Finding the Best in Others

July 26, 2008 · Filed Under Musings, Marketing 

Am currently reading a book, Top Performance by one of my favorite authors, Zig Ziglar.

In it, he gives good advice on how to manage your people. He says that you have to find the good in others. This is one crucial thing managers seldom do. When you make an effort to find the best in others, it inspires them to work harder. True leadership is actually making them want to do their job since they believe in you, as their leader AND they believe that they can do better. If you don’t have a shared vision, it will be difficult to end up on the same “finish line”, so to speak.

Do you manage people? Or are you part of ANY team? Here’s my own take on how to find the best in others.

  1. Convert the naysayers - If you think that one of your team-mates feels that he doesn’t like his job or his role, take him aside. Talk to him and ask him to list at least 5 things he likes about his job. I’m sure he (and you) will be surprised to find out that this list can go on and on. Hey, if it’s the salary or the money, that’s one. You can build this list together and try to convert him from a non-believer to a believer.
  2. There’s always something that he does better - So true. Even if this guy is the last to understand your business plan, and he can’t do reports on time or is a little bit “slow”. There’s ALWAYS something that he does better than the rest. Perhaps, he’s good in predicting trends or knows the best restaurants in town. If you have a VIP guest, he’ll soon be a value to your team — he can impress your guests with his knowledge and recommendations. Finding something that a person does better is always a start. Look for this everyday.
  3. Compliment them in public, scold in private - A simple business rule that I live by. Never ever, ever, shame them in front of their peers. This lowers their self-esteem. But a little pat on the back for a job well done, works miracles. I always remind myself to at least do this once a day. Trust me, it will mean a lot to your team.
  4. Friends first, boss second - Another personal motto. I try to build relationships with my people by being friends with them first. Why? Simply because they’ll be more comfortable and honest with you when you ask for feedback or opinions. As an added bonus - you’ll have MORE friends! Respect will still be there. I don’t try to build respect via fear… some people do, but it simply isn’t my style. If your team sees this, chances are they will treat their own people the same way.

The same simple rules can also be applied to gaming or your guilds. Becoming a leader is no simple chore. Perhaps one of the most vivid scenes etched in my memory is the scene in a movie when Sean Connery, captain of a Russian U-boat, delivered a speech in front of his men before casting ashore. He said

“Without me, you are nothing”

“But without you, I am nothing”

Now that’s teamwork!

Strength and Honor,

GM T

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One Response to “Finding the Best in Others”

  1. Best Posts of July 2008 - gmtristan dot com | gmtristan.com on August 9th, 2008 10:03 am

    […] Finding the Best in Others […]

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