Make People Better Not Worse
Summary
- I had two tough conversations with teammates today, but I look forward to them because I know how to make them better through these talks.
- People often avoid difficult conversations because the results of hard work in this area take time to show.
- If you put in extra effort for your team, they will return that effort to you.
- Remembering details like a teammate's kid's birthday, their graduation, or if they felt unwell shows you care.
- I always prioritize the person over the worker, even if that means giving advice that might lead them to leave.
Video
How To Take Action
I would suggest starting with having those important conversations you’ve been avoiding. It might be scary, but focusing on making your teammates better can be really rewarding. A good way of doing this is by preparing beforehand. Think about how you can help them grow through this discussion.
Another great strategy is to remember small personal details about your team. For example, noting down their kid’s birthday or if someone wasn't feeling well last week shows you care about them as people. This can be as simple as setting reminders on your phone or calendar.
I suggest you always think about the person first, not just the worker. This means if someone could better themselves by leaving your team, you should support that. Giving advice that helps them, even if it's not good for you, builds trust and respect.
Putting in the extra effort for your team means they’ll want to reciprocate. Being present and genuinely caring creates a positive environment. This could mean checking in on their well-being or helping them with non-work-related issues.
Lastly, try to stay patient. Results from these actions might take a while to show, but the effort will pay off in the long run. Practice makes perfect, and showing consistent, genuine effort will make a difference over time.
