Looking to save more time? - Start with Why

This is the third post in the series about training your team. This actually could be a stand alone post.

When it comes to training tell your team “Why” you are training.

                           Telling them “Why” is actually the training.

Instead of more rules, create guide rails. Let your team know where the goal posts are and let them decide how to score.

So much has been written and said about "Why" yet it is still one of the most ignored subjects within organizations.

             "He who has a why can bear almost any how” Friedrich Nietzsche

In many organizations whenever there is an issue the solution is to add another rule. This seems to make sense right?

What if we did it different, what if we shared our “Why”?

Would sharing  it allow our teams to perform better in more situations?…Would they feel better in situations if they could use our “Why” as a compass to navigate?

Think about that. Does your team perform their work under supervision ?

Do they perform their work offsite?

We live in a post industrial revolution world. The days of prescribing every little action to be taken by your team are over. We cannot possible legislate every situation they will run in to. The world is moving too fast.

How can you be sure that they will perform work in alignment with your desires if they run into a situation that they are not perfectly prepared for? 

The only choice is to share the "Why". If they know your Mission, Vision and Values, you can be assured whatever action they choose will be directionally correct. 

The customer will be taken care of and situations will be resolved sooner. Faster resolution performed correctly is usually more cost effective. Employees feel empowered and more engaged. Customers will feel taken care of.
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     “If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work               and give the orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the endless sea.”                                       Antoine de Saint Expury.

This may be the challenge to execute on “Why”. You may have to evaluate the way YOU think. What do you believe about leadership or management?

Do you believe you have to do all the thinking and layout a tightly prescribed and narrow set of rules; or do you fundamentally believe that people will rise to the level of expectation you set?

How do you set expectation? What is your ability to communicate your “Why”?

Think about it. Who would you want to work for? Someone that doesn’t share the directive; Who doesn't tap into your deeper abilities? Or someone that treats you as the adult you are and holds you accountable for the opportunity and direction given?

               “You can buy a person's hand, but you can't buy his heart. His heart is where his                       enthusiasm, his loyalty is. You can buy his back, but you can't buy his brain. That's                 where his creativity is, his ingenuity, his resourcefulness.”                                                              ― Stephen R. Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Create a training program built around helping your team understand and live your values, and the rest will take care of itself.

Today, what the world needs is more heart in the marketplace. Leaders have to start.

Employees need to know they are valued. That the places of work is a safe place to engage.

Your customers wants your teams heart to be in their work…
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If you want your teams hearts…they need to know your “Why”.