Words Matter: 5 Things to Always/Never Say At Work

by Filed Under: Business Blog

Jevin Sackett - words matterIt’s been almost two centuries since playwright Edward Bulwer-Lytton first introduced the now universally accepted adage that the “pen is mightier than the sword.”

And it is indisputable that, despite all the technological advances, even in the 21st century workplace words retain considerable power. However, while much attention is paid in the world of business to the import of words placed by pen on paper or—as is the case here–on computer screens, often overlooked is the considerable power and importance of the spoken word.

I am not the first, nor I suspect the last, businessperson to note the importance of conversations in the workplace, and the potential impact that “saying the right/wrong thing” can have on a person’s business prospects. In fact, in previous postings I discussed several of the most important qualities that most businesses seek when hiring both employees and senior management; I noted then–and still believe–that regardless of the individual’s role within the company, the ability to speak well and communicate effectively is critical to his or her chances of success.

The examples of things employees could say that carry the potential to either advance–or harm–their chances to succeed in the workplace is virtually limitless. However, having been an active member of the business community for almost two decades—and as CEO of Sackett National Holdings, which employs hundreds of individuals—I’d like to offer some common sense suggestions of things that are best said, or left unsaid, in the modern workplace.

So, for what it’s worth, here are five of what I consider to be the Most Welcome—and Unwelcome—commonly used phrases in today’s workplace.

 

Five Most Unwelcome Workplace Phrases:

 

  • 1) That’s Not Part of My Job: It’s entirely reasonable to wonder “why me?” when one is asked to perform a task beyond his or her normal duties, but simply stating ‘it’s not my job’ shows a lack of initiative, or even interest; it’s also a definitively negative statement that sets a similar workplace tone.

 

  • 2) What’s The Rush?: Again, it’s not unreasonable to inquire why a particularly short deadline has been chosen, but using this phrase implies inflexibility; in business, as in life, things often change and sometimes priorities have to as well.

 

  • 3) It’s Not My Fault AKA He (or She) Said It Was OK: Pointing fingers at other people for personal errors is never a good idea. Mistakes happen, even among the most qualified employees. Accepting responsibility for a mistake is not easy, but definitely preferable to passing the proverbial ‘buck’ to try and avoid blame.

 

  • 4) That’s Not How (previous supervisor) Did This: Learning from past experiences is important. However, equally important is a willingness to adapt to new operational methods; suggestions on how to perform duties in a more efficient way should always be welcomed by management, but comparing a current manager to a past one is not the way to present such a suggestion.

 

  • 5) I Can’t/Won’t Do That: On occasion, an employee may be asked to perform a task that he or she feels cannot be completed as required, and if (s)he believes that—for whatever reason–it would be better done by someone else, (s)he may choose to make that point. But context is very important, and if one chooses to refuse to complete an assigned task, it should be explained as to why that’s the case; in such cases, presenting an alterative method of completing the task is also highly desirable.

 

Five Most Welcomed Workplace Phrases:

 

  • 1) How Are You Doing?: It may sound a little trite, but the simple common courtesy of showing interest in a colleague, as you would any other person, can help create a more cordial, friendly workplace; you may also be surprised how much it can mean to someone who hasn’t been asked this question for some time.

 

  • 2) Maybe We Could Try…: Smart managers and executives usually welcome good ideas, even if they’re not their own. Putting forward practical alternatives that would increase efficiency or reduce costs shows initiative and interest, and most often will be seen by managers as such.

 

  • 3) Would You Like Some Help?: Offering unsolicited assistance to either a colleague or supervisor is not only a display of common courtesy (which is unfortunately not as “common” as it once was) but shows a willingness to work towards the benefit of others, without expecting anything in return.

 

  • 4) You Know, It’s His Birthday/Anniversary: Often, the thoughtful gesture of simply remembering–and acknowledging–an important date in a colleague’s life can mean a great deal to him/her; you spend much of your year working alongside workplace colleagues, so why not help create a collegial environment whenever possible?

