Comments on: You Can’t Threaten People to Be Happy

By: Tom

Tom — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 10:29:39 +0000

I guess you are right, you cant threat people to be happy.

By: Curious Cat Management Improvement Blog » Management Improvement Carnival #49

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:29:05 +0000

[...] You Can’t Threaten People to Be Happy by Frank Roche – “They’re being warned that if morale doesn’t increase, and if their griping doesn’t end, there will be repercussions. I couldn’t make this up. Yeah, you know what works? Telling people to be happy while the friggin company is falling to pieces. That always works” [...]

By: Frank

Frank — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 13:36:19 +0000

Mindy…that memo is a classic. Maybe we should cook up a site that's like Passive-Aggressive notes, only something about “notes from nutty bosses.” LOL.

The great HR people I know are business people. They so beyond get it…and they could work anywhere in the company and make a difference. The bureaucrats — they gotta go. Paper pushers and rule makers are not our friends in this economy…or any.

Thanks very much for chiming in. I appreciate it.

By: Mindy Stewart

Mindy Stewart — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 02:26:18 +0000

This was a great blog. Thank you for your perspectives. I'm just sorry I am chiming in so late. I didn't see this one until today. I have actually worked for an agency where the Executive Director (he also “handled” HR) actually sent a memo to everyone that stated they weren't able to talk to eachother about work – especially in the bathroom. I couldn't make this up if I tried!

I work with quite a few HR departments around the country on issues of workplace child care and you are right about qualifications. I have found that in most businesses the HR department isn't even trained on important issues in their own field. They are generally the ones who know how to sign up for health insurance and beyond that, they are seen as largely unimportant to the business.

By: HR World » Blog Archive » Wednesday Links: Don’t Threaten Employees, and Content is King

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:30:07 +0000

[...] K, this might come as a shock. But threatening? It doesn’t improve morale. Especially if the threatening is telling people to improve morale or else. Um, yea. Read more at Know HR. [...]

By: Frank

Frank — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:39:10 +0000

Thanks very much, Chris. That's an honor.

Morale is going to be a hotter topic as the next year wears on. Engagement will be out…motivation will be in.

By: Frank

Frank — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:38:10 +0000

John, you're so right. If you're a superstar business, then it changes things. Someday I'd love to be around that place.

By: John H.

John H. — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 13:28:57 +0000

Although I'm pretty sure you can say whatever you want to motivate when you have a well-documented history of winning and pay in the 99th %ile of all professions.

By: Chris Young

Chris Young — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 03:51:11 +0000

Great post Frank – thanks for sharing!

Your story brings up some important issues when it comes to employee morale — the most important I feel is how HR and leaders in general look at morale and employee engagement from the wrong perspective. These aren't issues that can be “fixed” with a training program or outright threats to an employee's job security. There simply isn't an on/off switch when it comes to employee morale and realizing this is the first step in the right direction.

I have featured your post in my weekly Rainmaker 'Fab Five' blog picks of the week which can be found here: http://www.maximizepossibility.com/employee_ret...

Be well Frank!

By: Frank

Frank — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 14:00:01 +0000

John, I loved that quote when you first told me it. It's great. Apropos.