As a manager or supervisor, your impact on employee motivation is immeasurable. By your words, your body language, and the expression on your face, you telegraph your opinion of their value to the people you employ. Feeling valued by their supervisor in the workplace is key to high employee motivation and morale. Feeling valued ranks right up there for most people with liking the work, competitive pay, opportunities for training and advancement, and feeling "in" on the latest news. Building high employee motivation and morale is both challenging and yet supremely simple. Building high employee motivation and morale requires that you pay attention every day to profoundly meaningful aspects of your impact on life at work.
Picture Mr. Stressed-Out and Grumpy. He arrives at work with a frown on his face. His body language telegraphs "over-worked" and unhappy”. He moves slowly and treats the first person who approaches him abruptly. It takes only a few minutes for the entire workplace to get the word. Stay away from Mr. Stressed-Out and Grumpy if you know what's good for you this morning.
Supervisors frequently ask, "How do I motivate employees?" It's one of the most common questions asked. Wrong question. Ask instead, "How do I create a work environment in which individual employees choose to be motivated about work goals and activities?"
The right answer is that, generally, you know what you should do; you know what motivates you. You just do not consistently, in a disciplined manner, adhere to what you know about employee motivation.
The ten tips, outlined in this article, are the keys to supervisory success in creating positive employee motivation and morale. The challenge is to incorporate them into your skill set and do them consistently - every day. Author, Jim Collins identified disciplined people doing disciplined things every day as one of the hallmarks of companies that went from Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... And Others Don't? ‘You can make their day.’
Here they are:
1. Your Arrival at Work Sets the Employee Motivation Tone for the Day
2. Use Simple, Powerful Words for Employee Motivation
3. For Employee Motivation, Make Sure People Know What You Expect
4. Provide Regular Feedback for Employee Motivation
5. People Need Positive and Not So Positive Consequences
6. It Isn't Magic. It's Discipline
7. Continue Learning and Trying Out New Ideas for Employee Motivation
8. Make Time for People for Employee Motivation
9. Focus on the Development of People for Employee Motivation
10. Share the Goals and the Context: Communicate for Employee Motivation
People expect you to know the goals and share the direction in which your work group is heading. The more you can tell them about why an event is happening, the better. Promote problem solving and process improvement teams.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Accessing Oracle Access Manager Identity System Applications using IdentityXML and Identity Web Services
Step 1: Create SOAP Request envelope i.e. soap.xml
<soap-env:envelope
xmlns:SOAP-ENV="http://schemas-xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/"
xmlns:oblix="http://www.oblix.com">
<soap-env:body>
<oblix:authentication xmlns:oblix="http://www.oblix.com">
type="basic">
<oblix:login>[useradmin]</oblix:login>
<oblix:password>[useradmin password]</oblix:password>
</oblix:authentication>
<oblix:request
function="workflowSaveCreateProfile">
<oblix:params>
<oblix:param name="ObWorkflowName">obworkflowid=[workflowid],obcontainerId=workflowDefinitions,o=Oblix,dc=mycorp,dc=com</oblix:param>
<oblix:param name="ObDomainName">ou=People,dc=mycorp,dc=com</oblix:param>
<oblix:param name="noOfFields">5</oblix:param>
<oblix:param name="attrName_1">uid</oblix:param>
<oblix:param name="attrValue_1">sunmoon3112@mycorp.com</oblix:param>
<oblix:param name="attrName_2">givenName</oblix:param>
<oblix:param name="attrValue_2">sunmoon3112</oblix:param>
<oblix:param name="attrName_3">sn</oblix:param>
<oblix:param name="attrValue_3">User</oblix:param>
<oblix:param name="attrName_4">cn</oblix:param>
<oblix:param name="attrValue_4">sunmoon3112 user</oblix:param>
<oblix:param name="attrName_5">userPassword</oblix:param>
<oblix:param name="attrValue_5">password</oblix:param>
<oblix:param name="attrValue_5_confirm">password</oblix:param>
</oblix:params>
</oblix:request>
</soap-env:body>
</soap-env:envelope>
Step 2: Provide details of webpass host,port and input soap file
String hostname = "[webpass host]";
String filename = "soap.xml"; //Input SOAP Request
int port = [port];
