This Week’s Streak: What Fuels Your Business?
You feel like you are running on empty. You are working twice as hard for half the return. Morale is low and the potential for burnout is high. Team members are barely getting their minimum work done, showing up late, leaving early, and calling in sick. They do not seem happy when they are at work.
Can one person turn this around? Yes, relationships fuel business and even when they are in need of repair one person, even if they are running on empty themselves, when giving a conscious effort, consistently over time, can turn a relationship or a business around. Just like everyone needs to eat throughout the day, everyone needs to fuel themselves, and each other, up as well.
How can you begin to turn this around? Before you begin to think this is a difficult thing to do I would say this is where the details come in. It is the little things you say and do – both positive and negative – that either fill people up or wear them down – this includes how you speak to yourself. You do not necessarily need to rally the troops and get them to “buy in” to this concept and do it together – you might find more success and less frustration by leading by example. As you fuel your team and your business, it builds trust and credibility that you can then draw on in the future when you need it.
How efficiently is your business being fueled? Is it being fueled by healthy food or junk food? Is it being fueled by positive reinforcement or negative reinforcement? You may need a little of both – just consider which one you are doing at 80% and which one is getting 20%. It takes fuel to run a business and you want to consider how efficiently yours is running.
Check-In on your last Request: Did you do what you said you would do (or more) by the time that you said you would do it?
Request (something to do): Let’s say your fuel gauge is on 0 when it is Empty and 5 when it is Full. Will you start each of the next 5 business days by checking your “fuel gauge” level and tracking the number on your calendar (or another place you choose). Set yourself up for success by setting a realistic goal to move forward by 1 each week, or give me a counteroffer.
Inquiry (something to ponder): What can I do or say (or not do or say) differently today that will positively affect the fuel gauge level?
