Players on the Sideline This represents those waiting to get into the game, or hoping they never have to play. It is important to know which players are looking for more opportunity. In fact, one of the primary reasons people change jobs, is because they are not being challenged in their current positions. By challenging an employee, you are basically casting a vote of confidence that says, “I know you can do more!” You have to be aware that you also have those on the sideline that are happy there. They like the fact that they are being paid, but don’t have to do anything but show up for the game. We call these people the “Quit and stayers.” The greatest risk of this type of teammate is not directly to your bottom line. It is true that they are underperformers who do not carry their load by positively impacting revenue, but more important, they are morale leeches. They suck the energy away from your entire team. One further detrimental impact of these underperformers is their ability to destroy your credibility with the remainder of your team.
Coaches If you are reading this, you are likely the coach of your team, and the coach is the key to success. Their involvement, insight, and interest drive the performance of the overall team. The reality is that we are all the byproducts of the people who have coached us in our life, good and bad. I have been blessed to have many positive coaches, and here are some of the things they did to make a positive difference in me and my performance: 1. They cared about me. The old statement “They don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care,” is spot on. Their investment in me as a person gave them the right to stretch me and help me see what my fear would not allow.
2. They provided honest feedback about my strengths and my weaknesses, and both were important. Their honesty kept me from wasting time in areas that were not my strengths, and allowed me to focus my time and efforts in areas where I could make a positive difference. 3. They modeled the desired behavior. The best coaches are not afraid to say, “watch me.” No one had a greater impact on my work ethic than my mother and father. Dad modeled commitment as he worked tirelessly in the flooring industry to provide for my family, and my mom worked for minimum wage to put food on the table, during those weeks and months when dad couldn’t afford to negatively impact the business by taking a paycheck. 4. They invested in me. They provided access to training that allowed me to expand my possibilities. This is one of the greatest areas of weakness I see in our industry. We have an epidemic of people in positions of leadership that are unwilling to invest in themselves by attending training, and resist sending other leaders in their organizations to do the same. 5. They believed in me. I am so thankful for the numerous people and organizations who took a chance on me at various stages of my life. Without their encouragement, I would not be where I am today. Winning can be defined in numerous ways: Strengthened relationships, money, power, title, influence, etc. Though some would like to paint it that way, winning is not a bad word. Winners are influencers, and they have the potential to change lives, and communities, and industries, and maybe even the world. I challenge all of you to play to win. If you are seeking help in improving yourself and/or your team, the WFCA would like to help you. If you are a member, tap into the resources available at wfca.org. If you are not a member, there is no time like the present to join. ❚
Your leadership will determine their level of success; our lack of leadership will assure their failure. Premier Flooring Retailer | Q3 2018
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