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From the Editor: Motivating Employees—and Yourself A great organization is built on its people. A
great company--whether small or large--needs an owner and
management with vision, and the ability to make that vision catch
fire with employees.
According to Ivy Sea [ www.ivysea.com ], a consulting and business
resource firm, "Leaders create the context, or blueprint, and see
the whole--the working structure designed to meet a specific
purpose. Employees need to know not only the purpose, but also the
nuts and bolts that make up the whole picture, because they
implement the blueprint."
Skilled, open communication is thus a help in motivating O&P
companies' staffs. Motivated employees will be those people who
stay with your company and help build its success. However,
motivation and retention is an ongoing process--the train is always
traveling, never arriving at a final destination. Human resources
expert Susan M. Heathfield [www.humanresources.about.com] gives
practical advice on keeping those valued employees.
- Clearly communicate what is expected from each employee.
- Provide high-quality supervision and management. Problems in
this area are a prime reason employees quit.
- Enable employees to speak their minds freely within the
organization--to comment, criticize, and commit to continuous
improvement.
- Provide opportunities for talent and skill utilization and
career growth.
- Be fair and equitable in how employees are treated.
- Staff members must feel rewarded, recognized, and
appreciated.
And--money does matter. According to the 2004
US Job Recovery and Retention Survey released by the Society for
Human Resource Management (SHRM) and CareerJournal.com, employees
who are searching for new jobs gave these three main reasons:
better compensation--43 percent; better career opportunities--32
percent; and dissatisfaction with the opportunities at their
current job--22 percent.
Read more about what motivates employees--and owners--in the
feature, "Motivating Employees for Greater Productivity,"
by human resources expert Chris Posti, and related articles "Achieving Harmony, Motivation in the O&P
Workplace" and "Ten Tips for Motivating Yourself".
New Prosthetic Technology
Cosmesis along with improved function is always a vital
prosthetic goal. Two companies have introduced new prosthetic hand
innovations that reflect these two attributes. You can find out
more about them in "Form, Function Combine in New Hand Prosthesis"
and ''Finger Amputees Return to Daily Activities with
New Device". 
Table Of Contents - November 2005
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