Reading time: 46 seconds
German philosopher Goethe said, “Treat people as though they were what they ought to be and you help them become what they are capable of being.”
Our vision and belief in someone else is very powerful and empowering at the same time.
Powerful in that when we expect them to achieve at a certain level we allow space for them to have a greater effect on their environment.
And empowering because when we respect their desire and ability we inject very positive energy with our belief alone.
Now notice that in Goethe’s statement he used the word “being”, not “doing”: “….you help them become what they are capable of being.”
In Robert Levering’s book: A Great Place to Work, he says, “Each employee has unlimited possibilities. Good Managers have the ability to recognize and unleash the potential for better performance.”
Aha – In unleashing potential, you need to grow the “being” not the “doer”.
You see so often companies focus on the system – the operating platform – losing sight of the thinking human that’s there to bring the system to life.
In fact sometimes it goes so far as to an individual, strangled by a system, inhibited from providing a level of service so very crucial to a company’s growth.
(Have you been the victim of a store clerk saying, “Sorry, our return policy is 30 days” disallowing your return on the 31st day? Is the customer experience being controlled by the system or the clerk?)
We don’t put systems in for people to operate, we put people in place with systems to help them function more effectively.
There’s a huge difference.
Your company will grow at a far greater rate when you focus on growing your people.
When you have the right people with the right tools and training PLUS your respect and belief in their ability to succeed in their position, the sky’s the limit.
Levering says, “The person doing the job knows more about it than anyone else.”
Treat everyone like a professional in their position.
Then buckle up. It’s going to be one heck of a year!