desire similar things from employment. Grasping that fact, and making decisions accordingly, puts you paces ahead of employers who just don’t get it.

Employee retention depends on this understanding. Accenture conducted a study of 500 full-time middle managers in the United States and found them all either looking, or planning to look, for another job. That tells us business is failing to meet the needs of the people it depends on. Business itself suffers the brunt of the consequences.

As Generations X and Y move up and into the workforce, the interpersonal and spiritual aspects of employment will rise in importance. Younger people tend to base job decisions on factors other than money. Respect, expressed appreciation for a job well done, shared values, a homey work environment, flexibility in hours and scheduling, joviality and emotional security in the workplace – such are the factors that increasingly drive the movement or secure the stability of our younger human resources.

Think about what you want from your job, then think how to give the same to your people. The more you understand the similarities between you and your employees, the better you’ll relate to their needs. That will pay off in better productivity, reduced absenteeism, and fewer losses of valued staff. It won’t hurt your reputation with the home team either.

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