String oburl = "/identity/oblix/apps/userservcenter/bin/userservcenter.cgi";
Step 3: Get the request from soap.xml input file
Step 4: Access Oracle Access Manager identity services
//Create the connection
URL url = new URL(hostname+port+oburl);
URLConnection conn = url.openConnection();
conn.setRequestProperty("Content-Type", "text/xml");
conn.setDoOutput(true);
conn.setDoInput(true);
conn.setUseCaches(false);
// Post the Request
DataOutputStream wr = new DataOutputStream(conn.getOutputStream());
String bits = getRequestFromFile().toString();
System.out.println("***************Request Start****************");
System.out.println(getRequestFromFile().toString()); //print input request
System.out.println("***************Request End****************");
wr.writeBytes(bits);
wr.flush();
// Get the Response
BufferedReader rd = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(conn.getInputStream()));
String line;
System.out.println("***************Response Start****************");
while ((line = rd.readLine()) != null) {
System.out.println(line); //print output response
}
System.out.println("***************Response End****************");
wr.close();
rd.close();
Step 5: Similarly try accessing all other identity system applications
Refer : IdentityXML and Identity Web Services
<soap-env:envelope
xmlns:SOAP-ENV="http://schemas-xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/"
xmlns:oblix="http://www.oblix.com">
<soap-env:body>
<oblix:authentication xmlns:oblix="http://www.oblix.com">
type="basic">
<oblix:login>[useradmin]</oblix:login>
<oblix:password>[useradmin password]</oblix:password>
</oblix:authentication>
<oblix:request
function="workflowSaveCreateProfile">
<oblix:params>
<oblix:param name="ObWorkflowName">obworkflowid=[workflowid],obcontainerId=workflowDefinitions,o=Oblix,dc=mycorp,dc=com</oblix:param>
<oblix:param name="ObDomainName">ou=People,dc=mycorp,dc=com</oblix:param>
<oblix:param name="noOfFields">5</oblix:param>
<oblix:param name="attrName_1">uid</oblix:param>
<oblix:param name="attrValue_1">sunmoon3112@mycorp.com</oblix:param>
<oblix:param name="attrName_2">givenName</oblix:param>
<oblix:param name="attrValue_2">sunmoon3112</oblix:param>
<oblix:param name="attrName_3">sn</oblix:param>
<oblix:param name="attrValue_3">User</oblix:param>
<oblix:param name="attrName_4">cn</oblix:param>
<oblix:param name="attrValue_4">sunmoon3112 user</oblix:param>
<oblix:param name="attrName_5">userPassword</oblix:param>
<oblix:param name="attrValue_5">password</oblix:param>
<oblix:param name="attrValue_5_confirm">password</oblix:param>
</oblix:params>
</oblix:request>
</soap-env:body>
</soap-env:envelope>
Step 2: Provide details of webpass host,port and input soap file
String hostname = "[webpass host]";
String filename = "soap.xml"; //Input SOAP Request
int port = [port];
String oburl = "/identity/oblix/apps/userservcenter/bin/userservcenter.cgi";
Step 3: Get the request from soap.xml input file
Step 4: Access Oracle Access Manager identity services
//Create the connection
URL url = new URL(hostname+port+oburl);
URLConnection conn = url.openConnection();
conn.setRequestProperty("Content-Type", "text/xml");
conn.setDoOutput(true);
conn.setDoInput(true);
conn.setUseCaches(false);
// Post the Request
DataOutputStream wr = new DataOutputStream(conn.getOutputStream());
String bits = getRequestFromFile().toString();
System.out.println("***************Request Start****************");
System.out.println(getRequestFromFile().toString()); //print input request
System.out.println("***************Request End****************");
wr.writeBytes(bits);
wr.flush();
// Get the Response
BufferedReader rd = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(conn.getInputStream()));
String line;
System.out.println("***************Response Start****************");
while ((line = rd.readLine()) != null) {
System.out.println(line); //print output response
}
System.out.println("***************Response End****************");
wr.close();
rd.close();
Step 5: Similarly try accessing all other identity system applications
Refer : IdentityXML and Identity Web Services
Sunday, June 20, 2010
"Think well before it gets too late"
While a man was polishing his brand new car, his four year old son picked up a stone and scratched lines on the side. In anger, the man took the child's hand and hit him several times, not realizing he was using an iron wrench. At the hospital, the child lost all his fingers due to multiple fractures. When the child saw his father.... with painful eyes he asked “You may polish your car again but Dad when will my fingers grow back?”
