Weekly Success Tip

Even a blade of grass under a concrete slab or a potato in a cellar demands to grow! Sooner or later it will find a way around, or it will peek through a crack and creep its way towards the light.

Humans are no different. They demand to grow and in fact, are under the same universal law of growth...

...And just like the blade of grass or potato shoot, humans move toward the light, but in human relationships that light is not the 'sun', it is people that shine kindly, gently and supportively on them. The same principle applies in business and brings us to question number five, of our six part series on what the world's best managers do to attract and maintain the most talented people.

Q5. Does my superior, or someone at work, seem to care about me as an individual?

In the past I've had the experience of training hundreds of real estate agents, but there is always one story that sticks in my mind...

...one time a director said to me, 'Listen, I want you to come and talk to my staff before I fire them all! They don't want to work, they're lazy and they want more money. I want you to come in and see them and I'm going to give you one hour to motivate them'.

In response I said to the director, 'Look, I'm willing to spend an hour working with your employees, but only if I can get two hours with you first!'

Typically when I sit down and listen to what's going on in a situation like this, 95% of the problem is sitting right in front of me with the director, not in the next room with the team. You can't build a business by yourself. It relies on the harmonious co-operation of a team of  people. And so the question becomes, 'what do people really want?'

Usually it's to know that what they do is appreciated and valued and that someone cares about them.

I often ask management teams, 'How many of you know what's going on in the lives of the people you lead?' The overwhelming response is that most don't have a clue, and sadly, most don't care.

I'd like to share with you the three Rules of a successful Relationship, which are very simple, yet no one's probably ever taught them to you before.

1. Care
2. Be a good listener
3. Offer Support

Clearly business and management are all about relationships with people, so I'm sure you'd agree these three 'Rules' might work here as well?

Start by implementing or elevating these three rules in your close relationships and watch what happens...

...And ask yourself this question right now and rate situation from 1 (low) to 5 (high)  

Q5. Does my superior, or someone at work, seem to care about me as an individual?

It's easy to rectify isn't it?

Next week I'll reveal the final question.