I was recently in a fast-food restaurant ordering lunch when I witnessed the two employees at the registers complaining to each other about a fellow worker; it might have been their manager. As I stood there, the person waiting on me barely made eye contact with me. She quickly type a few things into their… Continue reading What Ever Happened to Customer Service?
Author: Tom Stanfield
A Christian for 30+ years. Growing in faith daily as I walk as close to my Lord as I can.
Is the Cup Half Empty or Half Full?
We have probably all heard this question before. It is used in conversations about life and its experiences. I have heard people say an optimist will say it is half full, while a pessimist says it is half empty. What do you say it is? Take a minute and picture in your mind the glass… Continue reading Is the Cup Half Empty or Half Full?
People Development vs. Human Resources
“Resources are things you use. I don’t want to use people. I want to develop them.” These words were spoken to me 20 years ago by the owner of the company I was working for; before the baby-boomer exit changed “succession planning” into a major issue, before “engaged employees” was the current topic, before the… Continue reading People Development vs. Human Resources
West Michigan Best Companies to Work For
I have recently semi-retired. In my final decade of permanent employment I was privileged to work for companies that in that time frame were selected as one of the 101 Best Companies to Work For in West Michigan. They ranged from 6 employees to 150 employees; from a single office to a company with four… Continue reading West Michigan Best Companies to Work For
Begin with the End in Mind
One of the seven habits in Steven Covey’s book “7 Habits for Highly Effective People” is “begin with the end in mind”. Hopefully most executives think that way. They set a goal, make a plan and attempt to complete the plan. The question is do their people know the goal? If they do, do they… Continue reading Begin with the End in Mind
Managing is like Parenting
After 30+ years of managing people and being a father of 4 and grandfather of 9 I have recognized that there is a parallel between managing and parenting. There is one over-riding truth. For the best results both must be done intentionally. Guiding people to be the best they can be in an area of… Continue reading Managing is like Parenting
What do they teach in Drivers’ Training?
In the last 20+ years I have driven well over 500,000 miles. In fact the two cars we currently own have over 450,000 miles together. I have driven the vast majority of them. They were company cars that we purchased from my previous employer after I had driven them for three years each. It was… Continue reading What do they teach in Drivers’ Training?
Workplace Flexibility
The greatest effect on a flexible work force is your recruitment practice. If you hire the right people they appreciate flexibility. They understand others’ need for flexibility and they will not complain when you are flexible for their teammates. The right employees will work as a team to get the job done, not just be… Continue reading Workplace Flexibility
Continuous Improvement is an Atmosphere
In the last few decades Continuous Improvement has become a topic in most organizations. When I was the Quality Management Director at a Grand Rapids based manufacturer we achieved our ISO9000 and QS9000 certifications in the early ‘90s. A big focus on these Quality Standards is process improvement which includes Continuous Improvement Projects (CIP), Corrective… Continue reading Continuous Improvement is an Atmosphere
Why Would They Work for You?
This is a key question you need to answer during this next decade. Every organization I know is struggling to find qualified help. I hear people say, “There just aren’t any Engineers in West Michigan” or “All the Tool & Die Journeymen have left the trade during the recession”. The fact is there are thousands… Continue reading Why Would They Work for You?
My Goal is To Do Nothing
One of the first things I tell a new employee that I am working with is “my goal is to do nothing”. That always gets their attention. After that, I let them know what I really mean is my desire is to simplify every responsibility I have to the point that systems perform the task… Continue reading My Goal is To Do Nothing
Focus on Strengths Not Weaknesses
You probably have heard of Strength Finders. I believe the marketing for the Strength Finders test was very clever. You can take this “free” test to determine what your top 5 strengths are. All you have to do is buy the book. By the way, the code that you get with the book can only… Continue reading Focus on Strengths Not Weaknesses
We are Leaving Talent on the Bench
Multiple times a week I find myself in conversation with talented people who cannot find their way through the maze of today’s employment process. They are eager to put what they know to work for an employer, but the “system” does not let them in. Let me give you a couple of personal examples. Those… Continue reading We are Leaving Talent on the Bench
M Live Article- The Jobs Dilemma
I read an article by Melissa Anders from M Live The headline is “The Jobs Dilemma”. I must say it was a great job of reporting differing opinions without trying to drive the readers to her conclusion. Nice job Melissa Anders. There are two sub-headlines. “If Michigan graduates so many skilled students, why can’t they find… Continue reading M Live Article- The Jobs Dilemma
Should Interviewing be Interrogation or Conversation?