The father was so hurt and speechless. He went back to car and kicked it a lot of times. Devastated by his own actions...... sitting in front of that car, he looked at the scratches; the child had written 'LOVE YOU DAD"
The child had shown the father the real meaning of love and forgiveness; the father learnt a big lesson from his own mistakes
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
“Professionalism is more than just doing your job”
“I don't like to shop. Clothes shopping, grocery shopping, car shopping; it doesn't matter ...I don't like it. I want to get in, get what I want (fast), and get out. A recent shopping experience, however, was a pleasant surprise.” - Dennis Snow
This experience showcased customer service at its best, and at its most simple. Once again I was reminded that great service isn't about grand acts, it is about common courtesy, artfully delivered.
While on vacation in Chicago, I needed to buy a pair of casual shoes (I had forgotten mine). I found myself in a store called the Walking Company. A friend once told me it was a good store. It was crowded, so I almost left. But one of the salespeople made eye contact with me. It wasn't the kind of eye contact that said, "Oh no, another customer." Instead, it was eye contact that said, "I'll be right with you." It was good eye contact.
So I browsed around for a few minutes and found a pair of shoes I liked. Sure enough, the salesperson came up and said, "Sorry about the wait, let's get you some shoes." I showed her the pair I wanted and asked to try size 10. She said, "Let's measure your foot just to make sure." I know I wear size 10, but her whole demeanor showed that she wanted to make sure I got the right shoes.
She measured my foot and said, "Size 10 is right, but you have a very 'Rubenesque' foot. The type of shoe you've selected won't be the most comfortable for you. I think this other style would feel much better."
Being the skeptic that I am, I looked at the price of her suggested shoes to see how much she was upselling me. Same price. Hmm. With nothing to lose, I tried on the style she suggested, and they were extremely comfortable. I must admit: they are the most comfortable pair of casual shoes I've ever owned.
As I paid for the shoes, the salesperson continued to wow me. She said, "If you ever buy a pair of shoes somewhere else be sure to tell the salesperson that the arches in your foot have fallen a little, and you need shoes with some arch support -- like these."
When I get good service like this, I want to keep it going. I asked her if there is a Walking Company in Orlando, where I live. "Absolutely, it's at the Millennium Mall." Since then I've bought two pairs of dress shoes at the Orlando Walking Company, again with great service. I can't imagine buying shoes anywhere else. And I've sent plenty of friends there.
Now, let's look at what this salesperson did that made this a great shopping experience. I'll analyze the details in a moment, but one word sums up her style -- professional. This lady was a professional in every sense of the word. Her skills would apply anywhere, as applicable in a bank, hospital, theme park, or law office as they are in a shoe store.
Here are four universal traits of a professional in any job position:
1. Professionals are responsive:
When I entered the store, the salesperson made immediate eye contact with me. It was sincere eye contact that said she cared that I was there. And as soon as she was finished with her customer she came right over to help me and apologized for the wait.
The store was busy. But I noticed that everyone was being helped. The salespeople had mastered the art of handling more than one customer at a time while making each customer feel like he/she was the only one. None of the salespeople looked frantic, just responsive.
2. Professionals are knowledgeable:
This salesperson knew about shoes. On the other hand, I know very little about shoes. Seeing that this was the case, she took charge of the situation and made sure that I was getting shoes that were right for me. I benefited from her knowledge.
