How to be a better boss

A supervisor should be more than just a person who is in charge. A good supervisor helps peoPle to do better work.

If the workers do not Produce good work, the supervisor is failing in his job, not the workers in their responsibilities. Anybody capable enough to become a suPervisor should be able to figure out how to motivate his or her workers.

First, consider their attitude. Some people, usuallY the best workers, have good attitudes to begin with, but the first rate supervisor will develop good attitudes in all of his workers.

Good work attitudes are usuallY based on three qualities: (1) being interested in the work; (2) feeling important as an individual; (3) being proud of the job done. If an employee has these three attitudes he usually can't miss. Without them, there is little chance of his being an exceptional worker.

A supervisor should concentrate on doing everything he can to make the job interesting to the employee. He should explain the business and the workings of the company, making slrre that a person sees how his job fits in. He should keep challenging the employee by giving a new assignment when he has mastered the old, rotating assignments, and adding new responsibilities when he is ready for them.

Workers are important individuals in a supervisor's life. TheY should be treated as such with the man in charge taking an interest in them as individuals, praising their efforts and helping them to become proud of themselves and the job they do.

For example, consider the case of the veteran warehouse foreman with a young worker, Bob, who makes frequent rnistakes. He seems to not care about what he does, often delivering the wrong items.

INFORMATIVE SEMII{ARS combined with fun eoualed a successful weekend at Rancho Bernaido. Ca.. for over 100 members of the Second Growth group of the Lumber Association of Southern Calilornia. (1) Sam Witzel, speaker at the breakfast meeting, Michele Alexander, pres. of Second Growth. (2) Dick and Cheryl McArthur, 0jai Lumber Co. (3) Tom and Janet Culligan, Reliable Wholesale. (4) Allen and Betty Fikse, Buena Park Lumber Co. (5) Mr. and Mrs. Terry Kinnev, Louisiana-Pacilic. (6) Nancy Smith, Cheryi Taft. (7) Leigh Falconer, Peter Ganahl, Ganahi Lumber Co. (8) Barbara Ganahl. (9) Mike Tracy, American Forest Products. (10) Russell Mullin, Terry Buildino Centers, Rick 0rlando, Buena Park Lumbei, Steve White, TerrY Building Centers. (11) Tim Gaffney, Jim Taft, treas. (12) Bob DiMeco, Louisiana-Pacific.

Jack, the old timer, could threaten to fire Bob the next time he fouled up or explain to him how important it was that he deliver the right material. With the second choice, he would be sure that the boy realized how important he was to the crew and how they relied on him to do a good job. Jack also would tell him how four out of fifteen of the supervisors had started in the warehouse, making sure that the boy knows that he has a future with the company if he proves himself in the warehouse. Which approach would be more effective? According to personnel counselors, the second would bring the best results. They advise that workers do their best when theY believe that their jobs are important and believe they're important to their jobs.

(Continued from page 8) areas." Between its four stores, WWW now covers a market area that encompasses all of central California and northern Nevada.

Keefer believes that to sell wood windows in his region, the initial thrust must be aimed at the architect. "Plan books are rare here," he states, "so builders work closely with their architects. As a result, it's important to sell the architects since so much business is generated through them."

WWW's store managers are responsible for calling on architects on a regular basis. Keefer admits that the initial call is the most difficult since most architects in the area are accustomed to using aluminum windows and are resistant to change.

"When we call on architects, we also drive home the point that we have a showroom where they and their clients can see the product," he adds. "This is a very important point. It's also important that the managers be backed by personnel at the showroom who know what they're talking about."

After Keefer has created a market for wood windows with architects, his next step is to create consumer demand for the product. One way he attains this objective is by running quarter-page ads in the women's section of the newspaper. Why the women's section? "Because the best response we ever had was an ad that was next to the 'Dear Abby' column," he states. "We tried ads in the 'Countrylife' section, but they just didn't pull as well. Obviously, the woman is an important buying influence since she has to decorate around the windows as well as operate them and the thermostat."

In addition to paid newspaper ads and free word-of-mouth referrals, which Keefer admits is the best form of advertising, the firm participates in local home shows, utilitysponsored energy fairs and other events where the general public can see the product.

Regardless of the store location, Keefer notes that it's rare for a prospective buyer to know.much about wood windows in his markets. "We

A Change Going On

We are cutting Douglas fir posts and timbers from 6x6 through l2xl2 to lengths of I' to 40'with dapping, drilling and angle cuts. Also 2", 3" & 4" Economy through #l & Btr.

By September lst we should have our Stetson Ross 30" timber sizer in operation.

Give us a call on your cut-to-length inquiries.

Conveniently located between Arcata and Eureka, Ca., on the freeway at the Bracut Industrial Park. Rail or T&T shipments.

P.S. We still maintain an inventory of over a million feet of dry redwood uppers.

A recruiting tirm with its roofs in the torest products industry.

SH0WR00M and warehouse shoo ol Window & Wood Works are in 3000 so. ft. building in Sacramento, Ca. Three other outlets of the firm occupy similar facilities.

definitely have a sales job to do," he states. "When people here think of wood windows, many of them remember the windows in their grandparents' homes, so we begin by telling them we're talking about an entirely new product. We then point out all the features of today's modern wood window. We also remind them that condensation was never a problem on wood sash and frames then, and still isn't today."

Many of the firm's wood win- dows contain an exterior cladding which Keefer describes as another excellent sales feature because it leads into other low maintenance fealures. "We like the clad window," he says, "because it offers the user the best of two worlds- the beauty of wood on the interior and freedom from painting on the exterior." Primed windows currently outsell clad windows by a ffi/40 ratio but the gap is narrowmg.

Keefer feels the timing is currently conducive to selling wood windows from an energy point of view. "Our utilities are continually raising their rate," he says. "As a result, homeowners are becoming more energy conscious."

Keefer also reports that passive solar energy is "hotter than a pistol right now. We've already outfitted ten homes, half of which are dualshell construction. Whether it's new construction or a remodeling job, people are asking about it. Since proper window selection and management are crucial to the success of a passive system, we work closely with solar architects at all our locations. In this way, we stay on top of the subject and can tell our customers how they can take advantage of all the state tax credits that are available."

According to the retailer, the timing is right for wood windows from a decorating point of view as well. "Consumer magazines such as House Beoutiful and others all seem to be featuring wood windows," he says. "People notice these articles because they come in here with the publications and show us what they want. In most cases, they're pointing to a wood window. So, between aesthetics, comfort and energy, we don't have too much of a problem selling wood windows, even in the west." The growth of the Window & Wood Works attests to that.

It's the Real Thing

Counterfeit checks are different from genuine checks in several ways.

A genuine check will have perforations on one side where it is torn from the checkbook. Account numbers on the real thing will be dull because they are printed in magnetic ink.

From Hawaii to C-alifomia . . . to tlre Rocky Mountains . . .

Your best source for redwood from the people who really know redwood. Try .a us for clears, commons, industrial items and lath. Also siding in redwood and /l Douglas fir, plus Douglas fir C & better finish.

REID and WRIGHT INC 5

(8OOl 358-9O3O

(3031443-4388 l707l 822-1724

{8081 395-7911

1140 Pearl St. P.O. Box 4299 #8 Lumahai St. Suite 210 Arcata, California 95521 Honolulu, Hawaii 96825 Boulder, Colorado 80302

BOX 670 r./ TURLOCK, CA 953

We're manufacturers of cedar products, K.D. or P.A.D.; selected #3 & better, #2 & better common. We can offer selected stock for #3 common price. Try us!

We are manufacturers and sell wholesale ONLY