I have been trying to figure out why so many people find interviewing a stressful process. Having been a recruiter for over 15 years, I have been in hundreds of interviews. The vast majority of the time I find myself trying to help the interviewees relax enough that we could have a good enough conversation… Continue reading Should Interviewing be Interrogation or Conversation?
…But a Woman’s Work is Never Done
There is an old saying that says, “A man may work from sun to sun, but a woman’s work is never done". Before we get all lost in being politically correct, remember it is an old saying. I wish men would recognize that managing a home is hard work. Combine that with the typical woman… Continue reading …But a Woman’s Work is Never Done
Learning from Those Who Disagree With You
It seems to me that most people do not like to listen to other people talk about a topic that they disagree on. In fact, it is a cultural norm not to discuss topics that might bring disagreement like politics, religion, sports teams, music taste, etc. with a new acquaintance, especially if you wish to… Continue reading Learning from Those Who Disagree With You
Coaching Those That Don’t Know Where They Want To Go
One of the things I have enjoyed most in life is coaching people to find their goal when they don’t even know what that goal is yet. This has happened as a father, as a coach for sports teams, as a business manager and as a mentor. The common thread is recognizing that everyone has… Continue reading Coaching Those That Don’t Know Where They Want To Go
Changing Employment Strategy; Becoming an Employer of Choice
I have been involved in the hiring process for over 30 years. I have managed small departments ranging from a staff of 2 or 3 to having been the Plant Manager of a 3 facility, 150 employee company. I have worked for companies from as small as 4 employees to as large as 200+ employees.… Continue reading Changing Employment Strategy; Becoming an Employer of Choice
A Candidate is More than a Resume
In the recruiting and interviewing process, why is a resume considered to be so important? Can you possibly understand if a candidate would be a great fit for your organization and for the position you are trying to fill from their resume? Most resumes are not written solely by the candidate. They have been “coach”… Continue reading A Candidate is More than a Resume
Too Busy to Get Better
I have spent most of my career improving processes. Early on I was an Industrial Engineer assigned to do time studies at Checker Motors, the taxi cab manufacturer. My job was to find the causes of “wasted time” throughout the company and determine how to remove them. Help people work smarter, not harder. Later in… Continue reading Too Busy to Get Better
Cooperative Collaborations
Company, university and student – what if there was a way you could all win in the game of business? What if a common denominator allowed companies to reduce cost and add creativity, while simultaneously helping universities move students into great careers where these students could thrive? Welcome to the world of Cooperative Collaborations. Cooperative… Continue reading Cooperative Collaborations
Our Employees are Our Greatest Resource…Really?
I have heard a lot of organizations make the statement, “Our People are Our Greatest Resource”. I believe they mean that. They recognize that their people are an integral part of their success. Without their years of effort and their collective knowledge the organization could not function. For 15 years of my career I was… Continue reading Our Employees are Our Greatest Resource…Really?
Internships- Paid versus Unpaid
I have been involved with internship programs for many years. I have managed the program for 2 companies and have helped many other companies start or improve their programs. In those years I have seen the tremendous positive effect an internship program can have on a company or organization. I consider myself a champion for… Continue reading Internships- Paid versus Unpaid
Who Are You Between the Pages of His-Story?
Over the years of reading the Bible I have become more and more aware of something. The actual percentage of the lives of Biblical characters in scripture is very small. Even the major characters like Abraham, Moses, David, Joseph, Paul and even Jesus have a very small part of their life on the pages of… Continue reading Who Are You Between the Pages of His-Story?
Christian Life Coach 