Workforce Push Back And The Quest For More
Has workforce push back ever disrupted the flow in your organization? Does the quest for more ever end up becoming a quest that results in less?
Balance is an interesting aspect of the work we do. The push versus pull, the give versus take. It often comes down to finding the appropriate balance.
Concept of Balance
The idea of balance is something often discussed in leadership development programs. Conceptually, it may be evidence of what many would identify as situational leadership. It is inclusive of those circumstances or situations where one leadership principle is sacrificed in order to gain more of another.
In the seminar, workshop, or webinar, some people get their fill before time is up, others don’t want the moment to end. Some are listening carefully and learning something they haven’t heard before, and yet others believe that they know the concept well.
The facilitator, instructor, or host, has a duty then. A duty to produce something in the middle. The middle is where you’ll satisfy the most.
The Expectation of Give More
We find the same thing when leading workforce teams.
The business or organization is always striving for the most productivity, highest efficiency, and the greatest customer satisfaction. The expectation is to give more. More effort, more time, or more commitment.
Sometimes this seems counter intuitive since the labor force pushes back to not allow management to gain too much.
The labor force may be organized, informal, or part of a clique. Their push back message masquerades as fairness, yet the course of doing business may feel different. It seems like it is about giving more.
At the farmers market or the mom and pop bakery, a customer seeks a farmers or bakers dozen. Only, a dozen doesn’t mean twelve, it means thirteen. The concept is about give more.
The restaurant owner works hard to build a brand. Much of the front-line staff receive compensation based on tips. Customers provide greater tips when they are satisfied or impressed. It is the expectation of management, a concept of give more.
Workforce Push Back
In workforce circles, or any circle for that matter, there is always some push back. There is the quest for balance, the small tug of war, and one side gains while another side gives.
Somewhere in the middle is the happy medium. That place where at least for this moment, everyone is moving the same direction.
The quest for more should be simple.
It develops from a motivational cause, not a rule, not a specific metric, and certainly not by pushing.
Wanting more and giving more is always about balance.
-DEG
Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSPTM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.
