KEYGroup Newsletter EZINE Archives [back to EZINE archive main page] Issue Number Twelve: December 2005 As we prepare to celebrate various holidays in December, we need to remember that the twelfth month is also a time to celebrate winning. The college football season is coming to a head this month as bowl contenders are chosen, while the NFL playoff picture is starting to become clearer. Victory is in the air as the year draws to a close, and not just on playing fields. Many business and non-profit organizations choose December to recognize the accomplishments of their employees. In fact, a Vibrant Entrepreneurial Organization makes it a special point to celebrate success because a VEO "produces a winning tradition." Why? Because winning is contagious. Employees become addicted to winning and want to repeat the experience. The bad news is that employees can also become trapped in the inertia of losing. Leaders need to ask themselves whether their employees are driven to win, or are they content to merely "get by" and collect paychecks? If your company is stuck in a cycle of lackluster performance, take heart. By helping your team experience a victory or two you will set in motion a new self-perpetuating cycle of winning . . . a cycle that will reinvigorate your financial tradition as well. Success breeds more success. People who become accustomed to winning want to keep on winning. Indeed, losing becomes unacceptable. Winners take losing personally and will do whatever they must in order to avoid it. This is a reality of human nature and one that serves entrepreneurial cultures well. Are Organizations Cutting Down on Celebrations? If recent reports are any indicator, many companies may be cutting back on celebrating. Traditional year-end celebrations that many organizations used to hold for their employees are tapering off, according to a story in USA Today ("Some firms cut back on parties, gifts, bonuses," by Stephanie Armour, November 28, 2005). While a majority of employers (87%) will still hold year-end celebrations, the figure is down from 95% last year. In many cases organizations are throwing the party but eliminating "recognition, attendance and door prizes." However, savvier organizations are changing their year-end practices so they can better recognize employee successes. In the past many organizations offered year-end bonuses to every employee as a vague recognition for overall company success. Yet, even though 60% or organizations surveyed say they are eliminating year-end bonuses, many are instituting tangible recognition for performance, such as cash awards, profit sharing, team incentives and on-the-spot awards. A Vibrant Entrepreneurial Organization doesn't wait until the end of the year to give their employees feedback on performance and recognition for success! Leaders in a VEO make sure that employee feedback is given frequently and personally. While holding year-end award programs may be seem to be more convenient, the point of the recognition may be diluted or even lost. When feedback is on-target, employees understand the meaning of success and feel part of a winning team! Are You Creating a Winning Tradition in Your Organization?In too many organizations successes, victories and accomplishments are either ignored or minimized. Employees who receive little recognition or reinforcement for "winning" risk losing heart and forgetting what it feels like to "score a touchdown." Is your organization building a winning tradition? Are you showing your employees how to duplicate victory? Use the questions below to determine whether or not you are creating a team of winners. Questions for Analysis - Creating a Winning Tradition in Your Company:1.) How frequently do you celebrate success in your organization? 2.) On a scale from 1-10, (10 being highest) how would you rate your employees' persistence to win and achieve success? _______ out of 10 3.) How regularly do the leaders in your organization provide employees with feedback about their performance? 4.) How clear are your employees on the measures of success that your organization uses to keep score of "wins" and "loses?" How to Build a Winning TeamBuilding a winning team doesn't happen overnight (just ask any college or pro football coach). It takes time to cultivate a culture of success and a tradition of winning. But no matter how you approach it, the path to creating a winning team starts with the players. Here are three steps you can take to go from "whining" to winning: Recruit Winners for Your Team -- Create a cycle of winning by seeking out and hiring only the best people. Hire for raw talent and values and character, not just for skill sets. You can teach people the skills they need, but you can't always teach work ethic or integrity or optimism. Consider using proven selection tools and assessments to ensure that you hire the right people for your culture. Focus on Retaining the Best Employees -- Find ways to "keep the keepers." It's difficult and expensive to attract new talent. Likewise, get rid of people who aren't contributing, as they will hamper progress and destroy the morale of your high performers. Celebrate Victories -- Let your people know when they've won. When your company is made up of winners, it will be unstoppable. You will win victory after victory in the marketplace. And that, in turn, will attract more winners to your company. Thus the cycle continues. Take Action to Eliminate the Losers - If winning is not part of your company's current mindset it's time to do something about it today. If you can't reinvigorate a winning attitude within your team you may need to reorganize the team. KEYGroup Make A Resolution to Build a Winning Tradition As 2005 winds to a close many of us begin thinking about forming resolutions to make 2006 a more prosperous and productive year. Here's one that can pay big dividends when you pull it off: resolve to make 2006 the year you build a new tradition of winning for your employee team. If the most important element - celebrating success - stretches you a bit creatively, here is a list of ideas for employee recognition, courtesy of American Express ( www.aeis.com ): Thank you for. . . Congratulations on. . . Recognize and Celebrate Even the Small SuccessesDr. Joanne Sujansky discusses the value of building a winning team and celebrating successes in two The Keys to Mastering Leadership: 101 Practical Tips provides readers with creative tips for leading and inspiring employees. Th
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of her KEYNote series of books. In The Keys to Mastering Leadership she says "Recognize and celebrate even the small successes. This refuels others and lets them know they are appreciated, motivating them toward more success." 
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