Have you ever seen the show “Undercover Boss”?

The show features owners and managing executives of national companies (The Boss) who put on disguises and pose as trainees in their various company locations.  The Bosses meet their employees and learn about what can be improved at their companies for enhanced productivity or motivation and how to enhance the customer’s experience.  In addition, the Bosses discover the personal side of each employee they train under.  At the end of each show, the Boss calls the employees he met to corporate and reveals the changes the company is going to make as a result of their experiences and then each of these people, typically, will get a personal reward like a raise, bonus, educational scholarship, paid family vacation, etc., because of his or her extraordinary efforts during his or her daily work life to create a better workplace.

What is the common denominator with the employees selected to be featured on the show?

• They share what would make a difference at their company and job, but they don’t show anger, resentment or communicate their suggestion in a harsh manner.
• They hope that someday the change will be made but, in the interim, they give one hundred percent to their company and jobs despite recognizing that circumstances could be better.
• They are passionate about what they do, the people they serve (yes, all of us are called to serve in our workplace), and they identify change as good and then wait for the right opportunity to share their suggestion for change.

Ask yourself these three questions:

• If my Boss spent time under cover with me, would he or she find my attitude toward my company, my co-employees, and customers positive or negative?
• If my Boss spent time under cover with me, would he or she recognize that I am thankful for my job and give me best even when I sometimes don’t agree with management or have all the necessary tools required to do my job?
•  If my Boss spent time undercover with me, would he or she ask me for possible suggestions on how we could create a better workplace and better serve our clients? Would he or she understand that these changes might positively impact every employee’s professional and personal life?

It is good to recognize things that should change at your place of employment and identify possible solutions when you are asked to share your suggestions.  We all have personal challenges from ill family members to financial challenges, to hopes, dreams and desires, but they should not prevent us from giving our employers the best of our ability.

Jim Rohn, the self-made entrepreneur and motivational coach, coined the saying,” Good people are found not changed. They can change themselves, but you can’t change them. You want good people, you have to find them. If you want motivated people, you have to find them, not motivate them. “

Most anyone can deliver a message, but the message is not always heard.  Most of us won’t get the opportunity to be on an episode of “Undercover Boss,” but we can all watch the show and learn to be patient in delivery and persistent in our responsibilities and optimistic about the future by doing so.