Recession management tips are unfortunately in demand right now, but there are some innovative tricks that can make managing in poor economic conditions easier. The ability to stay positive is crucial. Read on for more.
The following recession management tips are excerpted from an article written by Joel Zeff that has been published in numerous online and print formats. To read the entire article, or for more effective productivity and tips on how to stay passionate in a tough economy, visit Joel’s blog.
When you stay positive, employees and coworkers take your cue and react to obstacles with a more positive attitude. We’re all familiar with the contagion of the negative guy in the office. What many people don’t realize is that when you stay positive, it has the very same degree of effectiveness. Read on for more recession management tips.
1. Be a better listener. Everyone thinks they are good listeners. In reality, we get into bad habits that prevent us from being good, active listeners. We multi-task. We wait to talk. We play solitaire on our computer during a conference call. Pay attention to your listening skills. When we listen, we are more effective as a team; we are better communicators; we are more productive; and we have more fun. Listening to each other every day will change our work environment faster than any pizza party, softball game or team building event where you make boats out of cardboard boxes, aluminum foil and paper towels.
2. Be flexible to change. When change happens, ask yourself two important questions: Does this change affect my ability to be happy and successful in my job? Does this change affect the ability of those around me – my family, colleagues, clients, and vendors – to be happy and successful in their jobs? If both answers are no, then you know the change is not worth creating stress. No matter what happens to the economy, there is going to be change. Most of these changes are out of your control. We may not control the change, but we always control our reaction and attitude. Help your employees take ownership of their attitude and reaction to change. How you deal with change determines your success, productivity, creativity, passion and stress. Focus your energies on what really matters. Be open. Be flexible. Live healthier.
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It is easy to give up control. You may have to do more work and stay late. You might have to do more with fewer resources. Your best manager might leave for a better opportunity. Would you, as a normal, sane person, really make the choice to wake up in the morning, comb your hair, brush your teeth and say, “Man, I am bitter, frustrated and angry. I can’t wait to get to work.” No, you wouldn’t. Yet, people do that every day. We do have a choice to wake up every morning happier and more energized. And happy people get to work early when there are still blueberry muffins.
When we are happy and having fun, we are more creative, productive and effective. We are better leaders. The choice to take ownership of your attitude is an important key to everyone’s success.
3. If you really want to reduce your stress, make a list of everything that caused you stress and frustration in the last week. Then take a really hard look at what you wrote. You will giggle. Why? Because most of the things on that list don’t matter. Sure, there are some very important items on the list. Most of the items, though, we will forget about in a short time. Why do we forget? Because they really were not that important. When you are in the middle of a stressful and frustrating situation, take a moment and ask, “Am I going to giggle about this in a week?”
To read the 9 other recession management tips outlined in this article, visit Joel’s blog at http://www.maketherightchoicethebook.blogspot.com/.
Joel Zeff is a nationally renowned corporate culture, leadership and communication expert and the author of Make The Right Choice, a guide to helping managers stay positive, even in the midst of executing recession management. For more information on his book or speaking engagements, call or fill out the form below.
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