Employee Management: Previous Blog Posts

Employee management was the topic of October's posts. For additional ideas from October, as well as other related posts, please click on "Labels" to the left and scroll past this month's posts.

Employee Management: Why Employees Leave

The number one reason why employees leave is not pay, although that is what they may say in an exit interview. The number one reason people leave is their immediate supervisor.

People want to be treated fairly and with respect. They want appreciation for what they do. And employees are people! Sometimes we just need to remember to treat them that way.

Employee Managment: Conflict Management

Conflict is unavoidable. People disagree. The key is to manage the conflict productively.

Some strategies include:

• focusing the parties on the issues
• pointing out misunderstandings
• reversing the roles of the antagonists
• listening to them
• getting them to listen to each other
• check perceptions of the issues

Conflict can be positive. Conflict can create new and better ideas and solutions. Nothing changes or improves when everyone agrees!

Employee Management: Lead by Example

"Lead by example" is not a new term. Nevertheless, it is still relevant! How can any of us expect our employees to do better than we do? Any values we want to see in them, we must demonstrate.

For example, how you treat your customers will set the standard for how your employees will treat your customers. How you treat your managers will determine how they treat their employees.

People need a good example to follow.

Employee Management: Ongoing Learning

There are many great books on management! One of my favorites is First, Break all the Rules, What the World's Greatest Managers Do Differently by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman.

More important than any single book, however, is continuing to read and learn new ideas related to management. Who would have considered 20 years ago that we could manage people better if we understood their generation? Yet today, this is a common consideration.

Keep learning!

Employee Management: Employee Recognition

Everyone enjoys being recognized for what he or she does. Your employees are no different.

Monetary rewards are not the only rewards you can give to your employees. Simply telling them that you appreciate what they do (as long as your are sincere!) is recognition.

A great book for recognition ideas is Bob Nelson's 1001 Ways to Reward Employees. Many of these ideas are minimal in cost. If you have not read it, get! If you have read it, read it again! Your employees will appreciate you for appreciating them!

Employee Management: Pride in Food Service Week

The Dietary Manager's Association's "Pride in Food Service Week" will take place February 7-11, 2011. This 20th annual recognition week applauds dietary managers and other members of the dining services team for their dedication to customer care.

For additional information go to http://www.DMAonline.org.

What can you do to recognize the dietary team members in your facility?