Masonry Magazine October 2009 Page. 37
Hard times bring out the best
and worst in people
MASONRY NEWS CONTRACTOR TIP
The current economy hasn't been pleasant for most people who are running a company, or for their employees. When times are good and business is growing, it's easy, because almost everyone is happy. But, when times get tough and hard decisions need made, there's no way everyone will stay "happy." So how do you decide who goes and who stays? I have found that people end up deciding that for you.
First, there are some employees who are behind you, no matter how tough things get. I call them All Stars. Instead of complaining about their jobs and how bad the economy is, they just work harder and will be there when you need them the most. These people believe in you as a leader, know they're doing their part and deserve to continue drawing a pay check. They'll also help you make tough calls regarding layoffs and difficult changes without worrying about their reputation among their co-workers. What a wonderful feeling it is when these people step up to the plate and help your company survive the hard times.
Second, employees who need to be laid off will begin to surface as well. I found this absolutely amazing. These employees know they aren't carrying their load. They sabotage themselves by telling others that they'll probably be getting laid off next. They may even start telling others how much they hate their jobs. That way if they get laid off, they feel justified, because they've convinced themselves they weren't appreciated anyway. (Had I not experienced this firsthand, I could not write a tip about it.)
Thirdly, never keep a bad performer. We've probably all done this. We tolerate and put off the inevitable, for we don't want to face the difficult task of going through the process. While this person may not be as productive as he should be (and everyone sees it), he could still be popular among co-workers. Let me tell you this, the longer the non-performer is with your company, the more damage he can do infecting attitudes of others. It could be unintentional, but still goes on. He is constantly trying to justify his poor performance by telling the rest of your staff how valuable he is. Essentially, he is making his lack of performance look like it is due to the way you run your business. (Wow, am I talking about one of your people, and you just now realized it?)
This economy is a wake-up call to right-size your company. If layoffs need to be made, in the long run, they are good for everyone at your company, ironically, even the ones being laid off. How could that be possible? Well, think about it. If you don't make necessary cuts, you'll go out of business and these same people will never have a chance to get called back. That's not good for your people, your community or for you. If an employee is truly behind you, he will not just be behind you in the good times, but in tough times as well. If he is waiting for better company results to make him happy with his job, he is not sincere and should be on the lay off list. Remember, no matter what decisions you make, someone isn't going to be happy, but that someone's name is not signed to your company's bank notes. It's about survival, not popularity. If you make these hard decisions now, your best performers will keep their jobs and, in turn, so will you.
Damian Lang is a mason contractor in southeast Ohio who has four companies that do combined sales of $20 million. He is the author of the book "Rewarding and Challenging Employees for Profits in Masonry." To order a copy of his book or to attend one of his seminars held specifically for mason contractors, call Sherry Wittekind at Lang Masonry, 740-749-3512.
Provided by Damian Lang, President of Lang Massery Contractors, Inc., and EZ Grout Corp.
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