Leadership

Some people like to work from the bowels of the industry. They want to stay anonymous deep within the machine. And that is okay because no company can go anywhere unless you have good people doing good things whether they stand on the bridge or in the boiler room.

Some people cannot think of working anyplace else except on the bridge. Being there to make the decisions and guide the course of the company. And that too is okay because you need good people willing to make hard decisions for the betterment of the company and to best help those who work there.

The question is not where you work. Instead, the question should be what you bring to the table. Are you there to grab a paycheck and be left alone, or are you there to give it your all and help your company to the next level. There are a lot of people willing to take a paycheck and yet give only minimum work performance in return. The problem is found with minimum or average work performance the company stutters and falls. Upper management looks around, realizes that the product is good and decides to move someplace with better labor performance.

I have heard that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. The company is only as good as its poorest performer. In a case like this, you cannot look around and point at other people and say it’s his fault, or her fault, or their fault. You have to look in the mirror and make sure it’s not your fault. And then you go forth to put out your best efforts.

This is not pointing fingers at others. This is not ignoring them either. After you look in the mirror and go forth, you are providing leadership. And leadership is good no matter what level it comes from.

Thanks for being with me today. I hope to be with you again tomorrow.

Author: Mike Balof

A retired Air Force Master Sergeant, Mike used to lay in bed at night and worry about what would happen if his plant closed or found himself without a job. One day his plant closed. Rather than panic and hysteria (OK, maybe a little) Mike found himself carried away on the adventure of his life. Mike started with the best job he ever had working at Home Depot. He spent 8 years working with job seekers at a local workforce center, helping them to find employment. He then started his own company developing courses, writing books and urging others to follow their own paths into the future. Mike holds a Master of Arts in Adult Education and Training and a Bachelor of Business Management, earned through the University of Phoenix and an AAS degree in Electronics Systems Technology from the Community College of the Air Force. Mike is a member of the Delta Mu Delta Business Honor Society. View all posts by Mike Balof