This originated as an email from @MommaSerene because the article is very interesting and confirms what I truly believe to be true in the workforce. Read on…

You know, I fight every day for fairness in the workplace, but it’s true. You just can’t make everyone happy, and when one person is miserable, they never let it be a secret; they spread it throughout the whole job. Sometimes they just aren’t cut out for the job, don’t have the “stuff”, don’t have that “touch” to be successful in the work environment. Those people can only bring others down, and I don’t see how it’s “fair” to the rest of the employees for them to have to deal with someone who hates what they do, or the environment they do it in. It doesn’t have to be about not liking someone or their attitude; it’s about protecting the rest of the employees and acknowledging that not everyone can do what they do as well as they can do it. -@MommaSerene

The Secret to Having Happy Employees

by Jay Goltz

Thursday, March 11, 2010
provided by The New York Times

About 10 years ago I was having my annual holiday party, and my niece had come with her newly minted M.B.A. boyfriend. As he looked around the room, he noted that my employees seemed happy. I told him that I thought they were.

Then, figuring I would take his new degree for a test drive, I asked him how he thought I did that. “I’m sure you treat them well,” he replied.

“That’s half of it,” I said. “Do you know what the other half is?”

He didn’t have the answer, and neither have the many other people that I have told this story. So what is the answer? I fired the unhappy people. People usually laugh at this point. I wish I were kidding.

I’m not. I have learned the long, hard and frustrating way that as a manager you cannot make everyone happy. You can try, you can listen, you can solve some problems, you can try some more. Good management requires training, counseling and patience, but there comes a point when you are robbing the business of precious time and energy.

Don’t get me wrong. This doesn’t happen a lot. There’s no joy in the act of firing someone. And it’s not always the employee’s fault — there are many bad bosses out there. Bad management can make a good employee dysfunctional. On the other hand, good management will not always make a dysfunctional employee good. And sometimes people who would be great employees somewhere else just don’t fit your company, whether it is the type of business or the company culture.

In the worst cases, the problem of a bad fit can have a bigger impact than just one employee’s performance. Being in charge does not necessarily mean you are in control, and being in control does not necessarily mean being in charge. Have you ever seen a company or department paralyzed by someone who is unhappy and wants to take hostages? It is remarkable how much damage one person can do. If you haven’t seen it, I suggest you watch “The Caine Mutiny.” Basically, one guy takes apart the ship. He was unhappy. It only takes one.

This is only my opinion. I don’t have a Ph.D., an M.B.A., or even an economics degree. What I do have is a happy company. And that makes me happy. Now I know some people argue that business is about making money, and not everyone has to be happy. That is also an opinion. Everyone has a right to his or her opinion. When you own a company, you also have the right to surround yourself with the people you choose.

I have spent the last year and a half focusing on cutting costs, figuring out how the market has changed, and worrying about the economy. Things seem to be getting better, or perhaps I am just getting used to it.

Either way, I had a good day today. Not because I got a big order, great financial reports or even an employee stopping by to tell me what an awesome boss I am. (That generally doesn’t happen. You have to tell yourself. It’s a boss thing.) I had a great day because I spent most of it walking around the company and appreciating the fact that even after a year and a half of soft sales and cutbacks and furloughs, I have wonderful people working for me. They care. They are committed. They understand the whole customer–staff–company triangle, where all of the legs support each other.

If you read books on great companies, they usually leave out a dirty little secret. It doesn’t make for good public relations — like talking about how you “empower people” or how your “greatest assets” are your people. Both of these well–worn clichés are true. What is also true is that it’s hard to build a great company with the wrong people.

When you have the right people, business is much easier. I know because I have tried it both ways.

Jay Goltz owns five small businesses in Chicago.

What are your thoughts?

We’ve all had to look for a job before and sent resume after resume and read ad after ad, but how do you get to the interview stage for that valuable face time when you can really turn on the charm and make your sales pitch?

This job market is tough and every job listing gets hoardes of resumes, a lot of which won’t be considered because they don’t meet the minimum job requirements.

So I have a few rules to share with you that will get you much closer to that face time reality, if you follow them.

Rule #1 – Be real, if you don’t meet the minimum job requirements, don’t hit send.

Rule #5 – Read your resume or have a friend read it and ask yourself, would I hire me?

The employer has all the power, they can be picky and they will be if they’re smart – listen, they want a quality employee.

If that job title is one that you want, read the ad and the minimum requirements, if you don’t meet them, DO NOT ANSWER THE AD.

Don’t waste your time, you’re better than that, throw out the maybe and realize that you won’t get a call, send your resume only to people who will consider you because you are qualified.

If you don’t answer all the questions, you will likely be disqualified just for that. For instance, if references and salary requirements are requested, give them. You risk not being considered otherwise. Seems unfair I know, but if you can’t follow directions when you want the job, how are you going to perform if you get it?

Your cover letter is your first opportunity to sell yourself and your abilities. Are you going to sell yourself short? Send a sentence asking to meet? Get real, tell the employer what you can do for them, be a salesperson and sell the product, you.

When answering the ad, don’t have the attitude that they’d be oh so lucky to have you, if you have a chip on your shoulder, this is not the time to let that show. Be very careful and read, then reread it to be sure you can’t do anything but be proud of it and you sound like you’re puckering up. This IS your livelihood we’re talking about right?

Finally, proofread and spellcheck everything, you’ll look lazy if you don’t. If you follow these rules, I know you’ll find more success in your job search and just might get an interview quicker.