Or you can decide to change

So, what do you do when an employee is being difficult and not pulling their weight? Well, usually, I would try to help them, coax them, mentor them, guide them and if that didn't work, maybe re-arrange what they are doing to increase the odds of them succeeding.

There is another option. That person could decide to do their job. Sometimes, that's how simple it is. For whatever reason, the person decides to work with others, to step up, to be a pleasure to work with instead of an anchor that has to be dragged around.

It can be easy and simple when the person just makes his or her own decision to change. Changing a person can be next to impossible.

Barry LaBov
LaBov Marketing Communications and Training
www.labov.com

Mentor Schmentor

There's one downside to mentoring people: trying to mentor or help someone who doesn't want mentoring.

Often, because of my responsibility gene, I feel like I can help someone to achieve something great. I can see what they can be and I want to help. It took me too long to realize that it's a two-way street; that a person has to want input. Often that is not the case.

So, the best course is to not be a serial mentor. Rather, help only those who ask. That dramatically increases the possibility of success. And it saves time for the "mentee."

Barry LaBov
LaBov Marketing Communications and Training
www.labov.com

Equality, love and peace

I believe that all of us are created equal. I also believe that after that point, all bets are off. Some of us go far, some of don't care, some of us are indispensable and others are very dispensable.

In business, we look at our employees as family, which is good for some things, not for others. I think we should care about each other and be there in times of need. I also believe that some people are just fantastic and they should not get the exact treatment of someone who punches the clock.

There are people and positions that are critical to your company. Likewise, there may be people and positions that are just not. Is it harsh to say that? At a CPA, the accountants are critical, but maybe there are some positions that don't make or break the firm. At a creative company, your strategists and idea people make or break you. Perhaps your bookkeeper doesn't.

When we combine those critical positions with fantastic people, we have an opportunity to really prosper. I suggest that we realize those positions of extreme importance and make sure our efforts are on securing the right people and rewarding them to achieve that critical performance.

Barry LaBov
LaBov Marketing Communications and Training
www.labov.com