Masonry Magazine September 2001 Page. 28
BON'S BRICK BUSTER
Portable brick splitter for fast and economical cutting. 10" wide cutting blade. Three position height adjustment up to 3 3/8". Hardened blade has three cutting edges for longer life.
#11-590
For a complete listing of all our professional quality tools, including over 400 new items for 2001, visit us online at www.bontool.com or call us at 724-443-7080. Bon Tool Co. Gibsonia, PA 15044 USA www.bontool.com 28 MASONRY SEPTEMBER, 2001
GREAT EXPECTATIONS/continued from page 26
Place inappropriate performance in context. Whatever your standards and expectations, you will certainly encounter poor or inappropriate performance from time to time. Rather than expressing anger or harsh criticism on these occasions, frame these incidents as deviations from the norm. "This isn't up to your normal standards," you might suggest to an employee. Or: "I guess this isn't your day... you usually do so much better than this." Here, you're reinforcing the high expectations you have of those around you and assuring others that you believe in their abilities.
Promote your expectations throughout your organization. What's the common thread running through the expectations you have of those around you? Do you expect regular innovation? Speed? Excellence in customer service? Try to sum up your expectations in a simple, one line philosophy - and promote this philosophy in meetings, in your publications, and with everyone you meet. Make your expectations part of your corporate culture and eventually those around you will make those expectations part and parcel of their daily work lives.
Maintain an unshakable belief in those around you. When psychologists conducted their "high performance" experiments with elementary school students, they allowed teachers to believe in the superior abilities of the students they taught. Those teachers believed their students were capable of great things and those strong beliefs motivated them to coach and cajole their students until their performance matched those beliefs. Undoubtedly, each of those teachers praised and motivated their students over the school year without even realizing it. Believe, really believe in the abilities and strengths of people around you. Keep those beliefs in the forefront of your mind each day and, without even realizing it, you'll find yourself communicating high ideals to those around you and watching those ideals slowly become real.
Richard G. Ensman, Jr.'s columns on business and management appear in well over one hundred periodicals across North America.