"We are so understaffed! Why can't we hire more staff!"

You can hear this battle cry across many different organizations.  While the unemployment level continues to hover around 10%, many companies are not able to hire any more staff due to lower than expected revenues.  County government is not immune to this challenge.

As of today, the county workforce of Jefferson County, AL will be reduced by close to 1,000 employees.  Due to budget constraints, these employees have been placed on administrative leave without pay for six weeks.  They are scheduled to return to work on September 15.  Therefore, anyone wanting to conduct county business should expect long waits and possible declining service levels.

Employees will now be turning to leadership as their example.  This is a crucial time for all leaders to make sure they are sharing the right message with their teams.  Here are a few things that you need to do for your teams

• Keep your integrity intact - with longer lines and impatient customers, employees may be looking for shortcuts and backdoors.  While you should always be looking for efficiencies, there is NEVER a good time to cut corners.  As a leader, make sure your employees know that even though we are short on staff, we must continue to do business the right way - with our ethics and integrity.

• Keep your employees motivated - the same amount of work + fewer employees = low morale.  This is a no brainer.  It is your job to rally the troops during these tough times.  Your employees do not want to hear you complain about how hard it is.  They want you to help.   Use this time to jump in and roll up your sleeves and work side by side with your team.  This is not the time to be cooped up in your office letting them take the heat.  Get out there and stand by them.  This is the easiest motivation tool you can provide

• Keep yourself healthy - as a leader, you may have to minimize your own feelings during these tough times.  However, do not let these come out at home by directing your anger and frustration at your own family.  Your health is of vital importance at this time.  Make sure you are eating right, exercising, and taking time to stay focused.  Your team really needs you right now, so make sure you can be there for them.

Life is cyclical, relationships are cyclical, and the economy is cyclical.  This too shall pass, although not soon enough.  Right now, the best thing you can do for your employees is to focus on the items above.  Doing so will help them, and help you continue to grow as a leader!