Dear Dan: As owner of a small business, I try to be a cheerleader, but it’s hard when I get mired in financial details and daily fires to put out. Lately I’m overhearing more negative comments. Should I be worried? – Cheerleader
Dear Cheerleader: Anyone who runs a business wants it to succeed. That’s a given. But so do employees, partners, vendors and customers, since they also have a stake in the outcome.
According to Quint Studer, head of the Studer Group, however, most businesses are filled with subtle saboteurs who can unintentionally undermine your success. “Even the best leaders and most dedicated, hardworking employees do these things,” says Studer, author of a new book called “Results that Last.”
Studer points to three common sins committed by accidental saboteurs:
1. Relentless negativity. It’s only human to want to vent frustrations. Everyone does it. But it’s destructive, and you can help contain or prevent damage by working daily to position your employees, your products or services and your industry in general in a positive light. The idea is to hard-wire the practice into your regular routine, says Studer.
2. It’s us vs. them. Inside your business, there should only be a “we” and not a “they.” Even the smallest businesses have different departments, whether it’s sales, shipping, customer service or whatever. And when there’s a problem or you don’t get your way, it’s an easy fallback to blame it on “them” – whoever “them” might be. But that’s divisive. The business needs to function as a single entity, a single team working toward a common goal.
3. Giving low performers a free pass. Employees definitely do notice when a coworker is constantly out or late, and spends more time chatting with friends than doing anything productive. And they will be resentful. Turning a blind eye to such behavior not only risks divisiveness, but also squelches profitability.
The solution, Studer says, is to implement a structured series of performance reviews and conversations that include goals and measurements.
These resources can help you with these issues:
• Team Building Inc.’s Web site, www.TeamBuildingInc.com.
• Success Factors, a Web-based service: visit www.SuccessFactors.com.
• The Richardson Co.: www.rctm.com.
• Accel Team: www.Accel-Team.com.
• The Leaders Institute: www.LeadersInstitute.com.
Daniel Kehrer can be reached at editor@business.com.
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