I can do it, too
If you want involvement at work, at home, at school, at church, etc. it begins with you, especially if you are in charge. Pay attention to the little things. It’s the little things that add up to something major.
For instance, if you want people to keep their work areas clean, what does your work area look like? If you have piles and piles on your desk and on the floor with food wrappers from lunch still sitting by your computer, it’s not much of an example. What about when you walk down the aisles? Do you ever stop to pick up something on the floor? Are you on the lookout for things out of place so you can right it? Or, are you on the lookout so you can tell someone else to do it? It’s the difference between being the cop or being part of the team. I have a small manufacturing client that has rotating tasks for everyone in the office to make sure the grounds just outside the front door are picked up, emptying trash, and a myriad of other things. Everyone including the owner is assigned something for a period of time so they know how much easier it would be if things were kept clean at the source. The pride in the way their business looks to visitors and themselves is very evident.
If you want to be approachable and someone who people can bring ideas to, then spend some time with people doing the little things. Make sure you are not too good to have lunch in the employee lunch room or stop to pick up a piece of trash that has missed the wastebasket. Take time to ask about that little league game or dance recital or hunting trip that your employee is involved in. You’d be amazed at the results you’ll get when you ask for helpers and they see you show up as well.
