Time to Hunker Down

The holidays are but a memory, the Super Bowl has ended the NFL season, and even January White Sales are a thing of the past. Spring Training and March Madness are a tantalizing month away. Most of the country is locked inside the grip of winter’s snow, ice, slush, gray, and chill. This time of year is kind of a bummer.

It’s a great time to hunker down and be productive at work! C’mon, what else is there to do? You have finished all the end-of-calendar-year insanity, like annual reviews, evaluation of performance against goals, bonus recommendations, and analysis of actual spending against budgets. It’s been over a month since you rang in the New Year with an exhausted sigh. Now it’s the Chinese Year of the Rabbit – so get hopping!

With a fresh budget, newly established goals, and fewer fun distractions, it’s time to hunker down and be productive. You’re already well into the first quarter of the year, and you need something to show for it. Be sure your goals are prioritized, that your team understands where to spend their individual and collective energy, and has bought into the importance of project deadlines.

Don’t forget… People may still feel a little let down after the end of the year. You can do something for them that costs you nothing. Express kind thanks for their efforts and earned results. Be specific about what you appreciate. They need to know that what they do is noticed, and not taken for granted. You would be surprised at the positive impact that can come from a little kindness and recognition. I once delivered hand-written, personalized Thank You notes to everyone on my project team. Many of those notes were displayed on cubical walls for years afterward.

Pulling together to accomplish goals and celebrating successes is what builds a team. Take advantage of the natural lull in the air this time of year to hunker down and get things done.

Encouraging Productivity Like Farmers Do

I just read an article that summarized a surprising study published in an academic journal called Anthrozoos. The research showed that “by giving a cow a name and treating her as an individual, farmers can increase their annual milk yield by almost 500 pints”. Some quick Googling and calculating of my own revealed that 500 pints reflects approximately a 3.4% increase in productivity. That's fairly good payback from a little free bovine TLC.

To me, the report was not only interesting, but oddly heartwarming. Even cows (who my husband sadly assures me are not the brightest of God’s creatures), respond to being treated as more than a number. It made me think of those commercials for California Cheese, whose tag line is, “Great Cheese Comes from Happy Cows”.

Immediately I made the connection to management practices… If even cows are more productive when called by name and treated with empathy, why don’t all managers understand how important it is to interact with their employees with personal warmth and respect?? You don’t have to be friends with everyone with whom you work. I understand that you don’t necessarily even like everyone with whom you work. But we all respond better to a little kindness, recognition, and appreciation.

Wandering through the office giving a distracted nod to your co-workers does not create relationships nor build a team. Even a hearty “thank you” doesn’t cut it, without personalizing your appreciation to make it meaningful. Let people know you see them as individuals! Make it your business to know enough and be perceptive enough to be able to show a little personal interest.

“Susan, I was impressed by your preparation for yesterday's meeting."
“Mark, I heard you just got back from vacation. Did you enjoy your visit with your family in Florida?”
“Tracy, I heard you made those cookies in the break room.  They were awesome.”
“Bill and Martha, you did an incredible job resolving that issue yesterday. I really appreciate all the time and effort you put into taking care of the customer.”

Your job as a manager is more than planning, scheduling, writing reports, facilitating meetings, and responding to email. You are responsible for guiding and nurturing the growth of your team. It can be one of the more rewarding aspects of your career. Start by knowing – really knowing – who your players are and what they bring to the table. Call them by name. Recognize and express appreciation of their accomplishments. Show that you are paying attention.

Dairy farmers know how to encourage enhanced productivity, greater employee job satisfaction, and the respect and loyalty of their herd. So do we.