Page 36 - Flathead Beacon // 12.4.13

36 | DECEMBER 4, 2013
BUSINESS FLATHEADBEACON.COM

BUSINESS IS PERSONAL Mark Rifey
or the
Are You Ready f
Not on My Watch!
H O L I D AY S ?

M
OST EVERYONE I’VE ployee who really cares about the work
talked to who really cares they’re doing. New blood has a way of

7 1/4” Skil 12 amp about their work has that one asking questions about things that have
Circular Saw
thing that brings meaning, context and been forgotten, fallen in the cracks or
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(as my kids used to say) “give-a-care” to weren’t considered previously – all be-
the work they do.
cause that new stafer (even if they’re
You might’ve heard it described as simply new to that job) cares about that
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“not on my watch,” a reference to pulling part of the business because it’s their
watch duty on naval ships.
“one thing.”

Duracell Quantum The best way I’ve heard it described
AA & AAA Batteries
Stanley 16” Auto-latch Toolbox
is this:
IN THE SHADOWS
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What do you feel strongly enough You may have departments within
about to say, “That isn’t going to happen your company doing their own thing be-
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while I’m here.”
cause they can’t get that
work done any other way Whether you own
– at least not to their sat- the place or are working
isfaction and/or within for the weekend, it’s that “YOU MAY HAVE
DEPARTMENTS
the timeframe they need. thing you just won’t rest
At a recent about if it isn’t done right. WITHIN YOUR COM-
#StartupWeekend, I It might be that thing you
spoke on this topic with irst notice when you visit PANY DOING THEIR
Irwin 4 people from several dif- someone’s home or busi-
PieceClamp Set
ferent business sectors ness.
OWN THING BECAUSE
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ranging from retail to Are any of your em-
THEY CAN’T GET
WESTERN 755-6411
light manufacturing. ployees working jobs that THAT WORK DONE
BUILDING CENTER
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Each of them knew of have little to do with their
a department within one thing? If so, they ANY OTHER WAY – AT
KALISPELL - EVERGREEN - WHITEFISH their company that had a
may be doing their as-
COL FALLS - EUREKA - STEVENSVILLE Where Santa “Shadow IT” group. signed work while watch- LEAST NOT TO THEIR
LIBBY - POLSON - CULBERTSON - RONAN
shops and so “Shadow IT” is a small
ing in frustration as the
should you!
departmental group (or a work involving their “one SATISFACTION.”
www.westernbuildingcenter.com
person) building technol- thing” is done at a level of

ogy solutions for them-
quality or expertise that’s
selves that they couldn’t get from their below their expectations.
company’sIT(InformationTechnology) Sometimes their response will be N
I
P
A
R
M
group.
to take another job – one that leverages U

S
One person from a large national re- their one thing. Sometimes their re-
tailer is doing their own thing because sponse will be to take ownership.
they felt it was the only way to get the so- GUN SHOW
lutions they needed. Rather than wait or
OWN IT
do without, they built it themselves.
You may see this when someone
This isn’t unusual – but it’s a sign of takes ownership of some part of your
someone’s “one thing.”
company – without being asked. It might
That person doing the Shadow IT be all or part of a process, a product’s
work might be the person who needs to quality or craftsmanship, a customer or
take on that role (or join that team) in a customer group. They take ownership Formerly ROCKY MOUNTAIN PROMOTIONS
your company. Perhaps they become the by making the quality of that area their

oicial Shadow IT group for projects that responsibility, perhaps going beyond
don’t yet have an IT budget and haven’t your company’s standards. It’ll often KALISPELL, MT.
appeared on management’ s radar.
happen without them being asked.
If you have employees, have you DEC. 6TH, 7TH & 8TH
AS AN EMPLOYER, DO I CARE?
asked them (or put them in charge of)
You should. The under-served “one their “one thing?” If not, the signals will FLATHEAD COUNTY
thing” stafers may not be disgruntled, be there if they’re interested. They’ll
but they may not be fully engaged. If make suggestions – often good ones – FAIRGROUNDS
EXPO BUILDING
you’re unaware of people (and their “one about how something is done. They may ADMISSION
thing” assets) within your organization volunteer to help on projects that re-
who could serve your business goals in quire expertise in their one thing.
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ways you haven’t considered and at a If your company has people who CHILDREN UNDER 12 FREE
level of quality that you might not have seem less motivated than they should (MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT)
thought possible – what are you miss- be, ask them if they’re doing their ideal
ing?
work for you. If they could do any job in

Ask them privately if there’s a project the company, is the one they’re doing the VINTAGE RIFLES
or job in the company that excites them. one they’d choose? If not, a pilot project HAND GUNS • RIFLES
You never know what you might ind. can show you if they’re qualiied to do FRI. 6TH 3PM - 7PM
Having little startup-minded groups in- that work.
SAT. 7TH 9AM - 5PM KNIVES • AMMO AND
side your business isn’t a bad thing.
If the pilot works out, you might ind MUCH, MUCH
yourself with a newly motivated em-
SUN. 8TH 9AM - 3PM

Want to learn more about Mark or ask him to write about a business, operations or

For Questions Call Marilyn at (208) 241-4005
marketing problem? See Mark’s site, rescuemarketing.com, or contact him via email
at [email protected].