I tend to write about what’s going on legislatively. Many of the things that are “public” are inadvertently and effectively hidden from stakeholders. You have to take the time to find this stuff and most people simply don’t have the time. I’ll maintain my vigil and keep you in the loop.
Today, however, I want to talk about something more important than new laws, regulations and court cases. I want to talk about your employees.
First, you don’t have “employees”. That term is a distraction and has led many a good manager to make less than optimal decision personnel decisions. You have 2, 10, 1000 individuals, all with unique needs, wants and desires. Each individual is motivated differently and has different expectations. When we treat our individuals like a herd animals, they tend to move about as slowly and can stampede with the same results as their four legged counterparts.
Managers get overwhelmed by this concept. How could they ever find time to treat each individual individually?
The short answer is that you shouldn’t attempt to treat everyone individually. You must pick and choose. Focus on your A players and do your very best for everyone else.
Ok, here’s a challenge. Next week, identify the A players on your team. Set a lunch date with one of them. Take them to lunch and ask them to talk not about the tasks they are involved in but how they see themselves fitting into your organization longer-term, how they see their contribution to your organization grow over time (not positions, impact), what support do they need along the way. Practice patience – listen, listen, listen. Take notes. Have them transcribed. Pend yourself to review those notes twice a month. Make a concerted effort to communicate with this person on a go forward basis.
The following week, meet with another A player. Continue this until you’ve met your A players, then repeat. After you get the process down, begin with your B players.
You will be AMAZED how this impacts your company’s results and your enjoyment of your job.
Try this and let me know how it works.
