Loyalty Still Works!
05/13/02
Kevin Krone, Interactive Marketing VP at Southwest Airlines, believes that loyalty is still important: "At Southwest, we feel that people are a tremendous asset. Layoffs really cut the guts out of your company, because those who stay, while happy that they made the cut, are demoralized. So protecting people's jobs in the tough times is very important. ... Southwest has always managed in good times as if it were operating in bad times--because eventually, those bad times come. And when they come, it's too late to start asking yourself, Now what do I do? When things started slowing down for us, we asked what we could live without to save money and jobs. We deferred anything that was not critical. That decision bred fierce loyalty from our employees, who, through a program called 'A Pledge of Luv,' are actually giving back money to the company to help out during this tough time."
Loyalty is earned; trust and commitment are its reward. Many companies say that people are our greatest resource. Some companies live that value in the tough times, and some do not. As important as loyalty is, making a stand for your employees is luxury that is earned by leadership that cares enough to manage "in good times as if it were in bad times." Good times should not be an invitation to free spending anymore than bad times should be a time for panicked cutbacks. Make controlling costs and strategic investment in the resources that count be the way you run your business every day. When you are loyal to employees, they will be loyal to you. When your people know that you will do everything you can to keep your good workers who are committed to the organization. You can free up their worry time about whether they are the "next to go" to be invested in securing new opportunities to turn any economic setback into a launching pad for new business growth. Loyalty and trust must be earned and re-earned every single day. What can you do this week to free your people from worry and get them back focusing on winning?
MONDAY'S MIRTHFUL MOMENT
This week's mirthful moment was forwarded to us by T. Castellani. Enjoy this collection of non-Biblical proverbs:
1. I just got lost in thought. It was unfamiliar territory.
2. When the chips are down, the buffalo is empty.
3. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted then used against you.
4. It is hard to understand how a cemetery raised its burial cost and blamed it on the cost of living.
5. Just remember...if the world didn't suck, we'd all fall off.
6. It is said that if you line up all the cars in the world end to end, someone would be stupid enough to try and pass them.
7. A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well.
...And our favorite...
8. Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak!!
When you keep your eyes open for mirth, you just may find it! Hope this kicks off your morning and helps get your mood adjusted for the week. Now, get busy MAKING CHANGE WORK and have some fun along the way!...