As I write this column, 2002 is already upon us. On reflection, the past year has not been an easy one, and this coming year seems set to present more of the challenges that we have come to expect living and working in SA. Traditionally, the start of a New Year is often accompanied by a sense of renewal, of starting afresh. To aid in this process, many people write a list of life-changing or life-enhancing resolutions, which functions as a guide for the year ahead.
In 2002 retention of staff is likely to be one of the biggest challenges that we have yet to face.
Jill Hamlyn is MD of People Business
In the spirit of the coming year, I propose the following resolutions for anybody in a work environment to adopt at any time:
1.I will accentuate the positive. If there is no positive that I can see, I will do what I can to turn a bad situation around. In conversation with someone who is planning to emigrate at the end of January, we both arrived at the conclusion that there seems to be a stinging lack of pride in who we are as a nation. It is generally agreed that our past has not exactly been auspicious. However, there comes a time when the past needs to be left exactly where it is - behind us. The lessons we have learned can be carried with confidence into the future. Often the present is not as good as we would like it to be. Our challenge is to isolate those things we can do in order to contribute meaningfully and positively to the present in order to turn awful situations into not-so-bad situations. Doing this may take anything from readjusting our viewpoint to actually doing something. The choice is yours.
2.I will be an ant, not a crab. Folk stories tell of a basket full of crabs (probably destined for a pot of boiling salted water) in which one crab tries to hoist itself out of the basket only to be pulled down by the remaining crabs. This is a resolution closely allied to the one above. It is easy to drag people down, or stamp on initiative, or keep good ideas hugged close to the chest for fear of giving someone less deserving an advantage. The saying that misery loves company is also not a clich'e for nothing. Just imagine, for a moment, all that may be accomplished if we acted more like ants, insects that have a marvellous collective system of cooperation and sharing for the greater good. Now imagine the possibilities.
3.I will work hard at ascertaining what it is that makes my employees and company tick in an effort to reduce workplace turnover and retain staff (a resolution for employers). This is a refrain that is so often repeated that it almost resembles a clich'e. However, like all good clich'es it contains a large grain of truth. And in 2002 retention of staff is likely to be one of the biggest challenges that we have yet to face. News reports last year noted that the UK has relaxed its immigration laws in order to attract highly skilled or highly talented individuals to live and work there. The hoary spectre of an unprecedented increase in the `brain drain` rears its ugly head yet again. Although we may have little control over such laws and the state of our currency, now is unquestionably the time to ensure that we do what it takes to keep our brightest and best happy - within reasonable limits, of course.
4.As far as possible, I will keep emotion out of the business environment. The term `emotional` has become pejorative in the workplace. While nobody expects us to function at the level of automatons (the majority of us are still human, after all), keeping excessive emotion out of business wheeling and dealing, as well as decision-making in the workplace, may very often allow us to make more strategic plans than we would have if swept away by unruly feelings. But take care not to ignore your intuition.
5.I will sort out my tax. Or I will enlist someone`s help in order to do this. This is especially important for contractors who may not be aware of the changes in legislation and its impact on earnings and tax status. Over the past couple of years, the Receiver of Revenue has adopted a zero tolerance policy and no excuses will be accepted. It is a worthwhile exercise to find out exactly what your tax liability is, how often it falls due and what concessions you may be entitled to. When obtaining advice on tax matters, make sure that it is from a reputable source.
6.To the best of my ability, I will ensure that 2002 is the year in which I encourage growth and development. Commonly accepted wisdom states that death, taxes and change are the only certainties that we have. Of these, change is probably the one element that we are the most familiar with since we live in a society that has been in transition for a number of years. Growth and development are two of the most positive offshoots of change and change may come about as a result of growth and development. Growth and development may be personal or it may be collective. The route to growth and development is investing in others, and ourselves, and is possibly one of the most important things we can do in a lifetime. I guarantee that the rewards and returns on this investment are very often boundless.
Although it appears to be a universal phenomenon that many resolutions seem to fall by the wayside a couple of days, weeks or months into the New Year, those resolutions that are kept are likely to be the more important ones. The bonus of the resolutions presented above is that they may be applied at any time during the working year. Let these resolutions be a list to guide you through the challenges of 2002. Happy New Year!
Share
