There are dozens of surveys done in Canada every year that measure how people feel about their workplace and some that try to separate out the “best” or “great” places to work. What every single one of them find is that it isn’t about how much money people make, although that’s a consideration and it isn’t about the in-house gym, although that’s nice. It almost always comes down to a simple matter of trust.
The Great Place to Work Institute has been surveying employees and employees around the world in 29 countries, including Canada, for over 20 years. What they found is that there are a number of underlying factors that make a great place to work but that every “great” workplace has what they identify as a high-trust environment. They go further by identifying what they have observed are the three core dimensions of trust as credibility, respect, and fairness.
And employers who work at these three elements of trust get two bonuses from their employees as a result of their efforts, a sense of camaraderie between workers and pride in their work. These two side-benefits in turn spin a sense of goodwill and positive morale that makes a good workplace grow into its greatness. And the good news just gets better. A high trust workplace is not only a great place to work but it has been proven to be one of the highest performing as well. This is true wherever it has been measured and is reflected in everything from staff retention to profitability.
Trust can be built, grown, and maintained through solid management policy and direction and at its’ simplest trust means that an employee knows what to expect and what is expected of them at work. They have the security and freedom to take the strategic risks that can improve an organization’s performance and can trust that what is told to them one day will remain consistent until they get informed that things have changed.
An example of a high trust workplace that I noticed a few years ago was the Delta Hotel chain. I noticed an ad in the elevator one day that said if I had a problem, any problem, I could approach any staff member at the hotel, and if they could they had the Power to fix my problem or bring it to someone who could. The managers at that hotel had given their on the ground staff the trust that they needed to take a risk and fix a problem. I loved the idea and so did the staff I talked to.
The final two things about trust are that it must be earned, slowly and over time. And that trust can easily be broken. So if you want to start building a great workplace, start small and build it together as a team. Then be consistent as you practice giving and using trust in your day to day work. It may feel a little uncomfortable at first but that’s only because it may be new. Try it for a while and see how it goes. You just may get that great workplace you were looking for. It may be a simple matter of trust.
This post originally appeared on my blog at http://www.jobs.ca
Mike Martin is a writer and the author of The Walker on the Cape, a mystery novel set in Grand Bank, NL. For more information please visit: http://www.walkeronthecape.com
Every year millions of Canadians volunteer their time and energy to help support their communities. Almost 50 percent of all Canadians volunteer on a regular basis that adds up to over two billion volunteer hours. Volunteering is a good thing because it allows people to give something back to the community but volunteering can also be a great way to get ahead in your career.
There are a number of ways that volunteering is good for your career. The first is through networking and visibility because volunteering lets you build and expand your existing network and to increase your visibility in the community through organizations like the Rotary or Lions club. You can use your volunteer time to make connections with the leaders in these organizations who are also likely senior people in local companies and businesses. Through these people and others you will meet in your volunteer activities you can build and grow your contact list.
Volunteering can also help your skills and leadership development by giving you exposure to a range of activities that you would never ordinarily have in your day-to-day job. Things like fundraising for example. You get to practice these skills in a low stress, low risk environment and learn from others the best ways to carry out these activities. You can improve your leadership skills by volunteering to serve on a local organization’s board of directors or to chair one of the various committees of their board.
No one volunteers to specifically find a new job but you can learn a lot about other jobs and organizations and industries through your volunteer networking. You can also add your volunteer experience to your resume to assist when you do start looking for a new job or career. Volunteering can also help you become a more balanced individual and that can only assist you in performing at a higher level in your current job. There is a great personal satisfaction in volunteering your time and it will likely make you happier and give you more confidence.
And if you are happier you will likely live longer as well. One recent study showed that the combination of physical and cognitive work in volunteering is conducive to better health and a longer than expected life expectancy. If you haven’t already tried volunteering you are in for a real treat. It’s fun, it’s good for you and your community, and it just might help your career.
This post first appeared on my blog at http://www.jobs.ca
Mike Martin is a writer and the author of The Walker on the Cape, a mystery novel set in Grand Bank, NL. http://www.walkeronthecape.com
My partner and I and the dog are going on the road for most of August. No, we will not be tying the dog to the roof a la the Romney Family Vacation nightmare. She gets a nice comfortable seat in the back. But the flow of info from here should reduce considerably. Many of you will not be disappointed but restrain from outward expressions of joy. At least til we’re gone!!
The “trip” will take us through Montreal and Quebec City which is not much to speak of unless you actually get off the highway. But once we get near Quebec City the outlook brightens considerably. We get to roll along the nothern St. Lawrence up near the Gaspe and then dip down through Northern New Brunswick.
On the way to Fredericton we get off the super-hiway and take the scenic River Drive along the mighty St. John River and just before we get to our stop for the night we meet an old friend. Mr Giant Potato Head, emblematic of all things potatoish and good about New Brunswick and agriculture on the East Coast.
A night in the historic but renovated Lord Beaverbrook ( a Ramada now I think) and half a day in Fredericton before we beetle across Nova Scotia to meet our destiny and our ferry at North Sydney, a speck on the tip of Cape Breton Island.
At least that is the plan. I’ll give a mini-report on our progress from Fredericton.
Mike Martin is a freelance writer and the author of “The Walker on the Cape”, a mystery novel set in Grand Bank, NL. For more information please visit www.walkeronthecape.com
So here’s an idea. Take a year off from work. Before you say that’s impossible just ask yourself one question… Would you like to have a year to do anything that you wanted? If the answer is yes you are not alone. According to a Harris Decima survey in 2011 almost 75 percent of Canadians would like to do just that if nothing stood in their way. And half of those surveyed thought regularly about doing just that.
Taking a year off, a sabbatical or a gap year is not just for kids who want to take a break before starting college or their working career. Thousands of everyday Canadians are actually making their particular dream come true by planning and then taking a year off from their regular working lives. Some people are using this year to go back to school and finish a degree or take a new one in interior design or romance languages. Others are travelling around the globe and visiting exotic destinations. Still others are staying closer to home but learning and practicing a new skill like woodworking or carpentry.
But it’s impossible for me, right? Wrong. Many of the same people noted above are just ordinary workers who have come up with a plan to make this particular dream come true. So what are the barriers? For most they are time, money, commitments, and their careers.
The time and commitment questions may be the trickiest, mostly because we have other people in our lives completely or partially dependent on us. That makes it difficult but not impossible to accommodate but where there is a will to do it there is always a way. Small children still to be cared for but grandparents and other family members can be approached to help. Older children may not mind as much if their routine is interrupted so that they can go with you on a tour of Europe or Africa.
Money, first of all to pay your on-going bills and then to pay for your sabbatical pursuits is also a challenge but some employers offer a 4 over 5 program where they will bank 20 percent of your salary during a 4 year period and allow you to get 80 percent of your salary during the 5th. It will be a sacrifice but think about the benefit. Also a special savings program where you put aside an additional $50 or $100 a month will give you that extra cash you need for your time off activities. It’s not easy, but doable.
Finally you will need the active support of your employer to make this all happen. But more and more employers are realizing the benefits that they get when an employee goes away to recharge and re-invigorate themselves on a year off. They would much rather have you go away happy and come back happier than to stay and be miserable. Just make sure that your career will still be there when you get back.
So taking a year off is possible. If you want it enough to work to make it happen.
This post first appeared on my blog at www.jobs.ca
Mike Martin is a freelance writer and author of The Walker on the Cape, a mystery set in Grand Bank, NL. For more information please visit:
