Money, Money, Money - greenbacks and their impact

In today's world, money speaks loud and clear in business and certainly in politics. We have little influence or a voice because perhaps we are enjoying the increase in salary and we do not want to rock the boat. If we are not in charge, we settle into what is and are divorced from the upper echelon.

Whether we are blind to the billionaires who rule the roost, or are not on the rung that makes the decisions, we just go along with our job description and ignore the organizational changes.

Recently, I completed an informal survey of those who have changed jobs because of the drastic changes in their companies. There is a great dissatisfaction with the way employees are shuffled to and fro or influenced by salary or benefit changes. We all know that jobs are hard to get. Some stay because they are afraid to step out of their comfort zone, and others are lulled into thinking there is job security in their present job.

Tomorrow, you may be the one who is dismissed because your department is not making revenue. Therefore, now is the time to have an alternate plan. The upper echelon is forever looking for ways to increase the revenue. Ask yourself if you are truly and honestly on the increased revenue path or just squeaking by and hoping your department will not be targeted.

Money may be the root of all evil, but business today is about financial growth and that is what keeps the market competing each day. It is time for you to get on the revenue bandwagon or get off the track.

Do companies that are focused on innovation and success care about their personnel, or are they more interested in outdoing themselves? New ideas and new energy keeps the momentum constant and emerging. Even if those who make the decisions are not always on target, they change course and look for new visions.

Those in charge are always trying to find ways to get recognized as the company that is honored for its success, not its failures. The network of experienced leaders is the team that each day directs the company philosophy and supervision. Even if one individual influences the team, that person does hold the managers captive.

If you hold the purse strings, chances are you direct the path and others will step up to the plate. Whether you believe it or not, the Chief Executive of any company has the right to a strong point of view with support from other experienced personnel.




If you voice your opinion, be clear, concise and join with the philosophy of the company. Be diplomatic and when you have an idea be certain it is attached to revenue. Money speaks volumes and that is what is important to those in charge. Making a proposal that is reactive only defines you as someone who doesn't put much thought into the mission of the organization. Take time to understand what the company values are and follow that route. Count those greenbacks when they are in your pocket.

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Gloria M. Reiske is an MSW, LCSW with more than thirty years experience in education, administration, social work, and coaching. She has authored manyarticles and is published in local media, having written a men and grief manual for training purposes throughout Virginia and an article for children and grief.

Genuine or Phony - What is your baseline?

Genuine or Phony - What is your baseline?

How do you know someone you work with is genuine or phony? Consider whether you are a phony or genuine. Genuine means real, trustworthy, actual, honest, direct but with diplomacy.

The behaviors that tell you that individuals are secure inside and out, is not being worried about what people think, comfortable in their own skin, not seeking attention, not needy, and they tell it like it is without concern about the backlash.
Unfortunately, some people flip/flop and are influenced by the powers that be to the point of looking phony. Actually, those people are hanging on to their jobs and are going along for the ride.

Naive people are concerned with their own insecurity, much of which is grounded in narcissism and their own egos. Genuine people have no need to be liked and do not manipulate. If they are liked or not liked  is not very important, because they are confident in themselves.

In the workplace, there are many different personalities and to get along means working on projects together and most of it is very subjective. Therefore, do we express our opinions genuinely even if others do not agree?  Genuine people can be vulnerable, but they do have a voice most of the time. The phonies of the world tend to march with those who make the decisions and often get the promotions. If you work for a company that seeks those who manipulate and do a lot of head nodding to get ahead, welcome to our world.

In every area of business, politics, medicine, sports, dysfunctional behavior appears to be the norm. Taking with little giving is what makes the news. Genuine good news gets some publicity but breaking news is what we pay attention to and that focus is not always real or actual.

If you are in a workplace that encourages production by squashing those who genuinely believe in humanity and discourages behavior that often believes that a company's growth and success is about the personnel, you may be in the wrong place.

Unfortunately, the upper echelon drives the bus and you probably have a small voice. The communication is not always transparent but your job is not affected. Therefore you continue to plod along and when changes happen, you may make the cut.

