Bandwidth has been a real issue for our team lately. I gotta tell you, I really hate the word, but we are rocking and rolling this year (which is awesome), but our talking about “bandwidth” and capacity issues has really made me think about what it means a lot more. For me personally, it has been a real issue because my family is preparing for a move to Jakarta, Indonesia and my husband is already there. So I am here balancing my growing work calendar, three very active boys and their schedules, as well as trying to prepare for the upcoming move.
I am pretty fortunate that I work for a company that understands what my family and I are going through right now. Does it mean that I get to slack on my responsibilities? No but at least they understand when I say, “I really just can’t do that right now.” And we can count on each other to share the load. When one of us has too much, or is traveling, we rally together to provide our clients and our team the service they need and deserve.
I worked in the operations side of the industry for years and let me tell you, there are times when bosses are not so understanding of all your commitments and the need for you to be Super Employee and Super Mom. Don’t misunderstand me, we are a business and we need everyone to be present to run it, provide great guest service and make our bottom line! And that we do pay them to do so. But with all the expectations we have of ourselves, our families, and each other, how do we manage it all?
The answer, in my opinion, is this: I think I am more productive, will work better and harder when I have someone that understands and has empathy for what I am going through. It is that mentality of “They actually care about me so that makes me care and work harder for them even more.” Just think of how much more invested our team members would be in us and our business if we showed a little compassion and took some time to actually care for them. We all like to feel that we mean something and that giving extra time and hours actually count for something.
We talk about connecting with the people we are selling to all the time, but what about taking the time to connect with the people that work for and with us? Trust me, as a manager some things my employees told me were TMI (too much information!) but I was glad to know what was going on in their lives. It helped me be a better manager because I could foresee scheduling conflicts, handle situations better, know how to speak and react to them and so much more. But in return, my employees felt that I was invested in them and they always rallied as a team to go above and beyond for me and the business.
So I challenge you, I know it is spring break and you are busy but just think of the teens that are giving up their spring break to make your business better; take some time and connect and talk with them. Show them that you appreciate their efforts. I bet it will be one of the biggest returns on your investment.
Share with us how you are connecting with your team members and how that is affecting your day to day operations.
