When you reach the top of your game, you may feel like it's time to take a step back, relax, take longer lunches, maybe hit the golf course a couple times a week. And yes, there is a lot to be said for being able to hire effectively and to delegate to your staff, but being present for your employees and making sure that they understand that you're willing to work as hard as they are sends a strong message.
Mike shared some thoughts on this a while back when he had some work done on his house. See what he had to say below.
"I bought a new house last November.
If you know me, you know I am financially pretty conservative with my money and generally make moves long after most would say “it’s ok” to do something.
We bought a fixer upper but tripled our square footage, picked up a pool, cul de sac, basement, the kids all have their own rooms, and a couple of other nice things we didn’t have before. That said the house and yard are in need of work. Stress and anxiety for my wife. A blank canvas with endless possibilities for me but that's a mindset conversation for another day.
We’ve been hiring contractors and crews for all sorts of jobs and I currently have a landscaping company I am in love with doing some pretty major work in my backyard. I LOVE the owner of this company. Guy's name is Olvin.
Olvin reminds me of another owner of another company I worked with recently, Pete of PK Tree Removal. Why do I love these two and their companies? Besides accountability, which many companies and people don’t have these days, the owners both WORK the jobs.
Pete from the tree removal company is in his 50s. Olvin is in his 40s.
Both are very established. Both have the crews, vehicles, equipment, machines and reputation. Neither owner HAS TO work but they both do and as a result... their PEOPLE work SO MUCH HARDER.
Olvin yesterday, on a 93 degree day, is drenched in sweat yelling at a guy for moving too slow. “I’m the owner of this company. I am up before you, working after you and I have a million things going on in my head about all of this. You? I just need you to spread the top soil. If I can be loading the Bobcat and pulling limbs and trunks out of here while thinking about 1000 other things you can spread top soil. I know it’s hot”
And the guy just got back to work.
But ALLLLLL the guys on both their crews work way harder than almost any other company I’ve hired to do similar and I believe the reason to be because the owner is not above it all.
He’s not too good for it.
And while they may not be at every job every day, the workers understand that the boss cares. Busts his ass. Is there. Around. Present. Involved.
If you’re wondering why you’re production isn’t where it needs to be and you’re not really around all that much... understand the tone it sets for your team.
I’m not saying that you shouldn't enjoy the fruits of your labor if you’ve reached the promised land, but don’t forget to let your people see and know why and how the agency exists.
When they see you taking it seriously, you'll get a lot more of them to take your Agency and their jobs seriously."