Pay Attention to The Live Bodies

Good Morning-

It's a cool "fall like" morning here in Raleigh, NC and it feels GREAT! I am ready for the cooler weather, football and the baseball playoffs...not to mention all the fun school things my son will be doing!

Let me preface this post by saying that "I hope that it doesn't come off as being too harsh." You see, I took a few moments last evening to reflect on all the things that had either made of cost me money in the numerous businesses I've founded and ultimately sold off over my career. And the number one item was personnel! Now, this all came about (my reflective state) because I've tried to be generous to some less-than-deserving people in today's troubled economy (I believe in that whole good Karma thing). I've offered positions to both sales and support staff only to have them fail to execute. For example...a talented designer had been posting on FB about how he had no job, no prospects for a job, a newborn, and ultimately might have to move because of the job market. Now I really don't need a new video but I contacted him on a Saturday (via e-mail) and told him that I wanted a video, laid out the parameters for the short spot and offered to pay him a nice sum for his efforts. I didn't hear anything back for 96 hours!!! He ultimately responded in 4 words that he would do it, then never followed up with me in any fashion...now, a week later, I finally told him that I've chosen to go in another direction. Hey, you don't want my money...I'll keep it...no problem.

Then, looking back over my career I could see many such people who have come into and out of my life. And in such cases my reaction has been consistent and in most instances much faster than in this one. Poor personnel must be shown alternative options (to staying with your company) quickly...otherwise they will become a drain on your company from not only a payroll perspective, but such individuals will also hurt overall morale and take up valuable space in your own mind.

As a business owner/partner/C-level exec. you have to just deal with each of these issues with speed and finality. Here's the hard part...You cannot care about their family situation, their past work history, their medical conditions, etc. (I know that sounds bad, but it's true). Otherwise you can get bogged down in their poor performance and/or excuses. And if, by chance, you do believe the excuses and do not take action to correct the problem it's going to be bad. Because, when the other members of your executive team or partner(s) begin to question you about this person, and you convey the excuse(s) told to you that may ultimately lead to your being seen as an ineffective leader..and that, my friends, leads to a whole other (and much more costly) can of worms. Obviously, in the current example provided above, there is another dynamic in place that I'm not qualified to address and/or fix.

So for all you entrepreneurs out there please, take this lesson from me and commit it to memory. Pay attention to the "live" bodies that are moving your endeavor down the tracks and leave those others behind - on the platform watching your train roll out of sight.

Best Always,
Dave J.