One of my favorite authors and bloggers is Seth Godin. In a recent article, (LINK) Seth points out that when staff members aren’t doing what you would like them to do it’s not due to ignorance. It’s due to the fact that they don’t care about what you care about.
Getting people to care about what you care about isn’t necessarily about having more meetings and training sessions. Of course that activity is a part of giving people what they need to know. Knowing something and doing something is what separates the good companies from the great companies.
One of the best things a leader can give to his/her organization is to set the atmosphere for a defining culture.
Everybody has the same product.
Everybody has great prices.
Everybody has technology.
Everybody has trained technicians.
Everybody has good selling processes.
Culture is what will separate your organization from your competition.
Most of the time upper management “gets it.” The breakdown occurs at the next level. Far too often we don’t get enough influence from the core staff to make a real difference.
A few are talking the talk, but most aren’t walking the walk. People have to “see it” in order to start to “believe it.”
Your challenge is to get more of the “next level” involved, engaged, and believing they can make a difference.
Until you do so, you’ll hold some nice meetings. Do some nice talking. Print some nice posters. Create some nice name badges. Feel good about yourself. But, not much will change. That’s all I’m gonna say, Tommy Gibbs