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w w w.in s i g h t o n m f g . c o m Januar y 2015 • /INSIGHT ON MANUFACTURING | 23 and participatory destination, not just a time clock. Focusing on so skills and the recruitment and development of people who possess them requires trust. Trust that this is worthwhile, trust that this will pay dividends and trust that this will be the culture of the organization from here on out! So what is the best method to cultivate these so skills? Start inside — actively engage all of these unique individuals to passionately strive for excellence within your organization. Create by demonstration an environment that values face-to- face communication. at requires getting out of the office and interacting directly with everyone. As for attendance — go beyond "being there." Be in the moment, be engaged in what others are doing — provide feedback! How is "work ethic" defined in your organization? What are the performance expectations that are clearly spelled out in a job description — or in a performance management system? What is the absolute connection between performance and employment outcomes? Find opportunities for math skills to be practiced and utilized for better decision making. Speaking of "decision making" — how are all employees empowered to be a part of it? How is failure handled, allowed for and, most importantly, learned from? How oen can employees practice decision making — there are so many viable models out there! Back to the topic of hiring — you might never find the "perfect" candidate with all of the desired so skills already in place and ready to go, but you can find excellent candidates who have the seed material present to allow for growth and development of these skills in the right environment. And whether you've just hired this employee or they are a long- established solid member of your organization, an investment in their continued success through targeted training is always a smart approach. If internal sources for training aren't readily available, the Wisconsin Technical College System, the University of Wisconsin System and various private colleges and universities provide great resources. Hard work towards the development of so skills will make for a prosperous 2015 and beyond! F Douglas Hamm, PHR, is a member of the Human Resource Management Program faculty at Lakeshore Technical College. He also consults for industry through the college's Workforce Solutions Department. Prior to joining LTC, he held executive management positions in the automotive, heavy equipment and household durables industries. feel like Make Friday afternoon. PERFORMANCE-MINDED BUSINESS SOLUTIONS TRAIN. INSPIRE. ENERGIZE. Six Sigma I Leadership & Supervision I Technical Skills Customized Training Solutions I Strategic Development training@morainepark.edu 920-924-3449 morainepark.edu/training Monday morning PERFORMANCE-MINDED BUSINESS SOLUTIONS Industrial Automation Systems Integration Engineering, Design, Programming, CAD, Build, Install, Startup Neenah, WI 54956 info@a-mation.com CALL US NOW for machine retrofits and control system upgrades