Motivate yourself and others

At the Work Place Issues website they state, 'Motivation is an Inside Job. It's up to You". The information provides some interesting thoughts regarding how a person can motivate themselves. (http://www.workplaceissues.com/motivate.htm)

You can certainly try to motivate people but it is more a case of providing them methods to motivate themselves. Consideration of the workplace environment is one way you can provide motivation. Understanding and communicating with people is another way. Work sometimes gets in the way of work. What I mean is that we can get so drawn into performing the functions of our jobs and forget the people part of what we do.

Talk to others around you...the water cooler chats are actually a great thing. Connecting with others through conversation and keeping it positive can have a major impact on motivation.

"Greet everyone you meet with a warm smile. No matter how busy you are, don't rush encounters with coworkers, family, and friends. Speak softly. Listen attentively. Act as if every conversation you have is the most important thing on your mind today. Look your children and your partner in the eyes when they talk to you. Stroke the cat, carress the dog. Lavish love on every living being you meet. See how different you feel at the end of the day." (from Sarah Ban Breathnach, Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy)

And finally - when it comes to communicating with people, I found the following quote but am unsure of who said it. "Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny." So it is when talking with people, stay to the positive in your thoughts as they will surface in your words. Those positive words will generate good actions. So on and so forth, I believe you get the picture.

Make that change

So earlier I talked about not letting others effect your attitude for the day. That only you can decide how your day will go by using effective methods to control your attitude. This is still a central belief, but everyone understands that this isn't easy.

We need things in our life to help us and in the previous article I wrote about your environment. We've all seen pictures of row upon rows of desks with typewriters or cubicle farms mocked appropriately in Dilbert (http://www.dilbert.com/) cartoons. I'm certain you could provide examples - please do. I would like to hear some of your stories.

So how do you change - have a dialog with your employer and/or employees. It starts with talking to each other. Determining that there is a problem is a first step. Many would be surprised that the boss doesn't fully realize it. Once you've accomplished this - suggest some radical changes...new lighting...more windows...you figure out what works best at your location.

Utopia this is not: http://home.earthlink.net/~wrmbero/html/utopian.html

Creating the work environment

Have you ever walked into a workplace (private or governmental) and told yourself that you are glad you don't work there. The environment is dingy and just not very pleasing for a number of different reasons. We had one such place at the local Department of Motor Vehicles licensing office. Miserable conditions does not begin to describe this office not to mention the large numbers of citizens using this location. The customer service provided by the employees was certainly a reflection of their work environment. Most would try but one could see how difficult it was.

Today I visited the new DMV location to help my son get his learners permit. A huge transformation not only in atmosphere but in the spirit of the employees. Things ran much smoother, much quicker and much less tension. Efficiency is most times joked upon when it comes to governmental services. But do not forget these people are just like you and me. Think about how well you perform in a poor work environment.

A pleasant and well designed work location will be reflected in your employees. This means more efficiency through out the workplace. These efficiency gains translate into a more stable work force. The efficiency gains translate into a more satisfied customer. The efficiency gains translate into dollars.

Think about where you work and what the environment is like. Are you regulated about having a plant on your desk or have such poor lighting that you couldn't keep a plant alive? If the environment is tiring and displeasing, a change needs to occur. As an employer you need to recognize it. As an employee you need to make sure your employer knows it. Because once again it comes back to the dollars.

An article from Feb/2005 from the Whole Building Design Guide (WBDG) Productive Committee discusses the costs and potential payback.

You can read this article at http://www.wbdg.org/design/productive.php. There are five principles of productive building designs that I'm quoting from this article;

• Promote Health and Well-Being
  Indoor environments strongly affect human health. A productive workplace should be designed to support and enhance the health and well-being of its occupants.
  
• Provide Comfortable Environments
  A workplace designed and operated to provide the highest achievable levels of visual, acoustic, and thermal comforts for its occupants is the underpinning of worker productivity.
  
• Design for the Changing Nature of Work
  Providing spaces with flexibility and technology to promote new ways of working is a cornerstone of change and innovation.
  
• Integrate Technological Tools
  Effectively integrating technological tools and distribution networks required in today's office environments to enable workers to perform their duties starts first and foremost with properly designed pathways and spaces.
  
• Assure Reliable Systems and Spaces
  Reliability is one of the greatest concerns for building occupants—it directly affects their safety, health, and comfort. Workers must be able to rely on building systems, equipment, and tools that function consistently and are properly maintained.

Take some steps - make some changes - shake up the atmosphere and see what happens. Because sitting still and doing nothing will leave you behind everyone else that are moving on and getting ahead.

Take time out and then do something good.

Don't forget to stop and smell ...

Aristotle wrote, "in the arena of human life the honors and rewards fall to those who show their good qualities in action." It is my belief that if you take the position that you can effect the lives of others by your own actions, it will change your life.