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Adding Variety in Your Work

Guest articles > Adding Variety in Your Work

by: Daniel Milstein

No matter how much you love what you do, to a point certain activities can become monotonous. I suggest you add variety to your routine to avoid boredom or burnout.

I usually add a few special responsibilities to my daily routine. For example, I help sort and deliver mail to headquarters staff several times a week. We do have administrative staff members who are probably more effective at distributing the mail, but this extra duty gives me a chance to 'make the rounds' and talk to those I might not otherwise see that day, while taking a quick break from the phones. In addition, I enjoy leading prospective employees and customers on occasional tours, so that they can see the energy throughout the office.

After I make the elevator speech about Gold Star's history and mission, I introduce our guests to key people and suggest applicants meet with one or more of our loan originators 'behind closed doors.' This is the part they seem to especially enjoy because it offers a chance to get an uncensored opinion of Gold Star, without my presence. They seem to appreciate that we are not trying to give them a sanitized view of our company. Several new hires have later told me their decision to join us was at least partially influenced by that chance to have informal discussions with managers and other personnel.

I also assume the role of Gold Star cheerleader whenever possible, which often involves an incentive or motivational campaign. These actions are usually planned in advance, though at other times they are more spontaneous. During one of my daily walks throughout the office, I stopped by our post-closing department to thank them for their hard work and ask for a little extra effort. We already had a substantial bonus in place, but I wanted to add something special. 'If you do an additional $5 million by Friday, I will give you each a gift certificate to IHOP (International House of Pancakes),' I announced, knowing that they often joked that this was their favorite restaurant. Later that day, I walked by their office and saw an IHOP menu posted on the door and on their computer screens, so I knew then that they had embraced my challenge. Believing they were capable of even greater results and wanting to motivate them further, I decided to increase the incentive. 'If you hit $10 million beyond the target, I will actually serve you breakfast,' I explained. I was sure this would be an impossible target and Friday morning they were still $2 million short of the revised goal, so I had no worry about becoming a temporary IHOP waiter.

I obviously underestimated my team. Approaching their office at 5 p.m., I heard them cheering -- they had reached the seemingly unattainable goal. I contacted the IHOP manager to ask for permission to serve my staff breakfast there. He was amused at my request but agreed to allow me to wear an IHOP apron and fulfil my promise. This somewhat unusual incentive accomplished financial and motivational objectives. Of course, it helped boost the company's total revenue, but more important, it fostered additional camaraderie, the team spirit for which all companies strive.

Whether it be team incentives, personal structure, or added responsibilities, variety will keep the job from becoming too tedious and ritual.

Daniel Milstein is the bestselling author of ABC of Sales. For more information, visit: http://amzn.to/ABCARTICLES.

Contributor: Daniel Milstein

Published here on: 17-Jun-12

Classification: Sales, Management, Development

Website: http://amzn.to/ABCARTICLES