Listen to the Front Line
Far too often we have politicians from every level of government and boards of management that ignore the warning signs and pleas for help from the front line.
Excuses such as, “We do not get into the weeds” or “That’s operational” or “If you do not like your job, find another one” are all too common. Boards that govern take management’s word that everything is A-OK, when the employees who are the face and life blood are suffering dearly.
The Front Line is the Face of the Organization
Often managers and politicians come and go, but dedicated members of the front line stay for years. Sometimes not because of their loyalty to management but their loyalty to you and the people they serve.
When an uncaring management team is in place, front line workers have been said to say – we just need to outlast that person. Imagine the morale of these employees.
On one of the Board’s I sat on, employees came to me about a mouse infestation in the office. That employee actually brought one home in her purse and it jumped out on her kitchen table at home. I brought this up to another board member and he said, “If the employees does not like it, they can work somewhere else.” I was shocked, I was fully expecting us to work together for the betterment of office morale.
Set a Good Tone
Whether we are talking about a school or a privately run board, we need good managers to set a positive tone. As an elected official I feel like I am cut from a different cloth when it comes to how I run my council business. I know first hand what it is like to be a front line employee and to not be listened to by management. Some work places report an open door policy but when it comes to reality nothing much changes. The term I call it is “suits” running the show. Sometimes these suits have never even set foot into the places they govern.
I want to create an organization where EVERYONE wants to work.
Hire GOOD People
If you want any organization to do well, hire the right people. Find people not only with the skill set needed but people that are going to treat the front line with respect. Sometimes boards have a poor history of hiring. An option and suggestion here is to bring in help when you hire. Your front line is everything. Today at my other place of employment we got a surprise delivery (a scone) and it made a rough Tuesday feel like a Fabulous Friday!
Little things matter when is comes to how an organization is ran. Of course big things matter too but the big things are not always directly under our control. A smile, a thank you email, a donut, all can go a long way to make a happier work place.
To all the Employees That Make our World go Around
Thank- you!
