Do you have any employees who are frustrated in your operation? If you said “no,” I don’t believe you. If you said “yes,” I am glad because it means you want a change in your company.
I met Tom who came here from China who has a Ph.D. from Stanford. He has a heavy accent and it is hard to understand him. He is ready to quit his job. He gets paid six figures with an unlimited bonus but he is frustrated because no one understands him.
He works in a Silicon Valley well known high-tech Company. He has incredible ideas that will make a lot of money for his company which is a new sensational product idea for cell phones. However, because of his accent it is hard for him to explain his ideas and people get frustrated trying to understand him. He feels they look down on him. He is ready to move on.
Have you experienced this as a manager? Do you have employees like him? What can you do about it?
Here are some tips:
1. Have monthly meetings with your employees to brainstorm new ideas. Encourage everyone to participate. Invite employees who do not speak much to share their ideas. This is a brainstorming meeting and you encourage everyone to express themselves. If you do not understand what the employee says because English is their second language, repeat what they say until you are sure everyone understands the idea.
2. Reward people who share new ideas. It can be money or a thank you card signed by the president of the company. Give recognition in front of the team. Explain to the employees what he or she accomplished and how it will benefit the company.
3. Give power to employees who bring new ideas to the company even if it’s not part of their job. Like Tom he had a suggestion for a new product that was not part of his software engineering job. He just wanted the manager to hear his idea and try it. The manager didn’t even listen and Tom felt it was because of the language barrier.
4. Be patient and listen to your employee. Make sure you understand him or her. Ask questions until you know what to do and how to respond.
5. All of your employees’ ideas are valuable because they are on the job everyday and know what is going on in the operation. Have an open mind with each idea they bring to you and work with them to make sure you understand their concept. Ask questions like a coach and let them evaluate their own ideas without interrupting or criticizing them.
Remember...You Are a Super Hero!
Jinsoo
jinsoo@jinsooterry.com
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