Author Shares Nine Resolutions for 2009 to Create a Winning Corporate Culture

Author Shares Nine Resolutions for 2009 to Create a Winning Corporate Culture

(DALLAS, TX) — Paul Spiegelman, author of Why Is Everyone Smiling? The Secret Behind Passion, Productivity and Profit, knows what it takes to create a winning corporate culture. The Beryl Companies, a healthcare-exclusive call center Spiegelman co-founded with his two brothers 20 years ago, has been recognized repeatedly as one of the best places to work nationally, statewide, locally and within the healthcare industry.

“Tough economic times call for a renewed and intensified focus on employees,” said Spiegelman. “The companies that will succeed and emerge strong from this economic downturn will be those with employees who are loyal, committed and able to ‘ride the wave.’”

At a time when business owners are being squeezed with tough economic decisions to make, Spiegelman offers nine resolutions to help leaders make 2009 the year of the award-winning culture:

1. This year I will show my co-workers that I care. Let people know that you care about them personally. “At Beryl, we have a behind-the-scenes system that allows me to be notified of important events in employees’ lives,” noted Spiegelman. “People really appreciate a hand-written note, phone call, or other unexpected assistance or recognition during significant events in their lives.”

2. This year I will make sure I’m available and approachable for all my employees. Visit employees in their work environment – not to check up on them, but to provide them an opportunity to talk to you.

3. This year I will let my co-workers know that their opinions matter. Provide opportunities for employees to share their concerns, opinions, suggestions and experiences. “We have multiple venues for co-workers to let us know what’s on their minds, what they’d like to see changed, or how something can be done better,” Spiegelman said.

4. This year I will be a better listener. Employees can be a bottomless well of information, but you have to listen.

5. This year I will not shy away from making tough decisions about current members of our team. Sometimes an employee who on paper seemed perfect for the position just doesn’t “fit in.” Take an honest inventory of the individuals on your team and reassign or remove as needed. A winning team has the right people in the right places at the right time.

6. This year I will look for employees who can consistently deliver what our customer’s need. The key to success is understanding your customers’ needs and consistently meeting or exceeding those expectations. That means making sure that your employees have the right combination of skill and cultural fit.

7. This year I will infuse some fun into the workplace. We work hard at Beryl, but we play even harder. Look for people who are energized personally and professionally by the joy of having fun.

8. This year I will provide more feedback. People appreciate honest feedback and perform better as a result of it. Spiegelman has found that frequent, honest and informal discussions about performance are extremely valuable to employees. This also can help a leader identify those employees who may not be in the right role or right for the company, in general.

9. This year I will help my employees be healthy. Healthy employees are more productive and have fewer sick days and workers’ compensation claims, but they often need help in developing healthy lifestyle habits. You can create your own programs or partner with an organization that specializes in health-management and early intervention for high-risk employees.

Using the principles shared in his book, Spiegelman has turned what is often viewed as a commodity business into a great place to work. “Economic uncertainty has given every business leader reason to reevaluate how they run their businesses,” said Spiegelman. “I believe that the best place to start strengthening a business is in the people who deliver the product or service because, after all, American businesses really come down to the people within them.”

Why Is Everyone Smiling? The Secret Behind Passion, Productivity and Profit
In his first book, author Paul Spiegelman explains how he turned a call center into one of the nation’s best places to work. Using anecdotal stories, practical advice and actionable leadership tips, Spiegelman shares what business leaders can do to create the kind of culture that drives passion, productivity and profit. More information is available at www.whyiseveryonesmiling.com.