Every employee has the potential to contribute meaningfully to a business's success. Yet, company leaders often fail to recognize and harness the abilities of certain employees, leaving them underused and undervalued. This can negatively impact company culture, reduce employee motivation, and impede progress. In this article, we’ll explore some advice and resources for company leaders to identify underused employees and help them maximize their potential.
“Flexing one’s authority is not equivalent to showing leadership. The authority to command others and give orders is one thing; leadership is something different: inspiring others to want to work with you and for you,” he said. “It has to do with values internalized and the willingness to sacrifice or subordinate all other concerns-advancement, personal well-being, safety-for others.”
More than just sacrificing self-serving concerns, though, leadership is about loving the people you lead.
Many companies treat employees like replaceable cogs in the corporate machine – using people to do their work while finding ways to minimize the amount of benefits in order to maximize profits. In addition to that, many people know that unemployment could be just around the corner due to layoffs that have become an all-too-common tool for companies to strengthen their bottom line. While these moves may give the bottom line a short-term boost, they have also done extensive damage to people’s trust and care, not only those who depart, but those who remain as well.
As a leader, it is your job to show up and to support people whether they like you or not. Your role is to serve others, not for others to serve you.
I continue to wonder if the costs of speaking up about toxic cultures outweigh the costs of staying quiet. By speaking up, people are not only risking the job and professional relationships they have now, but also future opportunities, as well.
