Virtually all the advice on getting people to engage in their work and increase their productivity is predicated on a false assumption, namely that any form of outside influence will result in lasting internal change, stimulating pride, purpose, motivation and a positive attitude. Unlike animals, human beings have the power to choose inappropriate behaviour and substandard performance, and often will willfully do so, even in the face of overwhelming negative consequences. Consequently, the current model for how to manage employees is ineffective. We need to focus our leadership energy into the high- and mid-level performers rather than investing ourselves in those who are choosing substandard attitudes and behaviours.
We would like to believe that the individuals we hire already have an understanding of the values and ethics required to be successful in our workplaces. Unfortunately, some people are working only for their paycheck regardless of their capability to perform tasks to standards and regardless of their pitiful attitude and toxic behaviour toward others. No amount of encouragement, incentive, coaching, counseling, positive reinforcement, discipline, or “how-positive-I-am-in-my-belief” that they can change has any impact on these people. Until they choose to become a different person, a more emotionally positive person, a more caring person, a less selfish person, a less bitter person, a less angry person, a less “the world owes me” kind of person, we are left with little choice but to remove them from our organizations as quickly as possible. When we do, teamwork will improve within and across department lines. There will be an immediate release of creativity and prudent risk taking and innovation to improve processes.
If you think for a minute that you have a responsibility to rehabilitate these people, or that recruiting and training a new hire to replace them will be too costly, you are wrong. Unless you have a willingness to hold them accountable for their internal attitude, they will remain in your organization far too long, requiring hours of documentation for your human resources department and labor attorney. Eventually, when you are compelled to fire these people, you still will face a lawsuit because you have given them time to build an employment history they will use against you in court.
As leaders today we must become proficient at identifying and building the necessary objectives and measures that will unquestionably reflect the alignment of an employee’s values, beliefs, and ethics, with those of the organization. It is with these employees that are aligned that leaders must spend their time. The employee that is not aligned with the organization’s values, beliefs and ethics must be moved on.
CORPORATE HARMONY is grateful to Dr. Michael E. Frisina for his contributions to this entry.
Catherine is the President and CEO of CORPORATE HARMONY, providing virtual solutions for leadership development and organizational culture change. Her leadership and coaching experience as a Project Manager in an ever-changing, fast moving technological organization with unrelenting demands drove her to the realization that a positive mindset and strength-building behaviors are essential for today’s complex and chaotic organizational systems. CORPORATE HARMONY’s virtual platform of programs, coaching and performance measurement, is an innovative online technology of tested proprietary content. The world-class content of CORPORATE HARMONY’s Positive Presence Program develops the skill of ‘Positive Presence’ and the necessary ‘Positive Presence Behaviour Competencies’ for maintaining a positive and energized mindset and increased performance in today’s complex work environment, and leading to a culture of collaboration and connection. Catherine’s vision for Corporate Harmony is to bring the skill of “Positive Presence” to the corporate world as it becomes more complex, ambiguous and chaotic. Catherine is uniquely positioned to impact organizations’ productivity and long term success, with her powerful vision of eliminating bad stress from every workplace around the globe, bringing purpose into the people equation to promote healthy, productive and meaningful work cultures and turn the tide on the neglect of mental health on a global scale. Catherine is author of the book: “CORPORATE HARMONY – The Performance Link for Today’s Modern Organization” Catherine can be reached at: Catherine.Osborne@corporateharmony.ca or go to ‘contact us’ on our website www.corporateharmony.ca. Catherine is available for consultation, and can be reached by 519-695-3407.