There is an art to sharing knowledge, I admit. Some customers may say, "I know what I want. Just get it for me." By briefly talking to me, however, she realized she could make a recommendation for me, that I was flexible. Professionals read the situation and adapt to the personality and needs of the customer.
Of course, all of this means knowing your product. Professionals are constantly learning about their products and their customers. The only way that the Walking Company salesperson could steer me to the right pair of shoes was by knowing shoes and feet. Professionals know their stuff.
3. Professionals care about what they do:
My Walking Company salesperson could have easily brought me the pair of shoes I originally asked for. But she wasn't selling shoes -- she was selling the right shoes. That's the difference. Professionals aren't happy just selling a product. They want it to be the right product for the customer.
4. Professionals teach you something:
I left the Walking Company knowing more than when I walked in. I now know to ask for extra arch support in my shoes. Not a big deal, but I will always remember that advice.
Think of some of your best service experiences: the waiter who made the perfect recommendation, the computer help desk that gave you a tip on how to make an application more effective, or the clothing store employee who helped you coordinate colors.
In most cases of outstanding service, the employee left you more knowledgeable than when he/she found you. The new information might not change your life (though it could), but it does make your life a tad better.
Conclusion: Professional behaviors are simple. What's not simple is the consistent application of them. Being a true professional takes thought and effort. But, once you are truly professional you can go just about anywhere.
The skills are universal, and they are rare. True professionals stand out from the crowd and grow rewarding and satisfying careers. And the customers of the world know when one is at work.
Dennis Snow is the president of Snow & Associates, Inc. He worked with the Walt Disney World Company for 20 years and now consults with organizations around the world helping them achieve their customer service goals. He is the author of the book, Unleashing Excellence -- The Complete Guide to Ultimate Customer Service.
This experience showcased customer service at its best, and at its most simple. Once again I was reminded that great service isn't about grand acts, it is about common courtesy, artfully delivered.
While on vacation in Chicago, I needed to buy a pair of casual shoes (I had forgotten mine). I found myself in a store called the Walking Company. A friend once told me it was a good store. It was crowded, so I almost left. But one of the salespeople made eye contact with me. It wasn't the kind of eye contact that said, "Oh no, another customer." Instead, it was eye contact that said, "I'll be right with you." It was good eye contact.
So I browsed around for a few minutes and found a pair of shoes I liked. Sure enough, the salesperson came up and said, "Sorry about the wait, let's get you some shoes." I showed her the pair I wanted and asked to try size 10. She said, "Let's measure your foot just to make sure." I know I wear size 10, but her whole demeanor showed that she wanted to make sure I got the right shoes.
She measured my foot and said, "Size 10 is right, but you have a very 'Rubenesque' foot. The type of shoe you've selected won't be the most comfortable for you. I think this other style would feel much better."
Being the skeptic that I am, I looked at the price of her suggested shoes to see how much she was upselling me. Same price. Hmm. With nothing to lose, I tried on the style she suggested, and they were extremely comfortable. I must admit: they are the most comfortable pair of casual shoes I've ever owned.
As I paid for the shoes, the salesperson continued to wow me. She said, "If you ever buy a pair of shoes somewhere else be sure to tell the salesperson that the arches in your foot have fallen a little, and you need shoes with some arch support -- like these."
When I get good service like this, I want to keep it going. I asked her if there is a Walking Company in Orlando, where I live. "Absolutely, it's at the Millennium Mall." Since then I've bought two pairs of dress shoes at the Orlando Walking Company, again with great service. I can't imagine buying shoes anywhere else. And I've sent plenty of friends there.
Now, let's look at what this salesperson did that made this a great shopping experience. I'll analyze the details in a moment, but one word sums up her style -- professional. This lady was a professional in every sense of the word. Her skills would apply anywhere, as applicable in a bank, hospital, theme park, or law office as they are in a shoe store.
