Forming Bonds.

People who play together stay together.

Chemistry is all about individual atoms, their properties, and the bonds that hold them together.  The strength of any molecule is dependent upon the nature of those bonds.  Certain molecules, such as tri-nitro-toluene (TNT) have unstable bonds and will react explosively with only the slightest provocation.  Other bonds, such as the one found in nitrogen gas (N2), are extremely hardy and difficult to break.  In fact, it is only very powerful agents such as lightning or specialized enzymes found in certain bacteria which are capable of it.

So, why all this talk about chemistry and bonds?  It is an analogy, a parable if you like, about the way people work together in a business.  It doesn't matter the job, whether education-related or construction or even super-geeks at some high tech enterprise; the parallels stick.  People are the atoms, some similar and others different.  Even similar ones have differences, as it is with isotopes.  The bonds that hold them together are the relationships between them.  Some have more power over others (chlorine vs sodium in salt) while others share power (such as in O3 - ozone).  The business, or form of relationship they are in, is represented by the molecule.

If you talk to a successful entrepreneur, he or she will tell you that the people making up their company are important.  A good boss who is respected and keeps staff turnovers to a minimum will tell you that employees are the backbone supporting the productive nature of the environment.  The nature of the people themselves is important, as it only takes one individual to turn something good like water (H2O) into something toxic like hydrogen peroxide (H2O2).  It is the stability between individuals though which really define the climate in the workplace.

How happy are the people working there?  Do they get along?  Do they spend time together outside of the work environment?  How much support does each individual get from administration and what is there to help them when crisis hits in their personal lives?  A good company/boss will care for the employees.  There is a reason for the axiom, "Happy wife, happy life."  Care for your partner, whether equal with you or not, show respect and think about their needs.  It works both ways, as a minion's underlying motivation should be, "How can I do a good job and get along with my cohorts?" and the manager's should be, "What do my employees need, and how can I make their life better but still get my job done?" 

One of the things which kills companies is staff turnover.  If people are happy, get along with fellow employees, and feel cared for and respected they stay.  They need opportunity, challenge, and support.  If that isn't true, they leave, looking for the place where they will be welcomed and fostered.  Businesses with high turnover are less productive because of the constant training which must be done and the loss of people with specific work-related skills.  The cost of keeping people happy is much less than the cost of replacing unhappy ones.

People have chemistry between them.  It is the nature of the bonds holding them together which makes them stay.  Organizations which foster the needs and relationships of its employees will be much more successful than those that don't.  There are those that criticize team building exercises.  Think again.  Would you rather belong to a cohesive group or a fractured one?  Find a place where the people are supported and get along and you will find happy people who are satisfied with their jobs.

People - it all just boils down to chemistry.

Thanks for reading.   www.ericspix.com