Why do talented employees leave companies?

Maybe it's true -Largest studies undertaken by the Gallup Organization.Why do talented employees leave companies? Come to think of it. This is almost 100% true. This was taken from a very long article but I think this part is what it is all about...

Why did this talented employee leave despite a top salary? Arun quit for the same reason that drives many good people away. The answer lies in one of the largest studies undertaken by the Gallup Organization. The study surveyed over a million employees and 80,000 managers and was published in a book called First Break All The Rules. It came up with this surprising finding: If you're losing good people, look to their immediate supervisor. More than any other single reason, he is the reason people stay and thrive in an organization. And he's the reason why they quit, taking their knowledge, experience and contacts with them. Often, straight to the competition.

"People leave managers not companies," write the authors Marcus Buckinghamand Curt Coffman. "So much money has been thrown at the challenge of keeping good people - in the form of better pay, better perks and better training - when, in the end, turnover is mostly a manager issue."

If you have a turnover problem, look first to your managers. Are they driving people away? Beyond a point, an employee's primary need has less to do with money, and more to do with how he's treated and how valued he feels. Much of this depends directly on the immediate manager. And yet, bad bosses seem to happen to good people everywhere. A Fortune magazine survey some years ago found that nearly 75% of employees have suffered at the hands of difficult superiors. You can leave one job to find - you guessed it, another wolf in a pin-stripe suit in the next one.Of all the workplace stressors, a bad boss is possibly the worst, directly impacting the emotional health and productivity of employees. Here are some all-too common tales from the battlefield: Dev, an engineer, still shudders as he recalls the almost daily firings his boss subjected him to, usually in front of his subordinates. His boss emasculated him with personal, insulting remarks. In the face of such rage, Dev completely lost the courage to speak up. But when he reached home depressed, he poured himself a few drinks, and magically, became as abusive! as the boss himself. Only, it would come out on his wife and children. Not only was his work life in the doldrums, his marriage began cracking up too.

HR experts say that of all the abuses, employees find public humiliation the most intolerable. The first time, an employee may not leave, but a thought has been planted. The second time, that thought gets strengthened. The third time, he starts looking for another job.When people cannot retort openly in anger, they do so by passive aggression.

Unfortunately, many senior executives busy traveling the world, signing new deals and developing a vision for the company, have little idea of what may be going on at home.That deep within an organization that otherwise does all the right things, one man could be driving its best people away.

"There are no perfect men, only perfect intentions"

The life puzzle

Is it really true that everthing in life is a zigzaw puzzle? Meaning, it is composed of several parts that individually, will never make up the whole picture. You have to fit every part such that you make a big picture worthy of appreciation. The problem is that, you will never enjoy the puzzle (or the game) not unless you break it down first. Which means, you have to take the effort in solving the whole puzzle called life and go through break up coz it's the only way for us to enjoy it.

Ng Khai Christmas Party and Employee Recognition Night

December 22, 2007. The party was ok except for my costume and wig which smells very terrible. Our presentation was ...well, messy. This is actually the 4th Christmas party I attended since I started working and this one was also the loneliest. Why? This is also the first time that I didn't received any award or recognition at all. Was it a bad year for me as employee? Or have I not done anything worthy of recognition this year? Maybe, or not. As my wife said, it's not my time, I've been up always so now I'm down. Ouch! Well, award or not, it still is a very happy Christmas. All in the family is well and I have my son - the greatest gift and award that God already gave me for my whole life to cherish.

Merry Christmas to all!

The Earth Show

I recently added a slideshow in this blog and suddenly I have something to post. Life has been very busy lately and I supposed, everybody else is busy. Seeing these slides made me realize - the Earth is very beautiful, how in heaven's sake could I afford not to appreciate it!?

Sometimes we are so busy with our daily activities and problems that we tend to forget how God made our planet very beautiful for us to see and appreciate. I sometimes wonder, if I can afford not to see the beauty right infront of my eyes, how can I possibly appreciate the beautiful things my eyes cannot see...

Quickbooks Pro 2006 UK Forum

Well, I decided to add this forum to my blog hoping that my current clients and anyone interested who have questions regarding QuickBooks can also find this personal blog "helpful".


Currently I have deployed several already and I do not only install but set-up accounting systems and solve problems of businesses especially on their current operations and information management.