Here are four universal traits of a professional in any job position:
1. Professionals are responsive:
When I entered the store, the salesperson made immediate eye contact with me. It was sincere eye contact that said she cared that I was there. And as soon as she was finished with her customer she came right over to help me and apologized for the wait.
The store was busy. But I noticed that everyone was being helped. The salespeople had mastered the art of handling more than one customer at a time while making each customer feel like he/she was the only one. None of the salespeople looked frantic, just responsive.
2. Professionals are knowledgeable:
This salesperson knew about shoes. On the other hand, I know very little about shoes. Seeing that this was the case, she took charge of the situation and made sure that I was getting shoes that were right for me. I benefited from her knowledge.
There is an art to sharing knowledge, I admit. Some customers may say, "I know what I want. Just get it for me." By briefly talking to me, however, she realized she could make a recommendation for me, that I was flexible. Professionals read the situation and adapt to the personality and needs of the customer.
Of course, all of this means knowing your product. Professionals are constantly learning about their products and their customers. The only way that the Walking Company salesperson could steer me to the right pair of shoes was by knowing shoes and feet. Professionals know their stuff.
3. Professionals care about what they do:
My Walking Company salesperson could have easily brought me the pair of shoes I originally asked for. But she wasn't selling shoes -- she was selling the right shoes. That's the difference. Professionals aren't happy just selling a product. They want it to be the right product for the customer.
4. Professionals teach you something:
I left the Walking Company knowing more than when I walked in. I now know to ask for extra arch support in my shoes. Not a big deal, but I will always remember that advice.
Think of some of your best service experiences: the waiter who made the perfect recommendation, the computer help desk that gave you a tip on how to make an application more effective, or the clothing store employee who helped you coordinate colors.
In most cases of outstanding service, the employee left you more knowledgeable than when he/she found you. The new information might not change your life (though it could), but it does make your life a tad better.
Conclusion: Professional behaviors are simple. What's not simple is the consistent application of them. Being a true professional takes thought and effort. But, once you are truly professional you can go just about anywhere.
The skills are universal, and they are rare. True professionals stand out from the crowd and grow rewarding and satisfying careers. And the customers of the world know when one is at work.
Dennis Snow is the president of Snow & Associates, Inc. He worked with the Walt Disney World Company for 20 years and now consults with organizations around the world helping them achieve their customer service goals. He is the author of the book, Unleashing Excellence -- The Complete Guide to Ultimate Customer Service.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
“The ability to grab opportunities”
Reading Ries and Trouts Horse Sense made me think of all the boys in school who had consistently stood first in class, year after year. I have not heard of most of them for a long, long time. Some joined the IFS (Indian Foreign Service) and have yet to become ambassadors. Some joined the private sector and have yet to become CEOs. By 55, they should have. Some became doctors and lawyers. What put me into this reverie was Riess statement that in the dairy, cream rises to the top. In daily life, its generally not true. It’s mostly milk at the top of the corporate bottle.
Top executives come from the middle of the IQ curve. As the college president said to the faculty, “Be nice to your A students because they will come back and be your colleagues, but be exceptionally nice to your B and C students because they will come back and give us a new auditorium and a new science building.” Top executives may come from the middle of the IQ curve. Peter McColough, former chairman of Xerox, made the same point about his Harvard School class of 1949. The record of accomplishment corresponds negatively with the standing of the class. The top people did not do that well. The one-third in the middle did. The guys who got the highest marks tended to be in the middle in accomplishment.
Why is this ? Why does success in the classroom generally not correlate with success in a profession ? The smarter people are, the more they depend on themselves. After all, they know everything. They depend only on themselves to get ahead. Less intelligent people are more likely to look for others to help them up the ladder and to look for opportunities and grab them.
Opportunities do not just arise in the environment. They are not presented to us by others, as the earlier incidents show. They can be inherent in us. They can be accidents that we may take to be calamities but that we can turn into opportunities.
A young singer with a fine soprano voice was assigned to perform ‘The End of a Perfect Day’ for admiring relatives. When his adolescent voice cracked and broke at the family gathering, he discovered he had the ability to make people laugh. The singer-cum-comedian was Bob Hope!
