The Flaming Cavalier

 

It happened last week on my drive from Portland to Spokane, WA.   I was cruising at a crisp 78mph along I-84 thinking about the cool work ahead when I was passed by a teal colored Chevy Cavalier.  Hmmmm…. Upon further inspection I noted that the teal mini-beast was sporting a very unique rear window motif.  Across the bottom of the window, a line of brazen flames adorned the glass.  Centered at the top of the window was a white outline of a little butterfly.  Huge flames and a butterfly.  Hmmmmm…

Then it donned on me: I know the driver.  You do, too.  It’s the boss who torches all that lives on their team with their horrific, biting threats and ego-hot pokes all under the guise of “leading the team to perform”.   Just like a blast from a blow torch, the exchange is one-way, oppressive and destructive.  Incredible talent is scorched by these hot heads daily and often it takes a long time for that talent to grow back.  Oh, and the butterfly?  That is the pin hole of light that shows up when this person sitting in a leadership seat (note: I can’t call them a leader now, can I?) says some ridiculous fib like “we value or people” in some fleeting, politically motivated moment.  Huge flames and a butterfly.  Hmmmmm…

This whole month I have been working with dozens of talented leaders to hone leadership skills that engage the team and their untapped talents.  It’s about conversations, relationships, respect and recognition.  Simple recognition.  So many good things are happening every day in our work environments yet in our stress and haste we often only find time to flame and poke at the mistakes.  Simple recognition.  Get some.

It takes less than 30 seconds to recognize a job well done.  What is the power in those 30 seconds?  In the new book, Closing the Engagement Gap, the authors offer, amongst other gems:  “when workers see their managers really get what they‘re doing to help the company and colleagues succeed and take the time to acknowledge it, employee engagement can soar.  This approach can also help build teams of high performers.”   Only a fool would turn down that return on a 30 second investment.

Yes, we learned how to turn the heat up by engaging team members instead of flaming them this month.  The application of our learning is paying off… with big business results.  The teams are more engaged, the customers are, in turn, more engaged, and the cash registers are ringing in record numbers.  Check that, Mr. Flaming Cavalier.  Your torch-toting days are numbered.

Walk away from the computer now and go recognize a great behavior/ result you want repeated.  Watch what happens to your team…and your scoreboard! 

Help us all get better.  Share your recognition story here.