IF I’M AMOUG THE WINNERS WHY DO I FEEL LIKE WHINNING
It was the best of times and it was the worst of times. Dickens was right with all the cutbacks, layoffs, downsizing in the past 360 days it has created a worker’s sub-class! It’s the tale of two cities, those who live in the workplace and those who are trying to find a new place to work.
Even if you are among the survivors of all the recent economic downturns. The atmosphere of truly being grateful is not genuine or maybe heartfelt is a better term. For most it’s more work, less pay and in some cases reduced vacation time which has made this a tale of an endless workweek. The research from the National Association of the Self Employed has proven people tend to perform poorly when overworked, and their personal and professional relationships can deteriorate. So the strategies management has put in place to keep the ship afloat could in the long run create an product the audience would view as inferior to what they’ve been used too. Then they search for other outlets to meet their entertainment needs leaving us with smaller audience shares and even smaller ad revenues. It is a vicious cycle and as you know times couldn’t be worst.
This isn’t a picnic for management they’ve taken measures to try and save jobs and keep the company in business. In spite of smaller budgets, greater pressure to generate more revenue, more meetings and more travel, so less time with the family again this weekend. And for the big broadcast companies another balloon payment and cash reserve quotas to meet along with rumors of the “b-word” bankruptcy.
If you’re working in the broadcast industry or any business now a days you can probably relate to what has been said so far. The purpose for this blog is to remind all who are involved “we are all in the same boat”. Argue the place in the boat if you like however on the Titanic first class and economy got the same view of the water.
Depending on who is talking management or workforce, the conversation is the same from both, “they” are always the problem and “I or me” isn’t given the tools or financial support to accomplish what “I’ve” been asked to do. Right!?!
Here’s a news flash the entire media industry is in crisis mode. Radio, Television and newspapers are trying to re-invent themselves to compete in the age of the internet. Yet in this hour of despair I still have hope and here’s why, I’m a student of the Japanese language and culture. The same Chinese symbol or Kanji used for “crisis” is the same one used for “opportunity”. These are the times that try men’s imaginations. It was during tough economic times when the solution for the dirty glass created the paper cup. Eureka!
May I make a suggestion, cash in on your “intellectual capital”! Mister Radio Station employer, when times get better and they will, could you give back or restore the pay reduction and vacation time to tenured employees. Make it a promise, put it in writing and post it in the break room. Mention it often during meetings because the goal is to get us back to making money. But do that on one condition, the workforce must work to make this goal happen and give ideas on how to streamline operations.

After all they do the work they know what it takes to get the job done. Solicit ideas and pay them for the ones you implement. Encourage your staff to not overlook something left undone because “it’s not my job”. Do it or call it to the attention of someone who can, no more of this it’s not my company talk anymore! However, the only way we as management and staff can reach this point of cooperation is when all are respected, valued and praised when a job is well done.
One more thing, give them a say on how to cut expenses in their departments, I’ll keep saying this until you get it, remember they do the work. And to be frank the morale issue which is the real villain during these worst of times will have gotten a must needed stimulus package.
According to my Funk & Wagnall’s standard desk dictionary; the definition for a “city” is “a place inhabited by a large permanent community, a municipality of the first class with definite boundaries and various legal powers”. To borrow a line from an old television program, there are 800 stories in the naked city which one will be yours?