Rajen Kumar
Jan 2012

Years come and go and New Year resolutions are made and then forgotten. Shaking hands and saying Happy New Year is all we do and soon we find ourselves head down busy in our routine tasks. Make a difference this New Year. We have some meaningful thoughts to share with the entrepreneurs.

 Do something different this year and make a difference without incurring costs. Share pleasantries with your entire team– down from the humble worker to the senior admin staff.

 Call them over for a tea party. Share with them the plusses and minuses and what they missed and what was achieved in the past year. Make them feel free to share.  Invite their suggestions to improve working conditions. Involve them in the improvement process. Ask them about your enterprise's strong and weak points. They will be happy to be part of the SWOT analysis exercise. Give them a week to think and jot down their suggestions.

 Read carefully every paper and make your own notes. Select the best ones and call them all to announce the best suggestions. Recognize the best ones by giving some token rewards in the form of a memento and certificate of appreciation to all who have participated. Hold enlightening talks for the workers periodically. Tell them about lean or good manufacturing practices being adopted in various progressive enterprises and inform them what benefits they have derived. Tell them how minimal wastage means more production and more profits and more prosperity for all. Tell your workers to organize themselves and write a good quote on the white board everyday turn by turn. Each time they will look at the inspirational quote contributed by them, they will feel rejuvenated and proud.

 Have brain storming sessions with your administration staff and freely discuss SWOT. Surely many will come forward with meaningful suggestions. Enlighten them with the practices in highly successful enterprises in India and elsewhere. Tell them how we can further induce more professionalism. Involve them all in the decision making process. Make them realize that it is labor which makes enterprises get going. Labor problem is raising its ugly head everywhere so realize the dignity of labor.

 Hold such meets often, say once in three months. It will make a difference for sure. Positive energies will flow. An environment conducive to working hard will set in. A feel good factor that is so necessary will prevail. Try this. No harm.