One of the best tools an employer can utilize is to find out what his or her employees likes to do. So many people are locked into positions that do not enable them to reach the highest level of excellence only because the position does not fit their personality. We all love to do what we love to do. We all have certain abilities and gifts that can flourish in the proper environment. Any environment can be the proper one, if one is able to enjoy what they do.
One of my employers used this method very effectively. He would observe a new employee, always looking for special traits. Maybe they interacted with customers very well, maybe they liked paperwork, or charts, or speaking on the phone. Maybe they showed a tendency toward organization even in the formation of items on their desk. He would then move that person to a position suited to their personality. Everyone was able to excel because they were doing what they loved to do.
I have organized conferences and, once I have had volunteers in place to help, I always asked them what they liked to do. Surprisingly, many responded that they had never been asked that before. If they liked to cook, I gave them that responsibility; if talking with people-they would register guests. Once they had their assignment and knew the goal, I left them alone. Because it was what they loved…they did not need supervision, only encouragement. Except for minimal oversight, I could concentrate on what I loved to do and, without exception, so could they and all went smoothly.
I have also learned that too much micromanagement only discourages people from participating. There is a fine line between leadership and domination. A good leader or employer is one who takes the raw material, looks for the special qualities, and uses that to their advantage.
The ship sails smoothly when each person loves what they do. Because they love it, they know how to do it that way, everyone fits into their special and unique position, and the goals of the employer are not only met, but exceeded. Those are the people who can be relied upon, be trusted, and will love coming to work every day.