Once in a while check out your genuineness. Having charm, wit and awareness, is all worthwhile unless you use them to manipulate coworkers into believing you are real.
It reminds me of a horse race. The favorite is not always the winner. When you put all your money in what appears to be a good thing, you could lose. When coworkers discover that you are more phony than genuine, it is like getting caught in a windstorm and you will be blown away.

How Flexible are You?

How Flexible Are You?

Recent studies tell us that balancing work and home is a myth! Something has got to give. When you are involved with your job, you think about it each day, whether you are shopping, shuffling the kids to their individual practices or going home in wall-to-wall traffic. The answer to this dilemma is flex time.

Working from home is actually less stressful and more productive than meeting with a dozen people all asking questions at almost the same time. One day of productive work is more rewarding than three disconnected days in the office. Unfortunately, the longer you work at the same facility/agency, the more entrenched you become and you stray into the thought that nobody can handle the work except you. That is far from the truth because if you retired, the work arena would survive.

If you have a job that requires your being in attendance each day, delegate some of your duties and take some time off during the week. Take a spa break, go away from home and enjoy being by yourself or with your favorite person. (not a cohort) Work related relationships must stay at work. The more intertwined with your staff, the more you become in need of them and vice-versa.

Employees are often controlled by the company they work for and are given little leeway. Those in charge believe that allowing employees some control over their own schedules causes less productivity. Studies have shown that the opposite is true. An employee with a good work ethic can produce more when the chains are discarded and when trust of the employee is a given.

Unfortunately, bosses think that lunches and celebrations are the best benefits given to employees. Granted this is the fun part for the employees, but the benefit of raises periodically is far more conducive to productivity. The boss who depends on certain employees but does not reimburse them for a job well done is just not in tune with the times.
Self absorbed bosses who do not keep up with business changes is wearing blinders. Flex time in today's society and in successful companies takes precedence over the old way of using employees and expecting them to produce.

Millenians in this day and age will not work for a company who expects employers to treat them as lesser than. They speak up for their rights. Work is but one part of their lives.

Respect is still alive and demands are greater now than in earlier years. Therefore, now is the time to consider flexible work hours. Grant the employees who are dedicated to the job some degree of flexibility.

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Gloria M. Reiske is an MSW, LCSW with more than thirty years experience in education, Administration, social work, and coaching. She has authored many articles and is published in local media, having written a men and grief manual for training purposes throughout Virginia and an article for children and grief.

Do you have work fever?

Do you have work fever?

Take your temperature and if you are one of those who works but does not see the return on your investment, it's like a cat chasing its own tail. If you work, and most of your achievements are seen by corporate heads as the person who is rewarded with bonuses and extra salary, it's all worth the effort.

Nevertheless, if you are running your wheels, and do not enjoy your work, perhaps you are playing charades. How long can you play this game and how much does this change your true personality? We all know that patience is a virtue, but can you be patient for another several years? Much of your real self is compromised and yet each day is filled with mechanical doings in service of your company.

The good part of all this is your knowledge and experience keeps you moving forward. The more you know, the more you become a leader in your field. You cannot return to those days when you were a novice. You are now in another league, and wishing for less intensive work will not happen. The downside is now that you are in a leadership role, people will expect you to respond to their problems. Depending on your attitude, how will you resolve those problems?

So much is at stake here, your personal and professional responsibilities, and balancing both sides of the coin. Most of us had to make those important decisions.

Life is too short to choose one or the other. Therefore, take a deep breath and prioritize. Think hard about what is most important to you. Find a reasonable path and follow that yellow brick road. Eventually, you will walk down the road that most agrees with your values.

Neither work or play satisfies our desires. If you are willing to do some of both, that is all that one can ask for, so it is a win-win situation. Complaining only exacerbates the circumstances. As the old saying goes, "Bloom where you are planted". As far as I know, no position is perfect and in today's world, there are so many changes that sometimes one feels like a continuous bouncing ball.

Whether you are involved in the politics of your company or traveling under the radar, life will continue. Be discreet, in service of yourself. You are worth the effort!