INTERESTING & CHALLENGING
It isn’t hard to observe that if you are expecting your employees to do the same work every single day, they are going to get bored. One solution to this common problem is to create new challenges. These new challenges can reenergize your employees and restore their enthusiasm in their work. When an employee starts their new job with you, they experience excitement, anticipation and a positive type of nervousness. These feelings tend to subside as time goes on. As their employer, you can help recreate some of that initial excitement by encouraging them to take on new challenges within their personal responsibilities and within your company. The goal is to rekindle employee interest and energy in their jobs. The following are 3 Ways to create new challenges for your employees:
1. Assign small projects and start-up projects. This will often create learning new skills, working under deadlines and working with new people in their company. Some examples of this type of work are as follows:
a. Launch a new product or program.
b. Create a task force on a pressing business issue.
c. Plan an off-site meeting or Conference.
d. Work short periods in other departments.
e. Work on a research project.
f. Organize a company function to increase morale (company picnic, bowling event, boat trip, etc.)
g. Work at a trade show booth.
h. Serve on a new product review committee.
i. Go off-site to deal with an unhappy customer.
* All employees need some part of his or her job to be interesting to them. Find out
what part of your employees’ jobs are the most motivating to them and try to assign work accordingly.
* For your long term employees, continue to find ways to keep their job interesting through new assignments and challenges.
* When you are hiring new employees, find out what work tasks they enjoy the most.
2. Assign small tasks which emphasize team building as well as individual responsibility working with their boss. The following are a few examples:
a. Work on something that challenges the employee.
b. Assign a project in an area where the employee is uncomfortable.
c. Manage a group of new hires (mentor).
d. Create a group to work on changing an area in the company that needs attention.
e. Work with a group that is rapidly growing.
f. Work to find creative ways to save the company money.
g. Deal with a business crisis – find possible solutions.
* Work can provide the opportunity for personal and spiritual as well as financial growth. If it doesn’t, then we are wasting far too much of our time!
3. Have your employees take a class, coursework that will enhance their job. Make their course challenging and where they are learning new skills and information. The following are some examples:
a. Do a home study course (paid for by your company).
b. Study a new “technical” area.
c. Do a self-study project.
d. Take a course from a company mentor.
e. Take a course at a local business school or college.
f. Mentor a new employee.
g. Design your own training course.
* “The art of governing consists of not allowing men to grow old in their jobs.” – Napoleon Bonaparte
Overall, the goal is to keep your employees intellectually challenged. This is definitely a way to retain your employees and keep turnover at a minimum. It is very costly to replace your top caliber staff. Gaining loyalty and keeping them challenged is a must!
Nancy J. Phillips, CPC