 

  • 5) I Couldn’t Have Done It Without…: A willingness to share kudos, and compliments, for workplace accomplishments shows not only magnanimity, but a spirit of teamwork that is highly valued in most companies

 

As you can see, most of these workplace phrases—both welcome and unwelcome—are really just a matter of common sense and courtesy; just remember to always think before you speak because—whether written or spoken—words always matter.

Workplace Diversity—An American Hallmark

by Filed Under: Business Blog

Jevin Sackett Business People Corporate White Collar Worker Office ConceptPerhaps more than any other nation, the United States is—at its core—a land of diversity.

And this diversity is found in all aspects of our existence. For example, climatically—the American flag is flown over virtually every climate known to Man; from the arctic lands of Alaska, through the rainforests of the Northwest, the sub-tropical climes of Hawaii and Florida, to the vast deserts of the Southwest or the wide open prairies of the Midwest, the American climate truly runs the gamut.

The same is true economically–the U.S. also boasts one of the most diverse economic foundations in the world. Despite some fundamental changes to the economic structure of the country over the last three decades—the decline of manufacturing and the rise of the service sector being the most notable—few, if any nations can lay claim to the range of employment opportunities that exist in America.

From the world’s leading high tech and financial services companies, through what is still one of the globe’s largest manufacturing bases, to the thriving energy sector, and our undisputed leadership in arts and entertainment, America’s diverse GNP continues to be a dominant economic force well into the 21st century.

Economic diversity also plays a large role in the continuing success of our company, Sackett National Holdings (SNH). Through our subsidiaries, SNH is a leading national player in a variety of critical business sectors, including the aforementioned financial services industry (via SettlementOne Credit & SettlementOne Valuation); the automotive industry (via National Credit Center); the nation’s energy sector (via Sperian Energy); and the hiring process of new employees in virtually all industries nationwide (via PeopleFacts).

Not surprising, then, that workplace diversity is also one of the core principals of the modern American workplace, including all the subsidiaries of SNH.

And although there are (very legitimate) legal reasons for this, I would proffer that a diverse workplace is also good business practice. For many of the same reasons that financial advisors will tell their clients to invest in a diverse portfolio, it is also a wise business decision for a company to have a diverse workforce comprised of the best and brightest employees.

As I discussed in a recent posting, recruiting the highest quality employees is often a daunting task, and one that can help determine the future success—or failure—of any organization. No matter what role an employee plays within a business, their skills and acumen either add to–or diminish–that company’s chances for success.

Simply put, we want to hire the best available candidates for every opening, regardless of their sex, race, color or age. And in all candor, while there are many reasons for doing so, having a workplace as diverse as the nation just makes good business sense.

Workplace diversity is more than just a question of ‘political correctness’, or adhering to legal requirements. With the economy rebounding, as companies scramble to hire the best employees from a shrinking pool of available candidates, smart executives understand that it’s just a wise business decision to select the very best candidates from the widest possible range of applicants.

The old adage that ‘variety is the spice of life’ is, in fact, a truism in modern America. And nowhere is it truer–or wiser–to welcome that variety and diversity than in the workplace.

At the end of the day, it’s the right, smart and, indeed, the American thing to do.

Hiring Executive Management – Qualities That Stand Out

by Filed Under: Business Blog

Jevin Sackett Blog LeadershipThe best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants
done, and self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it.
— Theodore Roosevelt

Hiring Executive Management – Qualities That Stand Out

Last week, I discussed the five core qualities that I believe most businesses seek when recruiting a new employee. You can read the full article through my last blogpost here.

This week, I’d like to shift the focus to the leadership level, and review the core personal and professional attributes that I believe are desirable in the best candidates for senior management. Allow me to stipulate from the start, the desired management qualities I will be discussing are—obviously—not carved in stone; there are many variables at play when selecting a company’s management team, including familiarity with the unique traits of the organization’s specific business sector (i.e. managers in the IT industry vs. the food service industry vs. the public sector, etc.)

That said, not unlike the previously discussed process of recruiting top-notch employees, hiring top quality management can also be a daunting task; in addition, the quality of the individuals charged with leading an organization can—and often will–have a significant impact on the company’s overall success.

