Stop Walking Around Like a Sack of Stink
“Just do it” is the path to fatigue, disrespect, and defeat. Grit needs heart to endure.
Obsession to get things done causes self-defeating behaviors. Yes, be obsessed over great results, but obsess over people as well.
PEOPLE get things done.
Energy:
Heart, spirit, and belief fuel progress. Of course, you need efficient processes and systems. But do you really believe negative leaders can produce extraordinary results over the long-term?
- Can a leader who doesn’t believe in their team produce wins?
- If you focus on the weaknesses of others, can you inspire them to reach higher?
- Do you believe great success is achieved by complainers? (Yes, pointing out mistakes is part of improvement. But spend more time on the improvement and less on the pointing out.)
- Do you believe that people with defeated spirits achieve great results?
Notice:
Tell people you noticed their effort and achievements this week if you’d like them to show up with energy next week.
Let people know their work matters today if you’d like their commitment tomorrow.
Did someone come in early? Would you like them to do that again? Then honor their energy and commitment by noticing it.
How to notice in four sentences:
“I noticed you were in early all week. I respect your commitment. Keep up the great work. Let me know if I can be helpful.”
Heart:
Great success is a matter of heart.
If you want great performance, lift the spirits of your team.
Infuse people with energy. Any fool can beat people down.
Are your standards so high that celebrating progress is out of the question? Don’t be a sack of stink everywhere you go.
Tip: Find something to like about everyone on your team.
How do leaders drain energy out of people?
How might leaders fuel energy?
Working together as a battery system, energy is distributed for each one in the team.
Thanks Silverio. Very helpful illustration.
As the leader it is not about “get er done”. You have people for that. Take care of the people and they will take care of the stuff.
Nailed it Walt. Perhaps the challenge is you earn the position of leadership because your good at getting’er done, but you have to shift your attitude and approach.
“Grit needs heart to endure”…
Best quote of the week!
When our people are passionate about whatever they do, it supercharges their efforts… which not only helps them individually, but splashes that energy around to others!
Speaking to, connecting our people with their passions is central!
Thanks for the reminder!
Have a blessed day & weekend Dan!
P.S.: Thanks for regularly stoking the fires of my passion to serve others by leading well!
Thanks for the good word Page. The idea of energy splashing on people is cool. How are we leaving people? Have we splashed some energy on them?
Key to giving people energy, as you indicate, is knowing their passions. Cheers
This only works if someone is tuned to have some passion for their work; “I noticed you were in early all week. I respect your commitment. Keep up the great work. Let me know if I can be helpful.” I’ve tried it with those that just do not have passion for their work and it does not work. A number of us have tried many different means to instill passion in those at work who lack it but we have come to the conclusion that you either have it or you don’t. Thanks for the validation of what some of us already know works for most.
Roger may I add this quote (not sure who said it) “the flowers can not grow till we pull the weeds” I added my part “but first let us make sure they are weeds and not flowers yet to bloom being held back by the older flowers”. I know corny but its true.
Hey Walt that’s really good, its frustrating for us older ones (all in our 60s) when everything we do to possibly encourage flower blooming does not work. We’ve all noticed that some just do not have the necessary passion to even possibly bloom and its just a match for that garden just does not exist. The biggest challenge for us older ones is “patience” with the youngins in their passion development but I get back to what we’ve all seem to acknowledge, you either have the passion or you don’t and its usually driven by ones upbringing (think fathers and grandfathers in developing passion from the get go).
Agree its sad when I cant find that one thing that will drive an employee. I ask “why are you here” “what gets you up in the morning”? If they say money I know I have to find something else or its not going to work. Keep digging its so cool when one does blossom.
Hey Walt. It’s true. I’ve seen people find their passion. The change is impressive. Another place to go is story. You might see someone light up when they’re telling a story. That’s the place to ask them what’s happening for them. You might get insights into their purpose/passion.
Dan I like that, have them tell me “their story”. Watch for that point they light up, smile or open their eyes big. That is their passion even if they don’t know it. Thanks for the reminder of this tool.
Thanks Roger. The danger of creating complacency with compliments is real. When you compliment in the wrong way you make people think they’ve arrived. When you compliment a low-passion individual you affirm low-passion.
“Take care of our people, they will take care of our customers, and that will take care of our future.” ~ WT Cassels
I have learned that everything in life centers on reality. Face reality, see what needs to be done and tackle the issue at hand. I honestly do not believe there is a book on the market that can advise leaders and management to handle business matters. It is a learning process. Sure, bookstores are filled with principles that focus on business concepts. Everything will always boil down to reality. Life is about experience. In the workplace, people develop, grow, and evolve, throughout the course of their careers; more often than not without even realizing it. If business would center on life in and of itself and not money…people could handle crisis and situations much better.