Leading by Engaging and Valuing Talent

One could quickly devalue an employee if theymentor others, the organization remains stagnate
ignore them. Employees feel disengaged if theyand there is no true high performance. An
are devalued and most managers forget or don'torganization that can not see the value in
understand the connection between emotion anddiversification of employees, styles and knowledge
performance. Performance drops for the individualbase will continue to struggle.
and eventually the entire team, when they feelWe all know managers that consistently hire bad
devalued. Sounds pretty logical right? Valuingresources. Either they hire good resources and
employees might be the easiest way to turn upthe resource leaves due to culture shock, or they
performance on an individual or a team. It is alsohire the wrong person for the position. Often, it's
the easiest area to neglect and the quickest wayhiring the wrong person for the position and five
to break the spirit of an individual or a team.years later when the manager is gone the
Performance immediately declines. Devaluingreplacement manager wonders why this "wrong"
employees often becomes the spiral downwardemployee was ever hired. Managers that don't
for a team and could actually be considered inknow how to hire will consistently hire someone
management terms as 'abuse, abandonment,at a lesser level them themselves. If a B level
neglect, or failure to nurture.'manger is hiring, he will hire a B level or sometime
Managers manage the 'things', where as leaderseven a C level employee. An A level employee
influence and motivate the people that do theshould hire all A level employees, but there have
'things'. You can lead people without managingbeen cases where even an A level employee will
them, and this is leading by influence. This methodhire B level performers in an effort to remain the
of leading by influence may be a threat to somesole A player. High performers that continue to
managers if they don't understand this modal offind themselves surrounded by low performers
management. Unless they themselves are maturewill also feel devalued and also will often exit.
in leading, they may often attempt to lower orThese are old, out dated management styles,
suppress a leader. This manager may believe thatwhich for several reasons will not work in today's
by pointing out all the negatives, or the areas towork environment. Change in economy allows
'improve' without highlighting high performancemanagement to select high performers from a
areas, it will make the employee a betterlarge pool of candidates. If a manager does not
employee when in fact it will only frustrate theunderstand how to screen and hire for 'high
employee and devalue them. Some believe this isperformance individuals' they'll never achieve a
coaching, but it really is devaluing an employee.high performance team. For organizations to
True leaders that manage can see the differenceeffectively compete in today's economy, high
between managing and leading. They understandperformance and high achievement are critical
the diversified gifts employees bring as strength,attributes needed within the organization structure.
and they actively utilize those gifts effectively. AIf a manager does hire a high performer, he/she
good leader also understands and can admit tomust then understand the dynamics, influences,
their own 'growth opportunities' and surroundand motivators that drive an individual. A good
themselves with individuals that help fill in voids.leader remains diligent to leading practices vs.
True leaders also have mentors or leaders theymanaging practices.
can call upon for stretch moments, growthSecondly, we must also be aware of generational
opportunities or even to help shed light on blindfactors that have begun to play into many of our
spots. True leaders are always growing andwork spaces. Baby boomers, millenniums and
stretching and actively seek out those blind spotsthose in-between all have very different
to focus and expand. If a true leader works forexpectations of 'work'. New terms have emerged
someone that is stagnate and is attempting toand employee focus areas include work-life
keep everyone else beneath him/her, the truebalance, life-learning, and total compensation, which
leader will leave. Growth is one of his top valuesby today's definition is beyond dollars or hours in
and breaking this value will send the true leaderthe work week. There are more expectations for
quickly exiting. Even if the true leader doesn'trecognition and acknowledgment, and the VALUE
have a direct report to a mentor, there must beof the employee. People truly want to be, and
mentoring resources around this leader. In anexpect to be, HAPPY in their job, and being
organization where there are no leaders toHAPPY also means feeling VALUED.