As Chief Executive Officer of Sackett National Holdings, I take seriously my role in the decision-making process regarding who is hired to fill senior management positions within our company. I believe that one of the many important roles played by the CEO of a successful, growing organization such as ours is to surround his or herself with qualified, skilled executives who can–and will—pick up the proverbial corporate ‘ball and run with it.’

As any CEO will confirm, time is one of the most valuable commodities we have and as a result we need to know that we can delegate authority to senior managers who are fully capable of fulfilling their assigned tasks, with very limited supervision.

While once again stipulating that each organization is unique and will, therefore, likely require leaders with personal and professional qualities suited to that company’s individual needs, here are five core leadership qualities that I believe are shared by all of our company’s highly skilled management:

• Leadership skills: It should be self-evident that someone tasked with providing leadership within the company should—themselves–possess core leadership skills, most notably communication abilities; employees can only successfully achieve goals that are clearly delineated and communicated effectively

• Strategic skills: SNH, like many growing companies, is a diverse organization, and our senior managers need to be highly skilled at developing a strategy for their particular business unit, and possess the ability to successfully execute that strategy to its completion

• Quick Thinking: In today’s 24/7 business world, circumstances change quicker than ever before; combine that fact with the rapid growth that our company–and other successful organizations—experience, and it’s easy to understand the importance of hiring senior managers that are quick-thinking enough to thrive in a hyper-growth, rapidly changing business environment

• Expertise: As previously mentioned, SNH is a diverse organization involved in an equally diverse range of business sectors (financial services, automotive, employment screening and energy) Senior managers tasked with providing leadership in each of those sectors must possess the acumen, perspicacity and industry experience required to ensure that each of our business units remains an innovative leader in their respective business sector

• A ‘Good Fit’: Perhaps the most challenging of the core qualities sought in a successful senior manager is that he or she will ‘fit’ well into an organization; despite an often abundance of similarities, no two businesses are run exactly alike, and therefore a talented manager who succeeded at Widget Company A may not necessarily fit well into the differing corporate culture of their competitor, Widget Company B. In the case of SNH, a unique company with multiple office locations–offering a wide variety of products and services across several business sectors–the task of recruiting senior managers who are a “good fit” for our unique business structure is both challenging—and rewarding.

Whether it be in business, government or the military, the quality of an organization’s leadership matters.

And from a CEO’s perspective, Teddy Roosevelt’s sage advice still holds true: recruit the very best men and women leaders available, then allow them to fulfill their own leadership potential–and in doing so, make their own significant contributions to your company’s overall success.

Recruit the Best and Brightest

by Filed Under: Business Blog

Jevin Sackett recruiting SNH

As CEO of Sackett National Holdings (SNH), Jevin Sackett fully understands the critical importance of recruiting only the best and brightest available employees.

In addition to his role as CEO of a successful and rapidly growing holding company, Jevin’s expertise on the subject of employee recruitment is informed by his experiences with SNH’s subsidiary–PeopleFacts–a national leader in the employee screening industry.

Read Jevin’s informative views on what to look for when a company is in search of the highest quality candidates: click here.

Free Speech: Liberty’s Greatest Defense

by Filed Under: Business Blog

Jevin Sackett Freedom of Speech“Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freedom of speech”—Benjamin Franklin

In the wake of recent events in Paris, we’re reminded of the timelessness of Ben Franklin’s cautionary words, and the critical role that free speech plays in the preservation of liberty in a democracy.

Of course, a major component of a democracy’s commitment to free speech is its willingness to protect freedom of the press. And while it’s true that the business world and the media sometimes find themselves cast into opposing corners, it’s equally true that each party plays a vital role in a healthy democracy.

The Founding Fathers understood that then, as now, media in all its forms—print, broadcast, and, more recently, online—provide a key foundation upon which democracy is built; for its part, a thriving business community promotes healthy competition and innovation, both of which are also key components of any modern democracy.

As CEO of a growing, successful business, I know full well the critical role that business media play in providing me with useful insight and information that informs many of my business decisions. And as the head of a leading Las Vegas-based business, I am always willing—indeed, happy and proud—to share our company’s story with members of the media. (A recent example of business media interest in Sackett National Holdings can be seen here in a feature story, by the Las Vegas Business Press)

While occasional media excesses may sometimes make it easy to generalize, and cast a negative pall over all media, the fact is that the media industry itself is an enormous, thriving business that employs thousands of Americans in a wide variety of jobs.

