Why I'm more likely to know about your company culture and staff satisfaction before you do!

As an angel communicator and and soul coach I get told many things. In fact, if you do my job you need to have a really open mind and no judgement because you get told the most extraordinary things. I've been in this business for over 30 years and during that time there has been a consistency of what people want to know.

Mostly sessions fall into 3 categories and generally in this order

1) Romantic relationships

2) Friendships and family

3) Money and luck

But in the last 10 years or so there has been a much stronger emphasis on the workplace, career direction and work relationships as people grapple with changes in their career and how to work with difficult people.

And this is why I say I'll know more about your company culture and staff satisfaction before your management team, Why?

Because

• I'm often on the front line of the support team your employee has.
• People tend to speak to those they feel they can trust about what's happening to them. They want a sounding board for their feelings and impartiality yet support and understanding of what they are dealing with - and this is something I can provide.
• While many companies have free counselling services for their staff many employees don't trust the confidentiality of the counselling service and/ or HR's ability to keep the information free from supervisors or management teams. (while the content of the session may be confidential, the fact that the employee is using the service usually is not!)
• But please know people who come to me don't just get a chance to sound off against management and take no responsibility for their bad behaviour. Spirit (and I) will call them on that because we are providing a service which is about revealing blind spots and making positive change in their mindset for them to move forward.

So what "intel" can I share with you as business owners and management teams?

• Some of our businesses in this country are in very bad shape when it comes to engaging with and receiving loyal productive work from their employees.
• Many employees are feeling used and stretched beyond their capability to function particularly in the Community Services and Health industry. 1 in 3 of my clients who come to me with bullying, burn out and management incompetence seem to come from this sector. I was curious to find out what part of their job they were having trouble with and surprisingly it wasn't the sick or elderly they were dealing with that was the problem. It was the lack of management support, the constant lack of rostered staff, staff turnover and inconsistent middle management leadership and implementation that was sighted, along with an institutionalized system that seems to support bullying and incompetence. Most commonly I'm told "the good ones leave and we're left with the rest!" Ironically people join the industry because they want to help and then find they are not supported effectively to do so.
• Another industry where there seems to be a gap between how the industry is portrayed and the way it treats its employees is the ITC industry. Known for it's image as being on the cutting edge, trendsetting innovation and cool places to work epitomised by the likes of Apple and Google. I see many clients who work in this industry burnt out by long hours and impossible workloads. Looking into this industry from my clients' experiences would suggest fancy state of the art work spaces and technology but sweatshop work conditions behind the scenes.
• Some industries as we know, have a reputation for being tough on staff, underpaying, overworking and treating badly. Hospitality and construction come to mind immediately. In a previous life I worked with apprentices and trainees to ensure they completed their qualifications and came out of their apprenticeship with the career they wanted. During my time in this career I confronted more than one chef or building foreman about the bullying of their apprentices. When I complained the most often heard comment was:

• "If you can't stand the heat in the kitchen get out!"
• "I was treated just as bad when I was an apprentice."
• "They shouldn't be mollycoddled or mummy-ed!"

And many more colourful comments that I feel are inappropriate for this blog. I'm sure you get the idea.

My answer back was always:

"Let's talk about the time you were an apprentice. How did you feel? Did you want to give up because of the way you were treated? How did you cope? and then...

"Why would you want to perpetrate the same behaviour that you hated so much?"

" Would you like your child to be part of your industry? Would you like your son or daughter to be treated like this?"

It was then that the penny would drop and the answer would be "No"

This was the breakthrough time. From here we could talk about management training, learning new ways to communicate with staff, promoting non-bullying ways to manage staff.

S here's a little free advice without using my psychic skills - If you are in a management position and need to find greater productivity for your business, get to know your employees. You might be surprised to find out how they're feeling about the workplace.

And I will continue to listen and pass on Spirit's love and guidance to all who seek it.

Melody R. Green is an Angel Communicator | Soul Coach | Award-winning Author of Your Career Your Way and has worked for more than 10 years in Career Development and Transition.