For quite awhile now, I have been taking note on how different employees can be. There are about three different categories; old, not so old and the new. Now in referring to old and new, I am not meaning age but instead, the amount of time the employees have been employed at the store. Each of these groups has a different outlook which gives way to how they perform the work that they do.
Let's take the 'old ones'; these are employees that have been working in the store for many years - some have been here since the doors first opened. They take their jobs seriously and most take pride in what they do. These very employees have an abundance of knowledge, can perform their job (as well as one or two more), are reliable in their service, personable with the customers and are honest and dependable. Now the 'not so old ones'; have been there about two to three years. They have knowledge of their job, are reliable with their service, personable with the customers and I am sure that they are honest and dependable. Then there are the new ones; most seem reliable, they are personable with the customers and I am sure that they, too, are honest and most are dependable. So, what makes these three groups different, besides the amount of years that they have been employed? The way they talk.
The 'old ones', discuss business such as department functions, ideas and are concerned with job performance. While most of the 'not so old' ones, are more concerned on a personal level, have somewhat of an air about them and have a tendency to only do one job. This is the group that I envy the most. And then of course there are the 'new ones', they are just learning - although there have been some ideas expressed by a couple.
The amount of years of service, an employee has invested with the company, provides much. I find that these people work harder, are more concerned with their job performance, they take their jobs seriously and can be depended on to provide service wherever needed. The job becomes more then just a paycheck - it is a part of their lives and their interests. Which is not always so good for the employee because, more often than not, they take their jobs too personally. Even without the promise of making it worth their while, financially or by title, these employees perform. And in this performance, there are two objectives of which they serve; the company and the customer. Each objective has a different meaning. While one is to provide financial gain, the other is to provide service which ultimately puts an employee in the middle. For these employees, these jobs promote struggles and frustrations; on a personal level.
A friend and I were out one day and we, naturally, were discussing our jobs. We spoke of what it would be like to work somewhere else. Somewhere, where you didn't have that personal attachment. Would we perform as well, as what we do now? Or would we look at it as just a job, pick up our paycheck and go to the house? Neither one of us could answer that question, because we didn't know how that would feel. And then, of course, the next question was - would we want to? Companies are lucky when they have this type of workforce, for these employees not only provide the work, but they care and this makes them work harder. You can pay anyone to work, but you cannot make them care.
I don't know how companies view this, or even if they take this into consideration. From what I can tell, when I shop, they do not. Most stores that I go into, the companies' outlooks are written all over the employees' faces, so to speak. And that in itself, is unfortunate. I, on the other hand, have been more fortunate. I have worked under store management and department managers, that have always made me feel appreciated for the work, that I not only do but the performance that I provide. It means a lot, and cushions the set backs that one experiences when working for these companies.
There will always be a public in need of employment. And as to how this workforce will perform will be up to the standards that companies put into place and how they want their businesses cared for. Because, over all, it is the employees that make the difference - if given the chance.
Talk at ya later!
Let's take the 'old ones'; these are employees that have been working in the store for many years - some have been here since the doors first opened. They take their jobs seriously and most take pride in what they do. These very employees have an abundance of knowledge, can perform their job (as well as one or two more), are reliable in their service, personable with the customers and are honest and dependable. Now the 'not so old ones'; have been there about two to three years. They have knowledge of their job, are reliable with their service, personable with the customers and I am sure that they are honest and dependable. Then there are the new ones; most seem reliable, they are personable with the customers and I am sure that they, too, are honest and most are dependable. So, what makes these three groups different, besides the amount of years that they have been employed? The way they talk.
The 'old ones', discuss business such as department functions, ideas and are concerned with job performance. While most of the 'not so old' ones, are more concerned on a personal level, have somewhat of an air about them and have a tendency to only do one job. This is the group that I envy the most. And then of course there are the 'new ones', they are just learning - although there have been some ideas expressed by a couple.
The amount of years of service, an employee has invested with the company, provides much. I find that these people work harder, are more concerned with their job performance, they take their jobs seriously and can be depended on to provide service wherever needed. The job becomes more then just a paycheck - it is a part of their lives and their interests. Which is not always so good for the employee because, more often than not, they take their jobs too personally. Even without the promise of making it worth their while, financially or by title, these employees perform. And in this performance, there are two objectives of which they serve; the company and the customer. Each objective has a different meaning. While one is to provide financial gain, the other is to provide service which ultimately puts an employee in the middle. For these employees, these jobs promote struggles and frustrations; on a personal level.
A friend and I were out one day and we, naturally, were discussing our jobs. We spoke of what it would be like to work somewhere else. Somewhere, where you didn't have that personal attachment. Would we perform as well, as what we do now? Or would we look at it as just a job, pick up our paycheck and go to the house? Neither one of us could answer that question, because we didn't know how that would feel. And then, of course, the next question was - would we want to? Companies are lucky when they have this type of workforce, for these employees not only provide the work, but they care and this makes them work harder. You can pay anyone to work, but you cannot make them care.
I don't know how companies view this, or even if they take this into consideration. From what I can tell, when I shop, they do not. Most stores that I go into, the companies' outlooks are written all over the employees' faces, so to speak. And that in itself, is unfortunate. I, on the other hand, have been more fortunate. I have worked under store management and department managers, that have always made me feel appreciated for the work, that I not only do but the performance that I provide. It means a lot, and cushions the set backs that one experiences when working for these companies.
There will always be a public in need of employment. And as to how this workforce will perform will be up to the standards that companies put into place and how they want their businesses cared for. Because, over all, it is the employees that make the difference - if given the chance.
Talk at ya later!
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