Staff Performance: Six Single Syllables For Continued Success

Introduction

Six single syllable words! That’s all it takes! Six little words formed into a question to ensure that our repeat successes and don’t repeat failures in staff performance.

The Six Single Syllables

“What did you learn from that?” Who hasn’t got time to ask that question? Or are you just too busy: or too preoccupied with day to day problems to form these six single syllables into a telling question?

Self Interest Symbols

The six syllables are a potent example of positive management self interest. Look at it this way:

The sooner that you’re confident that your staff are competent, the sooner you can concentrate on your main work: running the business. The less distractions you have from day to day problems and irritations, the more benefit you’ll gain from using the six single syllables.

Workplace As A Learning Environment

The workplace is a centre of learning. It lacks classrooms and teachers and most of the accoutrements associated with learning. But huge amounts of learning take place. New staff learn their jobs. Other staff learn new methods. All staff learn how to work effectively together and how to gain respect and recognition. They learn how to discuss differences, satisfy customers and resolve work related problems.

The Problem Is …

You and your staff are often so busy doing what you’re paid to do, that you forget that you’re learning. You make the same mistake twice because you learnt nothing from making it once. No one asked, “What did you learn from that?”

The Support Questions

The six simple syllables is only the first question. It opens the door to other questions such as

• “Do we need to change or review any systems?”
• “Does that mean that our system worked well?”
• “How can we avoid making this mistake again?”
• “Was the customer satisfied with the outcome?”
• “Who else needs to know about this?”

Why Start With Six Syllables

It’s preferable to seek employee input before continuing with support questions. You want them to develop the habit of regarding the workplace as a learning environment. Ultimately they should be asking the Six Syllable question themselves.

Using The Six Syllable Question

Use the question whenever a project is completed, a problem is resolved, after events such as a product launch or the introduction of new systems. And encourage staff to ask it constantly about their own performance.

Conclusion

Outstanding staff performance isn’t as complex or difficult as some specialists would have you believe. Sometimes, small, well chosen words do have a very important place in your management repertoire.

What To Do Now

Please email a comment or contact me direct with a specific question. And feel free to pass on this post to a friend or colleague. Most importantly, start using the Six Single Syllables today.

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