Maestro Quality Newsletter Issue 4 – June 2008

Maestro: Did you Look Forward to Going to Work Today?

Patricia’s Notes

I would like to thank you for your continued interest in staying connected and being a valuable reader of “Maestro’s Notes” e-newsletter.

To enhance our effectiveness and better serve clients and readers, we are moving our e-zine services to 1Shopping Cart, a leader in delivery of e-newsletters, e-books, and other online products.

How this will affect you!
In the next week, you will receive an opt-in message from 1Shopping Cart. When you receive this message, simply click on the link provided in the email.

What’s in it for you!
After you click on the link, you will receive a confirmation message from me with a link to download my gift to demonstrate my appreciation for your loyalty.

1. Carve Out Your Own Workplace Reality: Develop Your Personal Quality System. 12 page PDF e-book

2. Personal Quality & Best Practices Workbook. Newly released. Five page PDF workbook complementing the e-book.

The e-book and workbook form an integral part of the Personal Quality Branding, 90 Day Program. Value: Priceless!

Take advantage of my offer while it is a gift to existing subscribers.

I look forward to sharing information, ideas, and tips on how to make your workplace a better place for everyone and have your company recognized as one of the BEST places to work in Canada.

Please contact me personally at patricia@maestroquality.com, if you have any questions. I would love to hear from you!

Warm regards,

Patricia A. Muir, ACC
President
www.maestroquality.com

Feature Article

Did you look forward to going to work today?
The Globe and Mail recently published the 2008 list of 50 Best Workplaces in Canada. Great working environments are now such a hot topic that G&M publishes the list annually as a Special National Report.

What I find most intriguing about this report is the top 10 ranking. Nine out of top 10 are in service-related industries:

• Information Technology – Software
• Advertising and Marketing
• Professional Services – Consulting Engineers; IT Consulting; Management Consulting
• Financial Services & Insurance
• Real Estate

Eight of the top 10 are privately owned and employ a range of 56 to 296 employees.

We can form many different conclusions and opinions based on this list. I would like to share a few of mine.

• These employees are engaged in an environment that promotes and enhances creativity both in how they perform their job and how they add value to their organization, their colleagues, and their clients. What fun that must be! Rewarding. Meaningful.
• These employees are not motivated solely by security or money. These industries are demanding, ever-changing, and do not attract nine-to-fivers. Employees in these industries “watch-the-clock” for one reason only; to ensure that they reach their objectives for time-management and create added value through lean and consistent processes. They commit the time necessary to get the job done right and to serve with pride. They make the commitment because they love what they do and feel aligned with the values of their colleagues and their organization.
• These organizations are led by “entrepreneurial owners”. They are what I call BIG “V” vision people. They are passionate about their Vision and communicate their Vision every day to everyone they meet through words and through aligned action. They truly believe and demonstrate that employee talent is THE greatest asset and resource in a service-related workplace. They are fiercely respectful and protective of their employees’ talent and their ongoing ability to contribute. Their employees are clear about where their Executive Leaders want to go and they are proud to follow.

According to Great Place to Work® Institute (GPTW), when employees of the 50 Best Workplaces in Canada were asked if they look forward to coming into work, 84% said yes! By comparison, only 34% of respondents answered favorably to a related question in a national workforce survey.

People Practices
The Globe and Mail report is sprinkled with creative people practices that contribute to making the workplace a better place for everyone. The following are a few key opportunities and examples of how my clients are working towards recognition as a great place to work.

• Daily Recognition, Appreciation, and Celebration: What can you do to foster a culture of daily recognition, appreciation, and celebration of excellent work? Some organizations encourage a sincere “thank-you” practice that includes peer-to-peer at every level of the organization.

One client practises daily celebration of what went well to encourage employees to come to work with enthusiasm and leave work feeling fulfilled.

• Inspiring Work Environment (Physical Spaces): Respect and appreciation for our home environment and our community inspires us to “want” to come home. How would the same principles in your Work environment community inspire employees to “want” to come to work?

One client involves their employees in Spring clean-up and landscaping which involves a little bit of time off regular duties with big returns. Another invests a reasonable amount each year for employees to decorate their lunch and reading room. The employees invest the sweat-equity. The cooperative investment inspires respect, pride, camaraderie, and a fresh look every year.

• Going Green: Every little bit helps. What steps can you take to minimize your organization’s carbon footprint? In addition to reviewing the effectiveness of my recycling habits, I am reducing my carbon footprint by contributing to “zerofootprint” whenever I purchase flight tickets. To learn more, click on http://www.zerofootprint.net/.

One client is responding to the rise in fuel prices by introducing a summer pilot program of flexible hours. This requires a new level of trust between management and employees. However, by implementing core hours and cooperative scheduling to serve customers, this client expects to benefit from reduced employee financial and commuter stress, increased employee job satisfaction, and a sense of making a difference collectively and individually to protect the environment.

At the very heart of these initiatives is TRUST and RESPECT. Changes in the 21st Century require and contribute to high-trust and respectful relationships at every level within and even outside the organization.

The 20th Century polarized motivators of more money and fear of losing a job are no longer effective in sustaining the workforce. Employees now want to be inspired, trusted and respected. They want to work for the BEST organization. They want to follow GREAT leaders. They want to look forward to going to work everyday.

What is your management team doing to step up to the call for great leaders and a great place to work?

For more information on how this material can be used to support the coaching process with your management team, contact patricia@maestroquality.com

Resources

To learn more about the 2008 Best Workplaces in Canada featured in the Globe and Mail, click here to download the PDF compliments of Great Place to Work® Institute.

To learn more about how your organization can prepare and submit an application for 2009 Best Workplaces in Canada, contact patricia@maestroquality.com

What I am currently reading:
” A New Earth, Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose” by Eckhart Tolle, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of The Power of Now. If you have not yet heard the buzz about this book, it is a must-read pre-requisite to any journey of personal and professional growth. The concept of living “in the now” may be perceived as profoundly spiritual and it is just that. However, the off-shooting benefits are multi-dimensional and powerful in every part of life. I strongly recommend keeping this book handy for when your mind starts running those dated scripts that hold you back from building a better world for yourself and everyone around you.

Use and Distribution of Articles

Want to use the feature article on your website or your own e-newsletter? You’re welcome. However, we do require that you distribute in its entirety without alteration and include the appropriate copyright and following bio with live web site links. Please notify us where the material will appear.

Copyright © 2008 Patricia A. Muir, ACC, President of Maestro Quality Inc. www.maestroquality.com.

Patricia A. Muir works with service sector organizations that aspire to be recognized for best practices in leadership and quality of life in the workplace. Her company, Maestro Quality Inc., consults and coaches service sector companies in implementing programs that achieve recognition and awards for being the best service providers and employers in their industry and community.

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