In short, well, I can help (naks!). Anyway, if I can't answer some of your questions, maybe I can help you find someone who can, hehehe. So,. Let's Get It On!

Family Day

Last Oct. 27 and Nov. 3-4 we at Ng Khai held our family days. Employees get to bring their family on these get-together parties. These were very enjoyable events and I really appreciated the efforts of our management especially our boss for these parties. My family gets to meet my co-employees and my bosses. But the most important thing was the thought that I'm working for a CEO who loves his family as much as he loves his work and I think even more. My wife and I were very happy that even at an age of 5 months, my baby also enjoyed the events.

Navision Training (Oct. 15-27, 2007)

I attended a training in Makati last Oct. 15 to 27 for Navision. It was actually a 3-simultaneous boot-camp training. Trainings were held for the Functional and Technical aspects of Navision and the third was for the CRM training. I decided to take-up the technical training for the reason that I already passed and was certified for the functional aspect. The technical aspect will be very hard without any sort of training from experts. Fortunately, my knowledge with programming languages helped me a lot to be able to cope up with the very fast pace of the training. Or maybe because I also did my homework before going to school, so to speak.

I was surprised of how willing the other resellers from Luzon in spending a lot for these sort of trainings. On the average, they have at least 2 people attending every training. Well, I was alone, but not quite. I learned a lot from my co-workers here in NgKhai that I once thought of myself as a technical person instead of being a finance person. What I learned from them made sure that I will not be left behind on this training especially on the hardware side.

In the end, I learned a lot but also found out that there is so much more to learn yet. To rate it, the training gave me barely 10% of the entire lessons that I need to learn.

A sad and happy week

I received an SMS last Sunday, Oct. 7, 2007 from my sister back home informing me that they have brought our mother in the hospital because of breathing difficulty. She has a guiter problem since I think 2003 and from then on, I always insisted that she should undergo operation. No wonder I kept on thinking of her that day. It's been a month or more since the last time I was home and I really do miss them all. Now we can insist that she has to have an operation, but she got sick and the doctor won't allow it. I felt so guilty, I don't know. I'm supposed to be home, but I can't due to financial restrictions.

Also this week, I received a news from my boss that I will be transferred from NgKhai to Esprint and handle the software solution business. Of course, I will be given my fair share of increase, both in compensation and obligations. I should be very happy with the news considering that my boss trust me, but no. The reality is, my mother is sick, and there is nothing to celebrate, even on my birthday...

Well, in everything that I do, my family is my inspiration. Without them, nothing else matters.

Customer Relations

Currently, we sold several QuickBooks already (thanks to the support), and so begins the real challenge. How do I make it work to different clients, with different requirements and different attitudes. Well, the later is actually the most difficult. Sofwares usually has straight rules and abilities, people don't. Making the software work is easy, but making people work is "bloody", so to speak. Sad to say, there are many clients that ask you favors and don't want to give back what it is that you deserve. It has been six months since I worked with NgKhai and not only once that I met these type of people.

Well I guess I should just stick to the golden rule in dealing with customers - that is - The Paying Customers are Always Right! Hehehe...

Becoming Microsoft Business Solutions Certified Professional

Today I took the exam on Navision Financials to be certified in Microsoft Business Solutions. The exam has been cancelled twice already but today, finally I pulled it off. Fortunately for me, because of everyday browsing and reading several references regarding the subject, it only took me less that 5 minutes to finish the 68-item exam and get a 97% grade. Impressive? Maybe...but for me, nothing could be more satisfying than hearing positive feedbacks from customers. And that will be my greatest and most challenging test to be trully called a "Certified MS Business Solution Professional".

Cebu Common Treatment Facility

I'm currently setting up QuickBooks for this company because they purchased the license from us. During the course of my deployment, I get to set-up their accounting procedures as well as operational set-up. I also get to train the end-users that at first were very hesitant to listen. Fortunately, after our training, I was so happy with their various feedbacks such as - the software was easy to use, no additional workloads for them, makes their work easy and above all, their needed reports are real-time even without them doing extra.

It was still a hardwork in process but hopefully at the end of my "project", they will now be the one to sell QuickBooks for us.

