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A commuter (the “gotcha photographer”) takes a picture of a TTC employee sleeping on the job and posts it for the world to see. The picture goes viral. It’s even on Jay Leno.

I know people are frustrated with the TTC, but I was surprised at so many people rushing to verbally attack and judge the sleeping TTC employee. He has since apologized and the TTC says they have handled the incident. Interesting that the sleeping TTC employee apologies, but no apology from the picture taker. I guess roaming “gotcha photographers” are acceptable. I wonder how many people, including the “gotcha photographer,” would be okay with the “gotcha police” at work.

• SNAP: Gotcha! Janie Smith, stuffing her wedding envelopes when she should be working on a report.
• SNAP: Gotcha! Joe Farmer playing Farmville on Facebook, when he should be researching a competitor’s website.
• SNAP: Gotcha! John Doe coming back from a long lunch only he wasn’t at lunch with a client, he was at lunch with a friend.
• SNAP: Gotcha! Sally Shopper coming out of the mall after calling in sick.
• SNAP: Gotcha! Chucky Cheese talking to Penny Pencil for ½ hour at the coffee station, not about a project, but about their favourite tv show!

I’m not condoning sleeping on the job, but how many of us would like to have a “snapshot in time” declare to the world who we are as a person or employee or how we perform on the job or in life?

Are there lessons to be learned here, besides getting a good night’s sleep before you start work? You bet! Maybe you have to deal with a scenario similar to this “snap shot in time” (but only a little less public). In any case, it’s good to approach the issue with the following questions:

Was there intent to steal time from the company? The TTC guy was in plain view of everyone. Did he intend to go for a snooze where everyone could see him? Compare that to a story a shift supervisor for a manufacturing company told me. He wondered why he could never find one of his team when he paged him. Eventually he found a hidden sleeping area under a little used stairwell. The employee was caught snoozing on a nice comfy bed he had made with layers of corrugated cardboard and a pillow out of uniforms. Now that is intent to snooze on the job! There are plenty of ways to steal time from a company. Are expectations clear and reinforced? Are some ways of “stealing time” from a company okay and others not so okay?

Does the employee have a legitimate medical problem? It does happen. The picture was taken around 10 p.m. Shift work plays havoc with a person’s health, which escalates as a person ages and there’s research to back that up. The TTC employee stated he has a heart condition and was on medication. My grandmother used to fall asleep for a few minutes standing up and leaning against her china cabinet. She always surprised me when she did that. If a medical issue hampers performance on the job, then a different schedule, job re-assignment or modification is needed.

Should the employee be fired based on a snapshot in time? Performance management consists of looking over a longer period of time and NOT on a snapshot in time. Firing the employee doesn’t cut it. Should management investigate, of course they should. Should action be taken on the findings, YES! But firing him based solely on a snapshot in time, NO!

Should we, the public (or management), be so quick to judge this guy based on a snapshot in time? How does it all add up? If an employee has a stellar performance record are you going to establish harsh consequences for a snapshot in time … probably not. If it’s a recurring problem, hopefully you’re documenting it and following a coaching and corrective action procedure.

Everyone wants privacy when going about their work, trying to correct a mistake, improve performance, or handle a bad day, and everyone should get it. The TTC fellow who fell asleep on the job didn’t get that and the “gotcha” photographer appears to be a hero.

A snapshot in time does not define a person. A snapshot in time does not define total performance.

What do you think? What could the guy who snapped the picture have done instead of taking the picture and posting it online? What could the TTC employee have done if he was too tired to work? What would you think, feel, and do in the same situation if you were the picture taker, the employee, or the manager? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Best regards, Joanne

In the last blog I talked about the Balanced Scorecard Approach to setting strategic goals. 

Why set goals?  

A study in 1979 on Harvard MBA students found that only 3 percent of the graduates had written goals; 13 percent had goals, but only in their heads; and 84% had no specific goals at all. When they interviewed the graduates 10 years later, the 13% who had goals but not in writing were earning 2x as much as the 84% who didn’t have goals. Most astonishingly, the 3% who had clear written goals were earning, 10x as much as the remaining 97% of the graduating class. If that isn’t incentive I don’t know what is!

I know of people writing their goals on sticky notes and posting them in places where they study, work, eat, and brush their teeth. Others use a goal planning worksheet, some use software that links into Outlook, others write them into day planners, some record them and listen to them on their Ipod and others use them as a screensaver!  They achieve their goals because they see (or listen to) them every day. What ever works is a useful tool!

Most people don’t have goals and that same applies to some organizations.  To help you with goal setting the following tips will be useful.

1. Organize an annual strategic planning session off-site.
2. If needed, obtain external assistance to help facilitate the goal setting session.
3. Involve the management team and employees in developing goals and measures.
4. Develop SMART company goals (specific, measurable, achievable, results oriented and time oriented).
5. Communicate and post company goals and measures regularly and frequently using different channels.
6. Create departmental or team and individual goals with input from the team and employees.
7. Educate all employees on how to set goals and measurements and how they link to corporate goals.  
8. Tie goals and results to the performance management system and compensation strategy.
9. Make sure you have systems in place that can accurately and objectively measure the results.
10. Review and adjust continually.

