Over my 25 years as a process engineer and a continuous improvement coach, I have heard managers complain that their employees don't have ownership.
Among the reasons I've heard from managers over the years are they're never satisfied, I have a limited budget, they're unskilled, some people just complain, and, my favorite, they're poor performers.
Employees complain about not getting paid enough, management doesn't understand how stuff works, they're more concerned with their pocket than us, they're more concerned with their careers, this is just another program of the month, they don't hold others accountable, and they expect us to work in bad conditions without the tools and support we need.
This leaves both feeling hopeless, like they have to work with the cards they are dealt. They are full of resentment, contempt and daily frustration.
Employees and management both lose efficiency and the ability to come up with solutions. That's the sad part: managing work with these thoughts every day becomes a job. So, when you ask them how they feel about work, it's this part they hate, not their job. They spend more time distracted by their hates than doing their jobs.
There are no performance reviews, and only the worst acts are addressed, but not in a helpful way.
Is this your company? Do you come in and work on the same old tasks because they'll be there whether the company does well or not? Do you put your head down and hope for the best and wish your life away because retirement can't come fast enough? When was the last time you worked on something that made you excited to be a part of something?
What if I told you that both the manager and the employee are co-creators of the problems they blame on each other? And, both can easily change things at work.
So what's missing? They need grit. Neither management nor employees have grit.
Grit: what is it? It's courage and resolve; character strength, according to Webster's. Stamina, perseverance, and achieving long-term goals are the key.
The thing about grit is that it doesn't require any of the reasons managers or employees complain about to change. Grit is an inside job. It happens within a person. Soon, the business starts doing better.
What's the secret to creating grit? You need a growth mindset.
Growth mindset is thinking and feeling in a way that drives behaviors that create what you want, not what you don't.
Most of you think you'll get what you want if others comply or cooperate with you. Unless they do, you can't get what you want. I don't think that's true.
It's just a matter of cultivating a growth mindset.
When it comes to cultivating a growth mindset, how do you do it? It's simple.
1.) Block your fears by facing them.
2.) Resolve your problems, not just manage them.
3.) Finish strong, no matter what.
Most people don't have the confidence to do it. Some don't know how. This is the difference between the good and the great, success and failure. This is why you need a coach. Getting help from someone with experience who believes in you when you don't and can help with tactics is essential.
Click the link below and I'll show you how to get some grit for yourself, your employees, or your business.
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