Why your company must have a designated nudge

Why your company must have a designated nudge

Did you know your company has a open position which

needs to be filled at once? The absence of this person is

costing you money every single day. That's why

you cannot wait another minute to fill this vital post.

To help understand what this position is all about,

let's start at the dictionary:

Nudge (nuj) v. nudged, nudging. v. t. To touch or

push gently as with the elbow, in order to attract

attention, convey a meaning, etc. v.i. To give a

nudge. n. The act of nudging; a gentle push as with

the elbow. Norw. nugga, push.

Frankly, I think the original Norwegian ("nugga") has it

right: push. The nudge is your company's designated

representative to push employees and associates for

more and faster results.

Why you need a nudge

Let's face it, you're human. You try to set goals. You

try to reach them in the time provided. You try to do more

and better, right?

But somehow you fall behind, miss deadlines, bobble

opportunities, trip and crash when you should be sprinting

ahead. Isn't that about the size of it?

Which is why you need a designated nudge.

In a nutshell the job of the nudge is to

* check progress on existing projects and objectives

* ask how you are getting on with what needs to be done

* remind you what needs to be done and when

it must be done

* offer incentives for achievement

* make it clear what happens when achievement is

not forthcoming

And, in general, spur, motivate, challenge, chide

-- and push.

The nudge must be organized, efficient, focused,

indefatigable, with a thick skin

Only a person of the utmost efficiency, clarity and

organization can be a nudge. After all, a nudge who

falters and fails is hardly going to make a success of the

position, much less deliver the benefits you have

every right to expect.

Beyond such skills, the nudge must be a person

who, above all, has a thick skin and who doesn't take

things personally.

Nudges are often regarded as people butting in where

they are not wanted... perfectionists in an imperfect

world... annoying, interfering, pests; in short not the

most welcome of creatures.

That's why two things are absolutely necessary for

the successful nudge: a thick skin and immunity for

whatever they say.

The necessity for immunity

A nudge by definition pushes other employees...

and must therefore be protected from the comments

and reactions of all employees.

Consider this typical situation:

Nudge: Mary, as you know your monthly sales figures

are a little off. What are you planning to do to get back

on track?

I guarantee you that Mary is not likely to be very happy

when the nudge drops by with this message. However,

that is the nudge's job: to get Mary back on track ASAP,

to enable both Mary and the company to achieve their

clearly understood goals.

Mary may well be inclined to respond with a "get

out of here. I am fully capable of handling this matter

myself" comment.

But she cannot and must not.

The nudge's job is to remind Mary of what needs to be

done, when it needs to be done, what Mary is doing to

achieve the objective, and to give Mary all appropriate

help and directions, right up to and including warnings

and admonitions.

The nudge is constantly in motion and may appear

anywhere, at any time.

By definition, a nudge cannot be a stationary object;

the nudge must constantly be

* connecting with employees

* reviewing their progress

* making suggestions

* focusing employees

* recommending what must be done and

when it must be done.

The nudge must be supremely well organized

and must have a clear daily "to do" list.

This means

* knowing who must be contacted today

* calling and emailing such people (including

follow-up e-mails after all meetings).

* re-focusing employees, tweaking, adjusting,

reminding.

The nudge is a creature in constant motion...

* prodding Joe

* complimenting Neal

* chiding Sally

being clear on what each needs to achieve... and working

with each and all to achieve those objectives.

Start today

There isn't a company on this earth which wouldn't

be better off having a designated nudge on staff.

That's why you must start today.

* Review the nudge candidates you have. Who is

best equipped to contact each and every employee

and representative to improve results?

* The nudge must be in constant communication

with employees AND with management.

* The nudge's conduct and mode of operation

must be reviewed at regular intervals. Remember

your Lord Acton: "power corrupts. Absolute power

corrupts absolutely." You must ensure that your

nudge doesn't develop arrogance and "big head"

problems, which can easily occur without periodic

intervention and oversight.

Review the nudge's results

A nudge who understands and is good at this

job is a godsend to any company. After all, nudges are

clear on what is likely to deliver better results:

* allowing employees to go their own ways

without regular oversight and reminding, or

* having to report progress (or lack of same)

to a designated representative whose task is

to get people to produce more in a designated

period of time?

Obvious, isn't it?

And so we come back to the original Norwegian word

"nugga", meaning push. The nudge is your company's

secret weapon, who by simply showing up and pushing

and prodding employees will achieve better results day after

day.

Cherish nudges, for they are a source of endless

benefits to you and your organization. Far too many

employees are slow, slothful, disorganized, inefficient.

Apply the magic of the nudge to the solution of these

problems and deficiencies. The results will most

assuredly please you!

About The Author

Harvard-educated Dr. Jeffrey Lant is CEO of Worldprofit, Inc., where small and home-based businesses learn how to profit online through automation. Attend Dr. Lant's live webcast TODAY and receive 50,000 free guaranteed

visitors to the website of your choice! Republished with author's permission by Vaurn James http://SuccessRoute.biz

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