Some line items should never be cut

Whether your business is down or not, it seems like everyone is being cautious these days.  Companies are watching the bottom line closely for signs of trouble and postponing major purchases.

But we're all still paying our utility bills, rent and repairing equipment when it goes down.  Some expenses are not optional.  If you don't keep investing in the infrastructure of your business, pretty soon your entire organization suffers.

I believe the same is true for our employees and ourselves.  No matter how tight the budget....we have to invest in continuing education and inspiration.  Human beings need stimulus to stay creative and productive. 

That doesn't mean you have to charter a jet to tour the Louvre or send your key execs to Harvard for a weekend symposium.  It simply means there are lots of benefits to keeping your team's saw sharp. 

• You will be telling them loud and clear that you value them
• You will be reassuring them that your business is sound, even if the numbers are off
• You're building their skills which leads to deeper client retention and happiness
• You need it too

Want some budget-friendly ideas?

Pick a book and read it/discuss it together.  Buy everyone on staff a copy and once every two weeks, do a brown bag lunch to discuss.  My suggestion:  Greater Thank Yourself by Steve Farber.  Check out my review.  It is an inspiring and perfectly timed read for our world at this very moment.

Go on a group field trip.  The zoo, the Art Center, the Science Center, a picnic at Gray's Lake.  The point is...get out of the office.  Brainstorm on a client's problem while strolling past the giraffes or plan your marketing campaign as you inhale the fragrance of the Botanical Garden. 

Learn more about leadership and character.  Sure, we all can know more about our field of expertise.  But why not work together to become the leaders you are all capable of being? 

Imagine taking your staff to hear Tony Blair and John C. Maxwell speak.  Crazy?  Not really.  For no more than $99 per person, you can do just that right here in Des Moines.  Have you heard about Maximum Impact on May 8?  Tony Blair, John C. Maxwell and others are primed to inspire you and your employees.

Volunteer together.    Want a team-building exercise that will stick?  Help build a Habitat house.  Paint a youth home.  Rake leaves for the elderly.   Invest in some sweat equity to serve others. 

Bottom line -- As you are looking for places to tighten the budget -- your employees are not the place to start.  Investing in your team doesn't have to be expensive.  But not investing in them could be the most expensive mistake of all.

Comments

[Adventure Learning Center]

Keeping employees engaged and excited about coming to work during tough times can be difficult.

While, helping team members find commonalities amongst each other provides an excellent opportunity for employees to appreciated each other’s differences. We all learn differently; visually-seeing the information, Auditory - hearing the information and Kinesthetic-practicing the information.

The Adventure Learning Center (ALC) integrates all of these learning techniques into our programs to increase understanding and retention.

Every employee has strengths and areas which could be further developed, so does your team. The ALC gives individuals the opportunity to experiences different roles in a team-centered environment, thus better understanding what skills he or she brings to the workplace.

For example, a Portable Challenge Program can be developed to fit your team’s specific needs and desired outcomes for a much lower cost. Or if your team is looking for a more physical fun filled day outside this summer, sign up for our Low and/or High Challenge Course Programs.

Melissa O'Neil
Challenge Course Coordinator
Adventure Learning Center
Iowa State University Extension, Polk County
515) 957-5767 or moneil@iastate.edu

"Tell me and I will forget. Show me and I may remember. Involve me and I will understand."
~ Chinese Proverb

[Drew McLellan]

Melissa,

Great additional suggestion -- thank you. I've known plenty of companies who have done this exact sort of activity -- and they all rave about the experience.

How many groups opt for the "low" version?

Drew (staying put on the ground!)