HP Event - another day at the CICC

July 26, 2007. Another event at the Cebu International Convention Center was held and co-sponsored by HP. I get to talk about the history of accounting softwares and also had a demonstration on QuickBooks. For me, it was a very successful event because the room was filled with interested audience and the interaction was very strong. At the end of the day, many were informed that we at Ng Khai are in the market and we are strong in it specially for accounting softwares. Hopefully, some of the audience will purchase from us specially our services.

First step towards my vision

It was just ordinary day, June 27, 2007, but for me it is something much, much more. Eversince I was exposed to the world of computerization, it was always my vision to create or develop and accounting system that I can offer to the Filipinos. A system that I can be proud of, as competitive as the other global systems, a system made by a Filipino for the Filipinos.

That day, I received my first confirmation from people who trusted my abilities to do that vision. This is the sign that I was always waiting for...and now it's here.

Thanks to my wife (Sarah) for showing me a 100% support, she even gave me a laptop because she believed that I can do it if I have the tools.

Not only did my work as a Product Manager benefited from it, the most important thing is that, I am now fully equipped to reach that vision.

I am currently developing a system for these people, with a price of course, but what matters most is that I have been offered the first step that day.

My longest and loneliest week

My baby was only 22 days, barely a month old. But now, he and me have to start facing some challenges that will come our way as he grows old. One of which is being away with each other. Not that we don't have a choice.

Her mother and he should be in my wife's hometown of Bohol because my mother-in-law should be. We decided that they go with her because my wife might not be able to take care of him alone. She is still suffering from the wounds of her delivery.

It was such an agony the first night that I went home and every night was no different.

I now wonder what could be the reason that the parents of the streetchildren have that they could afford leaving them alone. For me, every child is an angel. And if we want to feel heaven, just embrace a child. And if you want to see GOD, simply see HIM through a child's eye.

Things I learned...

This will be my weekly summary of things learned in a week. Mostly how to deal with clients and everything under the sun.

1. Before doing product presentation, always find ways to know the character of your client or audience. No matter how much you know your product, it will always end up to how much you know your client that gives the result.

2. Always plan your presentation. But before you can start planning it, you should know your client's specific needs. People buy because their needs are met, not because they need it.

3. Remember that it is you who knows your product better, not the client. Which means, don't ever let your client tell you things about your product. Thats your job.

4. In doing presentation, your purpose is to educate. Which means, your audience should learn from you, or else, your presentation is useless.

more things next week...

Microsoft Dynamics NAV (Microsoft Business Solution - Navision)

I think it would be appropriate to have this in my blog so as to give an insight of what my job right now entails.

Navision Software is widely considered to be one of the top five accounting systems or ERP solutions in the world today for the mid-range and high-end markets. Some industry experts, including myself, rank Navision as the top accounting system overall.

In 2002 Microsoft acquired Navision for $1.4 billion – the largest acquisition ever made by Microsoft. (This was a very high acquisition price considering that ACCPAC International was acquired the following year by Best Software for just $120 million; even though ACCPAC had more products and far more customers (41,000 to 1.2 million) than did Navision.) Today Navision has been the fastest growing accounting system solution offered by Microsoft. Consider that in 2001, Navision’s growth rate was an astounding 32%, even though the rest of the accounting software industry had been slumping and recoiling from the impact of the Y2K bug. Since then, the Navision software product line has grown steadily and today has approximately 35,000 customers worldwide, and more than 400,000 individual users. The Navision product’s strength and future outlook has never looked stronger.

For other services and solutions that we offer, you can visit our company's site at www.ngkhai.com.

My Baby (finally!)

May 30, 7:23 AM- the moment I have been waiting for. Finally, my baby is out! I named him Arsene Allen. Arsene for Arsene Lupin and Allen for Allen Iverson. Basically, Angot is a French name so I think naming him after Arsene Lupin - a French version of Robin Hood - would be alright.

It was here in Cebu, specifically in my first job, that I got the nickname "Lupin". In my hometown, I was "Botsoy". My classmates in highschool call me "Bao". Since baby was born here in Cebu, it would be appropriate to name him after my nick here in Cebu as well.

He was 7.48 lbs when he got out. Unfortunately, we have to leave him in the hospital because of a blood incompatibility. He is producing type B blood while using my wife's type O blood while still in the womb. I hate to have him left behind, so I decided to visit him everyday until he comes out.

