“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure”
This old adage can apply to more than just material things. One person may dread a particular job that another person actually looks forward to doing. Who will do the job better? Most likely the person who enjoys it more. It’s human nature to rush through those tasks that we dislike, while we are more inclined to put forth our best effort on the jobs that interest us most. Recognizing this truth and using it to your advantage can make a huge difference in the success of your small business.
You need to take the time to listen to your employees and learn not only what their strengths and weaknesses are, but what they enjoy doing and what they dislike. Having an aptitude for a job doesn’t guarantee that they will produce the best results. Someone else who welcomes the challenge will likely do better, even if they have to work harder to get it done. It’s important not to make assumptions. How often have you seen a tall person and assumed they were good at basketball? Not every person over 6’ plays basketball. There are plenty of tall people who aren’t athletically inclined at all. Always ask your employees what they’re interested in, their answers may surprise you.
Don’t make the mistake of selling your employees short either. Of course you may observe some indicators that give you clues as to what certain people may or may be good at. I wouldn’t recommend asking the employee with the sloppiest handwriting to letter the sign for the front door or handcraft the flier for your next ad campaign. That sloppy writing might just be a product of their amped up imagination though. Give them a computer and a good design program and they might turn out results that would amaze you. Don’t jump to conclusions.
How often have you been shocked to learn about a hidden talent someone has? Few of us go around advertising all of our hobbies and skills. By the time we reach adulthood we’ve been exposed to all sorts of things and probably learned some stuff along the way. You never know unless you ask. When you have a new idea you’d like to try, why not query the staff to see if anyone has any talents that would help you succeed? It can be as simple as a notice in the breakroom or a mass e-mail asking anyone interested to contact you.
Motivational speakers are always promoting the idea that no goal is out of reach if you just keep trying and believe in yourself. The number one thing required to make that assertion true is a positive attitude. If you’ve ever dealt with a petulant child you know how easy it is to fail if you want it bad enough. Many a two year old has demonstrated that they in fact are incapable of putting on the jacket that they don’t want to wear. We’re not likening your employees to toddlers, we’re just pointing out that someone who doesn’t want to do a project can find multiple opportunities to make the task seem more difficult than it needs to be. On the other hand, someone who is excited about the chance they have been given will put in the extra effort to prove that they deserved the confidence you’ve shown them.
Find the employees with the right attitude to tackle the job and success will come. Ask questions and listen carefully to your employees’ answers. Provide the support and the tools that they need to get the job done.
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