4 Things Your Team Won’t Do and Why: Reasons You Are Still Pushing Rocks Uphill
You’ve been in your business for some time now, and you’ve got employees and contractors working for you, who are responsible for accomplishing the tasks you assign them, and helping you reach your goals. Why is it then that you wake up in the morning already feeling the burden of the day ahead? Why is it you feel like you’re the only one who understands what the goal is and as though you are the only one working hard to achieve it?
Here are some of the reasons why you’re feeling your team is not with you and what you can do to change that.
1. Your Team Won’t Create The Vision For The Business
Creating the vision for your business completely up to you as the leader of the business.
They are waiting for you to tell the story.
In 1963 Martin Luther King, Jr. gave the “I Have a Dream” speech in which he painted a vivid picture of what the world could look like some day. Inspired by such a vision tens of thousands of people rallied to his cause. These people made great sacrifices to see that vision come to life, because after hearing his vision, it became their own.
The same will go for your team. What is the vision you have for your business? What changes do you want to make and what is the impact, the difference, you would like to have in your industry, your community, and the world? Think BIG picture to inspire you and those around you.
2. Your Team Won’t Set Your Goals For You, Nor Will They Be Able To Read Your Mind
Like the vision of the company you, and only you, can create the goals that will get you to the vision and then communicate those goals to the people who can help you achieve them, your team.
Want to really create buy-in for the goals? Include your team on the goal-setting discussion. Start with communicating the vision of the company, and get them to share their perspective on how the vision can be achieved.
People are more invested in a vision they have taken on as their own and goals they’ve helped to create.
3. Your Team Won’t Hold You Accountable To Your Goals
You are their leader. You set the tone and the pace of the environment in which everyone works. If you are not working toward the stated goals the assumption is going to be that you changed the goals and didn’t communicate them. Or you changed the deadline.
Don’t expect your team to drive the final results. Take 100% responsibility for the final results (note: this does not mean you do the work) and if need be find someone outside of the company to hold you accountable to the goals you’ve set (a coach, mentor, etc.).
4. Your Team Won’t Hold Themselves Accountable To Their Goals
If you’re not asking for progress reports the assumption is going to be that you’re not interested in the progress.
I often have clients ask, “Do I really have to check in on my team? They know this is part of their job; of course they’re expected to do it.”
The answer is, “Yes, you do.”
Not because you don’t trust your team, not because they are not capable, and not because you think they will slack off if you don’t.
You need to have regular touch-points with your team on their projects to show that their progress is important to you and you are there to support and encourage them.
If done right it gives them a chance to show off a bit and share some new ideas and insights; ideas and insights that could increase efficiency, improve service delivery and improve moral. All of which could improve the bottom line.
These touch-points don’t have to be more than 10-15 minutes (less depending on the project). Over time they will become part of the natural rhythm to your day or week and you’ll know if your team needs more or less attention from you.
In conclusion…
You are the source of the inspiration, motivation and accountability in your business.
Take 100% responsibility for it. Make it your mission to create and live out the vision of your business each and every day and you will transform that feeling of work and burden into a feeling of passion and fulfillment.
If you’d like to add anything, or suggest another idea for letting go of burden or inspiring those around you, I’m sure the Luma community would be very appreciative! Just add your suggestion into the comment section below.
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Thank you so much, and here’s to your success!