The Fish Stinks From The Head Down

So, picture this: I visited a spa that recently went through some major changes. New owners, new management, the whole shebang. And what’s their big challenge now? You guessed it, the staff. Apparently, they’re as apathetic as a sloth on a hot day.

They do the bare minimum, and their sales are nada. Now, you might be thinking, “well, maybe they just weren’t paid enough to care.” But no, no, no, that wasn’t the case at all. These people were getting paid pretty well, but they just couldn’t be bothered.

So, I dug a little deeper and discovered the previous management structure was enabling this behaviour. You know how it goes, the fish stinks from the head down. But this was on another level! The management structure must have been as engaging as a brick wall because there was absolutely no motivation for the staff to do anything beyond the bare minimum.

Now, you know me, I can’t stand by and watch a sinking ship go down, so I had to help. My first suggestion was to have a one-on-one with every single staff member and find out what makes them tick. I mean, if they’re not motivated by money, then we’ve got to dig deeper, right? We needed to know their love language, their personality, and behavioral styles. I mean, what better way to turn things around than by speaking their language

Next up, find out if there’s a “negative Nancy” among the pack, you know, the ring leader of apathy. If there is, try to turn them around and make them a positive influence. If that doesn’t work, it’s time to cut that bad apple loose.

And let’s not forget about setting goals and targets for the staff. How are you supposed to motivate people if they don’t have anything to work towards? It’s like telling someone to run a race without telling them where the finish line is. Crazy, right?

Anyway, I think we’ve got a plan to turn things around and get this spa back on track. It’s all about planting seeds, finding out what motivates people, and speaking their language. It’s not about teaching passion or initiative, it’s about channeling it in the right direction.

So, the moral of the story? Well, let’s just say that if you want a team that’s on fire, you’ve got to be the spark that ignites it. And if all else fails, well, there’s always the option of hiring a good coach or management consultant. I might be able to point you in the right direction {wink-wink-nudge-nudge}

Why don’t we continue the conversation? Mark your calendars because I’m going live on Facebook the 13th of April (1pm SAST). You have me for 30 minutes, so don’t be shy! Reply to this email with any questions you have, and let’s put our minds together to come up with solutions. Deal? If you DO reply either with a question for the live OR just to say hello, I’ll gift you my new E-Book on Creating a Positive Work Environment. Here’s a preview!