This will be the beginning of yet another journey in life, and I think is the most important one. This will be my life-long mission and I will do everything to get it done. Like every mission that I had before, there will be no mistake, no retreat and no option for failure!

My first public speaking

May 22, 2007, for everyone else, this was just an ordinary day. But for me, this day marks the start of 70% of what I will be doing for the rest of my career - public speaking or presentation.

Cebu International Convention Center - this was where the 12th Aseas Summit was held and the singlemost talked about landmark to date. Talked about because of it's alleged overpriced substandard construction. So far, the Governor did a good job of explaining to the taxpayers that the price was not over its budget but was actually, below!

Anyway, so much for the issues and back to my own issues, I think maybe I did good...or maybe I didn't. But what's important was that I learned so much from that experience to make me a better presentor next time around.

And that's what it is all about, how you learn from your experiences and use it to make you a better person.

My first hit!

Well, I guess I'm on it now. I got my first official closed deal last May 9 with the Hilton Hotel. It was a relief, afterall, I never thought I can make it. Thanks to my boss and Cheryl (Account Manager) for the much needed help.

Challenges

I talked with my boss this day regarding concerns on my job. I told him that I am not comfortable with the fact that my work entails me to do "selling". He called my attention because I sent an application to another company which I know that he also manages. Although I also wanted to work with that company for some reasons; such as I know some of the people running the company, the work involve doesn't have the "selling" part, and some other reasons.

He told me that the "quota" part should not supposed to be an end of my endeavors in selling or an achievement. It should act as my "quantifiable measure" of where I am right now. And I think he has a point. No matter how good am I on certain things, there is no way that I will know that - if I don't have some sort of a "quantifiable measure" that I could claim to have reached.

It's like driving on a road safely and fast without even knowing where you are going or when you are supposed to stop.

Or maybe, I have something else as my "quantifiable measure". And it's like, in driving, safety is my measure. It's good to have a destination in mind at the end of your trip, but let's keep in mind that we will never know if we will ever get there. At least I know that I will - in my best capacity - take my passengers to their own destinations - safe.

Happiness

Good paying job, beautiful wife, close family ties, etc., I have it all. In life, everyday we do our best to make ourselves happy. We always find ways to be contented and never to say that we regret the past moment. But no matter what we do, there is always something more that we will want. Now we're happy, the next moment, we're not.

I feel so much guilty towards my wife that it seems, being with her, never made me 100% happy. Yes, we are a family now. But I will always miss the family that I had back in my hometown. Things will never be complete unless my family will also be complete around me. And that means, with my new family and the old family.

I think that's what life is all about, FAMILY. With them, you will never say, you're not happy.

Leaving...

Leaving...every once in my life, I have to leave. Leaving behind some memories, people and places. This day, its not only my work that I will be leaving, or the memories, people, or the place, but, much and much more.

This time, I will be leaving behind a life. A life that I never imagined or expected to be so meaningful. There is so much in the future for me, I know. And I will live another life again. But my life in SPi, with my fellow Copy Editors, could never be lived again. I regret leaving this day...I regret leaving all the wonderful people behind.

I regret having not said to them, that I miss them already...

Mikal's blog

http://brokencoffee.blogspot.com/

Berean Thoughts: Getting the feel...

Berean Thoughts: by Dean Pinili

My life

It there is one word to describe how I live, it would be "Journey". And I think all of us can also describe our lives as such. From the day we are conceived to the day we die, we never stop going on a journey, coz if we do, we never really actually live. I never knew how or when did my journey began, but I am certain that it will end at the start of my journey towards HIM.

The longest week

Well, this week will be my last week in SPi. I will be starting my work at Ng Khai Development Corp. as a Product Manager of Microsoft Dynamics NAV on monday, March 26, 2007.

Im very glad that i was given the opportunity to work here in SPi as a Copy Editor coz not everyone is given the opportunity such as this.

New work, new challenges...I always love challenges, but this time it would be different. Challenge from my new job I think is easy to handle, challenge as a husband and soon to be father will be my greatest challenge ever, and I am very much willing to take the challenge and face it as all True Man does.

My wedding day!

Well, there is only one thing to describe this very important event in my life...
"The end of a chapter and the start of another, more challenging chapter in this journey called 'LIFE'."