Work Attitude and Values Enhancement

Jef Menguin http://jefmenguin.com

Work Attitude and Values Enhancement – Another Pain Killer?

Got a call this morning. This boss wants a Work Attitude and Values Enhancement

(WAVE) workshop for all employees. I do not know who started this program. It is

becoming like a new religion, a panacea, or an all-in-one solution to managers’

problems with their employees. It seems that every time there is something

wrong with the organization, the easy target are the employees.

I am not sure if this program is offered only in the Philippines, but I did not find a

promotion of WAVE workshops in other countries. Is this another ‘Onli in da

Pilipins’ program?

Please do not get me wrong. I salute all managers who provide their employees

seminars and workshops that will inspire, educate, and empower them. Given

that there are many managers who do not introduce professional development

programs for employees, the boss who contacted me this morning to request for

WAVE workshops for his employees is truly admirable.

I told him that before we run another Work Attitude and Values Enhancement

workshop, I want him to answer for four questions:

1. What is the issue you have that you hope to solve with Work Attitude and

Values Enhancement workshop?

2. What do you do presently to alleviate or solve the issue?

3. What are your other options aside from WAVE workshops?

4. What is the picture of success to you for this project?

Are you one of those who also want to conduct your own WAVE program? I

encourage you to answer these four questions before you contact another

consultant. There are many who are too willing to run a WAVE program for you.

The boss needs to identify the problems. It is easy to pin the blame on

employees. It is convenient to say that employees are unproductive because of


their work attitude and values. I do not know everything there is to know about

work, but I have conducted hundreds of workshops on personal development and

leadership. I have observed hundreds of companies. I saw that the problem lies

greatly on the inability of leaders to articulate the vision, mission, and most

importantly, the core values of the organization.

Leaders of the organizations must focus on building a work culture around their

core values. Many leaders fail to do this and they blame employees for their

failures. Work Attitude and Values Enhancement programs do not necessarily

promote corporate core values.

I do not like the term values enhancement because you do not enhance values. I

have no right to enhance your values either. I can only invite you to examine your

current practiced values and to encourage you to live your life according to your

most desired values.

By definition, values are traits or qualities that you consider worthwhile. Values

represent your highest priorities and deeply held driving forces.

Ideally, employees join organizations with corporate values which are aligned to

theirs. Conflict happens when employees have directly opposing values. This does

not mean that your employees are bad. Or that you are bad. You and your

employees happen to have different sets of values.

Your responsibility as a leader is to bring your people to an agreement that you

must all practice your core corporate values.

Identify the real problem. Most managers purchase another WAVE program to

cure the symptoms.

The boss needs to examine what they are doing. I suspect the problem lies in their

work practices. Everything begins in the hiring process. I wonder if he himself

interviewed those whom they hired. When forming a team, the first question is

not what or why or where but who.


You will work with these persons one-half of your waking life. Choose them well.

The first ninety days of your employees at work is a testament of work culture.

Einstein was right. Insanity is when you keep on doing the same thing and

expecting a different result.

I want to know what you are doing now. I want to know what you want to

change in what you and your employees do. What do you want to stop, continue,

and start doing? A consultant who provides you a WAVE program without

requiring you to answer these questions is giving you a pain killer.

The boss must consider all his options. The WAVE program is a good pain killer,

but he needs to find the real cure.

Training is not always the solution. When people feel that they are not paid

enough, the problem is not work attitude but low compensation. Try a new

recognition program. Engage them in your corporate social responsibility projects.

Send their kids to school. Visit them often.

Explore many solutions because training is not enough. I own a company that

provides training to many companies in the Philippines. I do value the importance

of seminars and workshops. But there are other interventions that you can use.

You can try counselling, coaching, and mentoring. You can even try bringing

Toastmasters to your organization. The options are many. Look for the best.

Contact me when you need more help.

The last question defines your desired result. Your answer will give me an idea

whether this project is worth my time. We want you to be successful.

I want to be successful too. When I go to your organization, I am not there to be

recognized as the most dynamic and eloquent inspirational speaker. Others do,

but I don’t. I do not grow tall when people flatter me. I do not measure my

success by the evaluation forms participants must fill in after the workshop. Of

course, I want to know that I made them happy and active during the workshop.

But I also want to know how they will apply what they are going to learn, the


change that you want to see, and the effect of that change to their individual

performance and that of your organization.

I want you to commit your company to the implementation, monitoring, and

evaluation of the programs. When you are able to do this, I will commit to you my

time.

In this website, you will find many personal development programs like

Winners@Work. But we do not offer them as a WAVE alternatives.

Winners@Work is not another values enhancement seminar. It is about changing

mindset, working like a winner, and making things happen through massive

action.

But do not forget the four questions. Answer them and you will not be wasting

money on pain killers again.

Documents

Work Attitude and Values Enhancement