Appreciating our Employees

WATCHDOG © 2011

When one hears 'the squeaky wheel gets the grease' it is generally understood to be someone who 'complains' and then gets attention. Yet, what if we could turn the concept of a parade of compliments to the same level of audible awareness as the 'complaints' heretofore propagandized by those with a 'special interest' motivated from rumors or personally skewed opinion? Is a 'special interest' necessarily a bad thing? What if it is a 'special interest' for the community? Or, for an Association? Say, the Membership?

As is often the case when we are content we do not make it a matter of discussion. In fact it is such a character of human nature, folks who do market research understand the fundamental fact: If a customer is happy they will generally only say as much when directly asked, or in general conversation where the opinion is relative to the discussion. Yet, if someone is 'unhappy' the facts support an individual will tell everyone, anyone especially soon after the most recent experience which confirms their opinion.

How has the fact that many many Members have remained quiet about their full support and level of contentment with the staff played out? Sadly, those few community neighbors who have beat the whole community with fliers, letters and disrespectful discourse in public and via communication about the office staff and other staff to outside agencies and companies have managed to secure the power they needed to 'do something about it!' But what exactly will they do and what will it cost the Membership?

If you know the answer to that question and have sincere concerns, now would be the time to step up and support what you are content with and to do so until you are sure you have been heard.

The personal experience of this household with each of the current staff members has been professional, warm, informative, sometimes comical and all times respectful. They are like family members they are around the community so frequently in the performance of their job. How could anyone stand by and watch a member of their family be maligned or held up for derision via fliers, letters or open discourse? Don't know a healthy family that would not immediately rush to support them.

Do you want someone you do not know, at least on sight, traipsing through your property for any reason? Do you want someone you do not know, at least on sight, having access to your information? Do you want people who would not be supervised by someone who is not familiar with the culture of our community? Do you want people in charge of our precious water system who do not have intimate familiarity with our system? All its quirks, all its components? Some of our staff lives in Hawaiians Shores. They come to work with gratitude for a job, for its proximity to their home and family, their neighbors and they come to work with a proven work ethic of integrity. Are you ready to have our security outsourced? 

Why not become a positive squeaky wheel and let everyone know how much you appreciate the staff; doesn't matter if it is just one person you know or each person you have had experience with. Speak up in their support at the meeting; write to the Board in support of them. You do have the power and authority to speak up about the security and well being of your investment; that investment includes the roads, the road shoulders, the recreational facility, the office, the water system, as well as your property. 

Thank you in advance for making more noise than the proverbial negative 'squeaky wheel'!