Moral: Believe in yourself first to succeed in life!
Top executives come from the middle of the IQ curve. As the college president said to the faculty, “Be nice to your A students because they will come back and be your colleagues, but be exceptionally nice to your B and C students because they will come back and give us a new auditorium and a new science building.” Top executives may come from the middle of the IQ curve. Peter McColough, former chairman of Xerox, made the same point about his Harvard School class of 1949. The record of accomplishment corresponds negatively with the standing of the class. The top people did not do that well. The one-third in the middle did. The guys who got the highest marks tended to be in the middle in accomplishment.
Why is this ? Why does success in the classroom generally not correlate with success in a profession ? The smarter people are, the more they depend on themselves. After all, they know everything. They depend only on themselves to get ahead. Less intelligent people are more likely to look for others to help them up the ladder and to look for opportunities and grab them.
Opportunities do not just arise in the environment. They are not presented to us by others, as the earlier incidents show. They can be inherent in us. They can be accidents that we may take to be calamities but that we can turn into opportunities.
A young singer with a fine soprano voice was assigned to perform ‘The End of a Perfect Day’ for admiring relatives. When his adolescent voice cracked and broke at the family gathering, he discovered he had the ability to make people laugh. The singer-cum-comedian was Bob Hope!
Moral: Believe in yourself first to succeed in life!
Saturday, June 5, 2010
“The house with the golden windows”
There was a little girl who lived in a small, simple, house on a hill. As she grew she would play in the small garden outside; she was able to see over the garden fence and across the valley to a wonderful house high on the hill – and this house had golden windows, so golden and shining that the little girl would dream of how wonderful it would be to grow up and live in a house with golden windows instead of an ordinary house like hers.
And although she loved her parents and her family, she yearned to live in such a golden house and dreamed all day about how wonderful and exciting it must feel to live there.
When she got to an age where she gained enough skill and sensibility to go outside her garden fence, she asked her mother is she could go for a bike ride outside the gate and down the lane. After pleading with her, her mother finally allowed her to go, insisting that she kept close to the house and didn’t wander too far. The day was beautiful and the little girl knew exactly where she was heading! Down the lane and across the valley, she rode her bike until she got to the gate of the golden house across on the other hill.
As she dismounted her bike and lent it against the gate post, she focused on the path that lead to the house and then on the house itself…and was so disappointed as she realized all the windows were plain and rather dirty, reflecting nothing other than the sad neglect of the house that stood derelict.
So sad she didn’t go any further and turned, heartbroken as she remounted her bike … As she glanced up she saw a sight to amaze her…there across the way on her side of the valley was a little house and its windows glistened golden …as the sun shone on her little home.
She realized that she had been living in her golden house and all the love and care she found there was what made her home the ‘golden house’. Everything she dreamed was right there in front of her nose!
Moral : Love what you have!
And although she loved her parents and her family, she yearned to live in such a golden house and dreamed all day about how wonderful and exciting it must feel to live there.
When she got to an age where she gained enough skill and sensibility to go outside her garden fence, she asked her mother is she could go for a bike ride outside the gate and down the lane. After pleading with her, her mother finally allowed her to go, insisting that she kept close to the house and didn’t wander too far. The day was beautiful and the little girl knew exactly where she was heading! Down the lane and across the valley, she rode her bike until she got to the gate of the golden house across on the other hill.
As she dismounted her bike and lent it against the gate post, she focused on the path that lead to the house and then on the house itself…and was so disappointed as she realized all the windows were plain and rather dirty, reflecting nothing other than the sad neglect of the house that stood derelict.
So sad she didn’t go any further and turned, heartbroken as she remounted her bike … As she glanced up she saw a sight to amaze her…there across the way on her side of the valley was a little house and its windows glistened golden …as the sun shone on her little home.
She realized that she had been living in her golden house and all the love and care she found there was what made her home the ‘golden house’. Everything she dreamed was right there in front of her nose!
Moral : Love what you have!
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