Do we realize all the opportunities?

This is a post about a guy named Taurel. He has been praised over and over again for the great job he does. He is consistent, corteous and an all around great employee and human being. He treats people with respect, he is pleasant to be around and the list goes on.

Taurel is our host at Pure Spirits. He is what all of us wish a host will be when we go to a restaurant. He is what we proudly call ‘our host’. But this talent is his own. No one taught him to be nice, or care, or go above and beyond his job description. He just loves people and has an amazing attitude when he comes to work. He owns the place. He runs it as if it were his own business. And it shows!

So what is this all about? Well, eventhough we cannot have a team of all superstars, we can hire the people with the right attitude. Skills can be taught, attitude can’t.

If we’ve hired based on attitude, 90% of our work is already done. Fair enough that some skills and experience are required to be able to perform at a better rate, but are we locking in on everyone’s individual potential? Are we picking one staff member at a time and developing them? And if so, what are we developing in them? Areas where they are weak or areas where they need some polishing? Do we try to control results or influence their thinking?

I am currently reading a book titled, “13 Fatal Errors Managers Make”. It’s an older book, but plenty of it’s points are existent in today’s corporate world.

Without getting into full detail on each one, here is a list of chapters of the book.

1. Refuse to Accept Personal Accountability
2. Fail to Develop People
3. Try to Control Results
4. Join the Wrong Crowd
5. Manage Everyone the Same Way
6. Forget the Importance of Profit
7. Focus on Problems Rather Than Objectives
8. Be a Buddy, Not a Boss
9. Fail to Set Standards
10. Fail to Train People
11. Condone Incompetence
12. Recognize Only Top Performers
13. Try to Manipulate People

Try and accept the ones that you know apply to you and I will be writting a summary of each chapter for us all to better understand some of the underlying reasons of why we make these ‘just silly’ mistakes. And don’t fool yourself to think that this is all common sense, that these don’t apply to you. It gave me some great perspective on some actions and reactions around work.

It’s helped me and I know it can help you as well.  

“Be the change you want to see in the world”- M. Ghandi