Wednesday, 18 July 2012

Turning up



Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net


It's not enough just to turn up. But it is a good start. 
News today that many G4S employees for the Olympic security team have not turned up for work. And this is an economy with high unemployment, where the people concerned have received training, and could get to be part of this major event for our nation. 
It almost makes me wish I'd signed up myself.
So while others will focus on the army, the morals of using stretched forces recently returned from active service, in advance of many of them being made redundant and replaced with reservists, I don't want to go there...
For me there is something inherently disciplined in turning up. Every day. On time.
It is a good start. No matter how well trained someone is, how pleasant, how hard-working, these traits can only come to the fore if the person is there at work.
It is a discipline that appears not to have great sway among the G4S recruits...or indeed in the wider population. And yet the vast majority of workers do turn up.
I believe this is a discipline which has to be encouraged. First get them there, and then worry about getting people to do what's needed in your business.
How to start? I would suggest this...be an example.
I have seen many small business owners who see it as their right, as the boss, to turn up when they want to. whether it's family commitments (or choices), leisure activities (check out the local gym at 10am most mornings and I guarantee you'll find some business owners - those that aren't at the golf course!), or simple arrangement of the working day to suit, because they can, I believe this can set a poor example of the discipline of turning up.
If you want your workers to turn up every day at 9am...then turn up yourself at 8.30am.

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