If you don’t set goals your “boat won’t arrive at its preferred destination!” 

What helps you set and stick to your goals? Do you use the sticky note method? What works for you? Please share your comments below.

Best regards, Joanne

Another year has passed in a flash. Are you looking back in your rear view mirror or focusing on the road ahead?

Reflecting on the past year is healthy when done with the aim of reviewing accomplishments and lessons learned. It becomes unhealthy if you dwell on the negatives and things you have no control over. There is no value in rehashing the events that weren’t great or, for that matter, going over and over the things that were great because it takes our energy away from the road ahead. You can learn from mistakes, but some things like the economy are beyond organizational or individual control. So take lessons learned, look at the things you have control over, celebrate successes, and move on.

Looking forward and setting goals for the New Year is a great way to get focussed on the road ahead.

To be effective goal setting starts with company goals that are developed and communicated throughout the organization. The balanced scorecard approach refined by Robert S Kaplan and David P. Norton, suggests a framework of setting goals in several areas in an organization such as:

• Financial – measured by ROI and what is economically value added
• Customer – measured by satisfaction, retention, market and account share
• Internal Processes - measured by quality, response time, cost, and new product introductions
• Learning and Growth – measured by employee satisfaction, learning, and information system availability

For an balanced scorecard template in Excel click here.

What happens when you don’t set company goals?

It is like getting on a boat and starting out from shore with no idea where you are headed. The boat will drift around aimlessly, supplies will run out, the crew will mutiny, and the boat will run ashore resulting in disaster.

Start 2010 with a clear purpose and plan for the New Year. While looking and reflecting back on the past year, never lose focus of the road ahead!

Wishing you a happy, healthy, and productive New Year, Joanne

P.S.  What are your goals for the New Year?  Share your ideas on goal setting in the comments section!

Does that surprise you?

Actually, it’s a good thing. I am going to QUIT sitting at my desk so much and START being more active. This is easier said than done. Like many people, I start in the a.m. and find myself working without lifting my eyes from the computer or getting up from my chair until it is dark again. The day is done and I haven’t eaten lunch.

Another New Year’s resolution – big deal. But this year I’m adding something different. This year, I am joining other quitters in the “i quit” campaign to help raise awareness and dollars for the The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). The CAMH isn’t a “popular” cause and people shy away from supporting the centre and from talking about how addiction and mental health impacts them and those close to them at home and at work. With anxiety about the economy, H1N1, job insecurity, and extra workload it’s important for organizations to support the “emotional” health of their people and organization.

Sun Life Financial, a major benefits provider, who is matching dollar for dollar any donations up to $50,000, knows the impact of addiction and mental health on organizations. Stress leaves are on the rise and this isn’t good for people or business.

Sign up to become a quitter and support the cause as an organization.  It’s a great team building opportunity as different teams can be created internally. This also creates a sense of community and social purpose, while building awareness of addiction and mental health issues. Many people have the symptoms for a heart attack or stroke posted on their fridge at home and in the workplace, but there is nothing posted about addiction and mental health. It’s time to get it out in the open.

Why does it matter? 

It’s astonishing to realize that:
• 1 in 5 Canadians will experience a mental illness or addiction in their lifetime.
• 34 billion is the cost of mental illness and addictions to the Ontario economy each year.
• 2.5 million Canadian adults – more than 10% of the population over 18 – will have a depressive disorder in their lifetime.
• Almost 20% of children and youth in Canada have a diagnosable psychiatric disorder. (CAMH 2009)

That $34 billion dollars comes out of the pockets of businesses and individuals. That is the financial reason, but there is more to it than that.

Dr. Katy Kamur has a blog that lists the symptoms of depression such as feeling worthless, feeling helpless – feeling that you have no control over your situation, feeling hopeless – feeling that nothing will change or get better, and thoughts like life is not worth living. That’s pretty scary and sad.

How does that impact your business?

If 1 in 5 Canadians experience mental illness or addiction in their lifetime that means your business will be impacted. The problem is that it’s a “silent illness” with much shame and stigma attached to it. So it won’t be out in the open. It impacts the person experiencing it but also the people close to them at work and at home. It impacts a person’s ability to function productively at work and to interact with customers and colleagues. They may be present but not 100% focussed. That’s called presenteeism and it’s worse than absenteeism because the person is present and not doing the job plus negatively impacting the people around them. The CAMH helps people become fully functioning when they need help the most.

Will you help me become a QUITTER, raise funds for CAMH and build awareness? Support my “i quit” campaign by making your donation now! Or if you are up for a challenge, create your own team or teams and set your own donation goals. Make your New Year’s resolutions fun, do some team building, and make it worthwhile. The campaign officially runs for the month of January but will carry over if time is still needed.

Thank you for making this a happy, healthy, and productive New Year,

Joanne

P.S. Every organization should have an EAP (Employee Assistance Program) set up. You ensure the physical safety of your employees, so why not ensure the “emotional” safety of your employees. There are cost effective ways to do this and it sends a message of thoughtfulness and caring to your employees who are the people who will help you meet your company goals.

The “iquit” campaign is now closed!  Thank you for your support and donations.

Other blog “iquit” blog posts: 

 Will you help me reach my goal?

How positive thoughts help us reach our goals