Putting Out Fires
“Stamping out fires is a lot of fun, but it is only putting things back the way they were.”
~W. Edwards Deming, American Engineer
We are two weeks into 2023. Have you taken a moment to examine any lessons you may have learned in 2022? For instance, what did 2022 teach you about your people? Any drama among your employees on the ground? Were there moments when you wished your leaders were stronger and better able to problem solve without you? Maybe you remember a few instances in 2022 when things got a little hot and you were needed to make an intervention and bring some calm to the situation. You might even remember the frustration and time wasted relating to such situations. I hope you are getting sick and tired of putting out fires, dealing with deficiency and are ready to start seeking solutions.
I help leaders grow a culture of leadership so they can focus on the work of growing their business. I want you to consider these questions as you look forward to the remainder of 2023. Do you have an employee creed that embraces your core values? Do you have a training program set up to onboard new employees? Does that training program plant the seeds to grow the culture you want? Have you thought about developing a legacy program that will help with retention and recruitment?
2023 is a fresh start, and I am here to help you. I am starting a Peer Group this year. It will be a mixed group of leaders in the service industry who want to grow themselves, their people and their dreams. The Peer Group will be made up of leaders committed to sharing what is working for them, what they struggle with and how they grow a thriving employee community. The Peer Group information will be going out soon, and I hope you consider how this may be the group that helps you get through some barriers, get your people to the next level, and get the progress you are proud of.
You can put out fires the rest of your career, but you and I know that putting out fires is no way to build an organization that can run itself in your absence. The other option is to work and build a culture that is unique and sustainable. It is really your choice. 2023 can be your year to focus on your leaders and the employees who report to them.
Stay tuned and keep cultivating greatness!
Jeff
