Our MD is simply Unique! (Part 2)

When you work in an environment where it is open it is vital that communication and focus are high. Tonight you will be exhausted, all my life I have ensured people are first priority , I never expect people to tell me life stories however when I get people started they simply rant on. Why would you want to feel the way you did? Rewind the movie.......

Here we go, 8am “Stevie can I chat to you?” “Absolutely Lorraine”

This is my scenario today..........................................

Ok strategy changed this is what we will do, this is how many times you will take time out, this is when you will have lunch, this is how much water intake you will have, we will review every three hours but alert me if Max becomes worse as he is your priority...........

Stress levels would have been low, you would have been more relaxed, more productive by the way, and a trust of energy within the day of openness,

Early to bed but look after the wee man

Another day of learning for both of us.

Your MD and your friend, remember I do not need to be out of work before I become friend Stevie.

When I received this it really made me stop and think “I wonder how many other people have ever had an email like that from their MD”. It made me feel valued, important and most of all it was validation that sometimes you can’t do everything by yourself and you need to ask for support.

My reasons for not telling Stevie were absolutely more about me than they were about him. I had told myself that whatever happened I must take challenges in my personal life into the workplace, but that’s just not how it works here. Stevie is acutely aware that when something is happening at home it does affect your work – fact! He is also a master of human behaviour and can tell just by looking at someone pretty much what’s going on in their life.

As an MD he accepts this and even embraces this as it gives him a chance to respond in a way that he wishes every other MD would. The results of this approach are of huge benefit to the business, because staff feel valued and respected they are willing to do that bit extra, it also explains the fact that within this business Stevie has absolutely no issue with staff sickness and an exceptionally high retention rate.
 

But it's not just about that, he knows that his staff are his greatest asset and he genuinely cares about their wellbeing.

The moral of the story.........you can't keep secrets from a mind-reader!
 

1 Comment

Posted by J McMahon on 05 July 2011

very good article and gives me different thoughts about dealing with people. Hope Max is ok. Speak to you all at KDS soon. James.

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