This past week I was covering the Chick-fil-A annual meeting. Andrew Cathy, CEO of Chick-fil-A, shared a quote I think we all need to hear now.
“When your memories exceed your dreams, the end is near.
– Andrew T. Cathy
When your dreams exceed your memories, you pioneer”
The “Great Resignation” is when Americans quit jobs at a record pace during the second half of 2021, and more plan to resign in the new year.
If you have been paying attention, you will also know that this is complicated and not just a simple complaint. Experts continue to say the lack of adequate childcare and health concerns about Covid, exacerbated by Omicron, is one major issue.
The widening gap between labor demand and supply appears to be most significant in low-paying industries like the service industry.
Mothers with college degrees and telework-compatible jobs were more likely to exit the labor force and be on leave than women without children. Again, this seems to be directly related to the childcare issue.
What seems to be the issue is they cannot afford to keep the jobs they have for various reasons.
Shane Benson did an excellent job with a video of a burning forest fire behind him on stage. It painted the perfect picture of all the stress of running a business today.
Ruben Gonzalez was terrified every time he did the luge event until a coach told him to concentrate 30 yards in front of him. Ruben was no longer afraid, and his times got better with this advice.
“If you want the rainbow, you have to put up with the rain.”
– Dolly Parton
The Vision must be communicated to be successful!
Your job as a leader is to generate a commitment to your organization’s vision. To do this, you must communicate the idea in a way that matters to people.
When you tell a good story, you give life to a vision. A good storyteller creates trust, captures hearts and minds, and serves as a reminder of the image. Plus, people find it easier to repeat a story than to talk about a vision statement.
Use visual aids as Shane Benson did above. Create updates to keep everyone aware of your progress toward your vision.
In 2022 – Companies will be measured by the way they treat their workers
Employers have shifted from asking what they can get from employees to ask what they can do to support employees and their families.
One of the most significant gaps for the best companies is from what they do to employees to what they communicate.
There is a communication gap at the root of all company’s failures. If you are having trouble recruiting people, have you asked if people outside the company know what you offer to work for you?
Large companies that employ people all over the country and globe cannot have a one size fits. They must let the local leaders have the flexibility to cater to the local culture.
Internal Communications BEFORE External Communications
Before the team took the field, the coach handed out a playbook for each person to memorize. They also ran the play over and over in practice. It wasn’t new to them when they ran the space for the world to see. If they executed it flawlessly, most likely, it was successful.
Effective communication builds a positive atmosphere where teams can flourish, when positive and encouraging communication, team members become more muscular and work better together.
Good communicators are vital to a business’s profit margin and reputation. Employees who communicate well and understand the company’s vision help make the company successful. Using practical communication skills can benefit a business and its employees.
I believe the best way to communicate today is to be sure you engage in many ways people learn from your messaging. Therefore, writing alone misses how most people know.
Research has found that 65 percent of the general population are visual learners, meaning they need to see information to retain it. Visuals add a component to communication that written and verbal methods do not: speed. Studies have shown that the brain can process images and videos 60,000 times faster than text, making image-based communication remarkably valuable.
Call to Action
Call a professional communicator known for using visual communications and not just writing skills. Bring them in early. Tell them your vision and dreams for where you want to go this year and communicate this to all the stakeholders to make it happen.