Last time I talked about why people who join your business might drop out because of information overload. My take on the situation was that newbies in business are not much different than newborn babies, in that they can be easily overwhelmed if you try to feed them too much too soon. There are exceptions, of course, but in most cases you shouldn't expected your new people to handle too much knowledge so quickly. Nobody can drink water from a fire hydrant at full blast. You wouldn't expect a baby to take its first steps by age one, then celebrate its second birthday by running the New York City Marathon, would you? I should hope not.
With that said, I said I'd tell you what you can do instead to keep from blowing them out of water, quitting the team before they got a chance to learn how well they could play the game. The answer comes in two words:
BABY STEPS...
That's right, baby steps. Not to insult anyone's intelligence, but think about it. People cannot start where you think they should be, they can only start where they are. It's just as important to keep them on solid footing as it is to get them off to a good start. Don't be in such a rush to get them going. They aren't cars, they can't go zero to 60 in less than 30 seconds, that's unrealistic, for them and for you.
It is critical that you help them build confidence. It isn't enough for them to know that you believe they can succeed; they must know it for themselves. Give them something simple to do, something they can handle at their pace...NOT YOURS. Let them create their own momentum. They're more likely to stick around when they feel as if they have a say in their progress. They had their own reasons to join you, they need their own reasons to stay with you. Help them to become sure of themselves. Cheer them on at every turn, and applaud their progress at every milestone they reach. When they're ready to pick up the pace, you won't have to ask, they'll let you know.
We all travel at different speeds, some move faster than you, others slower. They are not a carbon copy of you, don't try to convince them otherwise. See them for what they are, not for what you are, or what you think they should be. If you give them too much, too soon, they'll throw up their hands and say, Forget it! This is just too much to handle. Nothing is worth all this! Make sure not to talk about your goals, but talk about theirs. They didn't join you to help you achieve your goals; they're interested in theirs. Most people already find themselves in an environment where they work to achieve somebody else's dreams. They don't want or need a second one from you. I'm not saying you shouldn't challenge them from time to time, just make sure you know they're ready before you throw down the gauntlet. Too much to handle too soon can backfire.
Baseball Hall of Famer Tom Seaver talks often about the influence his first manager Gil Hodges had on his career and the lessons in professionalism he learned as well as the commitment required to become a winning pitcher on a championship team. When asked if he ever passed on Gil's teachings to future teammates as his career progressed, Tom was careful to point out that he did share Gil's wisdom to fellow players, but only if he knew they were ready, because not everyone could handle that level of knowledge. Tom is also quick to point out that building solid relationships along the way is key. Without strong relationships, including a solid support system in place, he never would have been able to achieve so many great moments in his career.
It is important to remember, "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care," (Zig Ziglar), but it is equally important that people know you care about THEM. If they know you have their best interests at heart, they'll do whatever you ask them to do. They'll even run through a brick wall for you (so to speak), if they know you've got their back. Just be sure they know you are willing to help them get wherever they want to go, and they'll be glad to follow your lead.
So don't be discouraged if you wanted a team of hares and found you're leading tortoises instead. According to the story, the tortoise, though slow as molasses (so it seemed), won the race. In the end, the winning means more than the beginning.
"Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success." - Henry Ford
"Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean." - Ryunosuke Satoro
That's all for now, gotta run. Until we meet again, remember:
Keep it simple...See ya!
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