Who controls and / or sets the standard in your company? Winners or Losers? I find it interesting that many times people tell me that they are the losers. What is wrong with this picture !? The answer to this question is critical because if the losers set the pace, your company is headed for trouble, if not knee-deep in a “hostage” situation. That’s right, a hostage situation, because that’s what losers do. They take you hostage and you don’t even know it.
So, the winners are taking the slack in favor of the losers and resenting every minute. It’s a vicious cycle because the more losers complain, the more work and resentment the winners take on, and you have a ticking time bomb. At some point, your winners get the message and then become losers because they saw the writing on the wall: At this company, it’s better to settle than act. Being served is more important than delivering work and creating customer satisfaction (read it as higher revenue and higher productivity).
The government may have started this trend of caring for people (right), but American businesses have stepped in and now the small business owner is getting the results. People want an easy life where results are no longer necessary, customer service is outdated, and job performance is not a condition of keeping a job. Scary? Bet!
How can you tell if you are being held hostage by losers?
1. Business owners / managers want to create a large lawn vs. creating results.
2. Business owners / managers want to please vs. face non-interpreters.
3. Business owners / managers feel better about letting things slide vs. hold people accountable for results.
4. Promotions / raises are given and people stay in their jobs because the managers / business owners fear they cannot be replaced by another warm person.
5. Bonuses are awarded because they are awarded and not because they are earned.
6. Managers / business owners postpone the performance review because it is uncomfortable and they do not feel safe or have not been trained to tell someone that they are failing in a way that motivates and challenges them.
7. Business owners / managers are unwilling to raise the bar on performance requirements for fear of retaliation or exit.
8. Managers spend more time with lower-production people than with better-performing people who have earned it.
9. Business owners / managers treat everyone the same, both as short and tall producers.
10. Business owners / managers prefer to put up with what they have rather than go out and seek the best.
So we have managers and business people who are willing to be “politically correct” instead of taking a stand for the product / service and the customer. To get out of your hostage situation, here are some things to think about:
1. Be willing to say NO to being held hostage. Yes, you may have to face the scary loser. However, when it does, it sends a strong message to the winners.
2. Winners are supported and recognized for their contribution.
3. Losers are made aware of their situation, trained appropriately, given adequate time to progress, and challenged to meet the standard or let go.
4. Winners are rewarded. Losers are not.
5. Results are the bottom line rather than length of service, experience, credentials, who you know, who you are related to.
6. Run your business as a team in front of a family. We have equipment, they all carry the same load.
It’s a big step in stopping the spread of mediocrity in the workplace and you can tell me that you have no choice but to do the bidding of your bosses. Think again. You always have the option to choose. Perhaps your challenge is to challenge senior executives to raise the bar for performance. We all want a winning team and you have to build it slowly. Make sure you don’t dump your baby with the bath water, and at the same time make sure you do whatever it takes to train, grow, and support everyone on your team.