"What is the problem when the problem is no longer the problem?" This was the question asked by Dr. Emerson over and over again this weekend at the Love and Respect conference. In other words, what he was asking, was when an argument becomes about more than just the petty issue which brought it about in the first place, what is that deeper issue? This got me to thinking, when we have an employee who regardless of their training, the extra time and effort put into forming a positive co-worker connection with them, and despite daily reminders, cannot perform up to the level being asked of them, what is the real issue?
You see, it applies the same way as it does in a marriage. This worker is holding on to some issue, and they feel as though they can't express what they are feeling, so it just festers and builds until someday, the negativity they have been storing up, rears its ugly face, and now we have a problem.
So why the frustration? What was it that caused this worker who surely didn't come in the day they were hired with hostility towards you in their heart to suddenly blow a fuze? Do you know? Isn't it our place as leaders of our team to protect our people, and to grow them up in the business as well as in life? It's easier just to look at them and bring down the hammer because they aren't performing, or because of their attitude. But the easy way is not always the correct way is it? We should be looking at this person, and asking why are they behaving this way? What has brought this about?
As their leader, it is our responsibility to find out. Find out what is going on in their lives, what are their interests, what are their goals and their dreams? If we can't even make the effort to connect even a little bit with our team members, then how in the world can we expect them to desire to give us everything they've got for us? To fight the battles every day for us and for our business? Something has to change. I suggest looking inward and deciding whether you are being the leader that they deserve. Take a moment and think about a time when someone invested in you. It dosen't even have to be a major life-changing event, but they may have just simply provided a word of encouragement or a comforting pat on the back. And what happened? Something inside of you lit up, and your fire was renewed. Connect with your team, and show them that you want them to succeed and you are on their side fighting right along side of them. They will respect you for it, and they will surely want to work harder for you in return.
Believe in your team. You hired them for a reason. There was some trait that they possessed that made you think that they were an asset to your business. Don't lose sight of that. They are good people who want to do good things for you. There is an issue stopping them from doing that, and it would be best for both parties to find out what it is and how to fix it or at very least how to work through it. Love on them, and they will love you in return. After all, we are called first to love God, and second to love others as he loves us. He has blessed us with our business, so we better make sure that we are doing everything we can to honor and glorify Him by being a good steward over it and our team. Love on them and show them that they are so much more than just a worker, but a person that we care for, and would gladly fight for.
I pray that you don't ever face this issue readers, and that you have already discovered the great return that comes from investing in your team. If that is you, than bravo! For the rest of you, I hope that these words encourage you and challenge you. I hope that you will take this to heart and consider the opportunities that could lay ahead for you. God bless you all, and thank you for reading.
In Christ