As a proponent of information technology–and free speech–I also take pleasure in the fact that modern technology has resulted in an explosion of media outlets; the resulting increase in sources of news and information has also opened the door to hundreds of thousands of previously unheard voices. That, too, is welcome news.

In a democracy, we believe that there is no such thing as “too much” freedom of speech. However, that does not mean that even in a democracy there are no limits placed on free speech.

It has been almost a century since Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes’ famed quote regarding the limits of free speech. In 1919’s Schenck vs. The United States, Justice Holmes famously wrote, on behalf of a unanimous Supreme Court, that “the most stringent protection of free speech would not protect a man falsely shouting fire in a crowded theater and causing a panic.”

In other words, even in the world’s greatest democracy, free speech is not limitless.

Still, the U.S. Supreme Court has also issued countless decisions regarding freedom of speech that—quite correctly—defended the extensive limits of free speech, even to the point of allowing it to occur when it may be deemed offensive by some.

For more than two centuries, that defense of free speech has been a hallmark of American democracy, and it is one we proudly share with our democratic friends and allies such as France.

And while Justice Holmes’ was correct that free speech does have its limits, recent events in Paris also serve as a stark reminder that Ben Franklin’s warning was prescient: a democratic nation’s liberty is, indeed, contingent on its willingness to promote–and defend—both free speech and freedom of the press.

The Year Ahead – I’m Feeling Bullish

by Filed Under: Market News

Jevin Sackett market newsAs a new year beckons, American businesses find themselves on the precipice of what most economists are predicting will be the healthiest economic growth since before the Great Recession began seven years ago.

After several years of sluggish economic growth, that’s welcome news for American businesses large and small. Still, in the wake of previous predictions of strong economic recovery that ultimately proved overly optimistic, some U.S. business owners would be forgiven for being skeptical about the painting of an economically rosy 2015.

However, this may well be the year that economists are finally correct in predicting solid economic growth. Putting all the rhetoric aside, the recent economic ‘arrows’ point convincingly towards a strong economy in 2015.

A few economic signposts worthy of consideration:

  • According to the federal Bureau of Economic Indicators, real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the U.S. grew by an impressive 5 percent in the third quarter of 2014; that is on the heals of the previous quarter’s solid 4.6 percent growth
  • Personal income, another strong measure of consumer confidence and economic growth, was also up by .4 percent in November
  • Gas prices are down—way down—from where they were last year. A barrel of crude oil has declined from over $100 a barrel in the first half of 2014, to below $50 a barrel at the beginning of this year. That savings translates into hundreds of dollars more in the pockets of the average American consumer
  • The stock market has, repeatedly, set new record highs over the last several months, and corporate profits are healthier than at any time in recent years
  • And perhaps most importantly, unemployment has been steadily declining, with the most recent unemployment rate in the U.S. down to 5.6 percent

While a healthier job market is good news for American workers, and signals overall strength in the economy, it also presents the prospect of a more challenging recruiting environment for American businesses. As more companies look to hire new employees, businesses will have to hustle to ensure they can recruit their first choice of new hires.

At Sackett National Holdings, we are on the front lines of the recruiting efforts of American businesses, as our SettlementOne Screening employment screening products play a key role in helping companies ensure they’re hiring the best available candidates.

And when one considers that U.S. businesses hired 252,000 employees in December—after hiring an impressive 353,000 the previous month—the laws of supply and demand dictate that 2015 is likely to be a far more challenging year for companies looking to hire new employees.

In addition to our company’s employment screening experience, as CEO of a rapidly expanding business, I also have first hand experience with the many challenges of ensuring the quality of new employees.

And so while I–like all American business leaders–welcome the long-awaited arrival of good economic news, I also recognize that with that positive news comes added business responsibilities.

If American businesses hope to ensure that economic predictions for a strong 2015 are reflected in their own corporate performance, they must also ensure that their company’s business—and hiring—plans are reflective of, and responsive to, the nation’s dynamic economic environment.