Page 14 - Demo

14 | October 2024
Slippery Rock Gazette
Training & Education
Are Your Employees in Flow?
Let me tell you about the best employee I have ever managed. He worked in the Reliability department in an iron mine in north- ern Minnesota. I knew very little about Reliability. What I did know was how to harness the best out of my team and lead improvement efforts across a company.
Tyler was one of my newly inherited technicians. He was a high school gradu- ate who had worked his way through mine operations and maintenance to land in my department. He had no official schooling after high school, yet whenever anyone had a question, they went to Tyler.
I wanted to reward this highly capa- ble employee and keep him on my team for the foreseeable future. When I went to the Human Resources department to request a merit-based raise for Tyler, I was told that it would never happen. Tyler was on a ‘blacklist’ of no raises and no advancement. I found out that Tyler had been caught playing video games on
Ed Montgomery
Synchronous Solutions
work tasks, employees are “in flow”. In flow, employees are happy, productive, and engaged. However, when leadership fails in their duty to hire the right people for the right role, employees cannot succeed.
An employee who is out of flow is not at fault, but rather it is the failure of leader- ship to match roles and capability. When we fail as leaders to consider this simple concept, we should not be surprised by the negative consequences but should expect them. It is the work of managers to con- stantly balance these concepts, creating opportunities for success for all employees.
The concept of “Systems Leadership” emphasizes that it is the responsibility of leaders to align job complexity with employee capability, fostering a produc- tive and fulfilling work environment.
the control room computers, as well as receiving calls and moonlighting on a side business on company time.
A month later, I learned about a busi- ness theory called ‘Systems Leadership.’ The foundation of this theory was the idea of running your company like a meritoc- racy where great employees are rewarded. As part of the presentation, the speakers showed a chart with specific examples.
When leadership is able to match a per- son’s capability with the complexity of
Ed Montgomery
– Synchronous Solutions
Ed has been working as an operational manager and continuous improvement leader for over twenty years. He combines the tools of continuous improvement with organizational design, creating deep and sustainable improvements in multiple industries across the globe. For more information, and to book a free discovery call, visit www.synchronous solutions.com .
Arizona Tile Announces New Agglomerate Marble Products
Arizona Tile has introduced a new line of Agglomerate Marbles, now available in four stocked colors in a 24-inch x 24-inch tile and 126-inch x 63-inch slab option. Often used in mid-century modern design, this playful material can be used for both commercial and residential projects. However, this timeless marble is versatile enough to take your design anywhere your imagination will take you.
What is Agglomerate Marble?
To appreciate the beauty of agglomerate marble, knowing how it is made enhances its appeal. A natural stone formed within the earth, marble is a metamorphic rock, mean- ing it changes form. Think caterpillar to but- terfly. When limestone, a sedimentary rock, is subjected to extreme heat and pressure over millions of years, it goes through a process of recrystallization which causes calcite crystals within the limestone to grow and fuse together. When this occurs, marble has been created.
That’s how marble is formed, but agglom- erate marble is a bit different because it is manufactured from marble chips. These chips are tumbled to round their sharp edges, then combined with resin and marble powder, and placed in large rectangular tanks to be cured into a block. Once cured, the block is cut into 3⁄4-inch or 1⁄2-inch thick slabs or cut down fur- ther into tile.
Given that resin is nonporous, this helps tre- mendously with durability, whereas standard marble slabs and marble tiles are porous, mak- ing them more susceptible to staining and wear and tear if not properly cared for. However, as a product containing natural stone, it is rec- ommended that it be sealed to extend its lon- gevity. Due to its durability agglomerate tile can be used throughout the floor and wall of an entire commercial or residential space. A highly trafficked area is of no concern to this tile, with proper care and maintenance.
Classico
Classico is a polished agglomerate marble comprised of a white resin background that elegantly displays small, grey marble chips. Upon a closer look, there are some soft hints of beige that may appeal more to a warmer design, while still remaining neutral.
Iceberg
Iceberg is quite similar to Classico in that it is a polished agglomerate marble with a white
Classico Agglomerate Marble Slab
Iceberg Agglomerate Marble Slab
Vector Agglomerate Marble Slab
background and a stunning display of grey marble chips, but these grey marble chips are a bit larger. Slight hints of beige can also be detected here, but the larger marble chips allow the grey to really pop. Again, it is neutral and versatile, but if you’re working with cool-toned décor, the more prominent grey may cater to your preferences.
Similar to Classico and Iceberg, Vector and Regium offer many similarities but provide a more vibrant color palette.
Vector
Vector is a polished agglomerate mar- ble comprised of an off-white background. Where it really differs is in the marble chips. Embedded in this resin are small black, gold, and grey marble chips. This is a timeless way to add some color and playful energy to kitchen and bathroom floors, walls, and more.
Please turn to page 19