In today’s changing business world, it is no more enough to spend so much in training employees without having them fully committed to doing whatever they have learnt. Without seeing the need to be committed to one’s job, training may not bring about the expected returns – and this is why so many people think training does not yield results.
Something very important is lacking in today’s employees. Just one thing! Could it be any of the following: lack of skills, lack of expertise, lack of experience, lack of education, lack of communication skills, and lack of customer service skills? Surprisingly, it is none of all these things. The number one key thing that is lacking in our workplace of today is COMMITMENT. The bad news is that it is getting worse by day. Let us take lack of experience as an example. The solution to not having experience is to work and gain as much experience as possible, but having fifteen years cognate experience without a corresponding high level of commitment could be suicidal. More so, one can have all the experience in this world, all the skills and competence, and even adept with strategy matters but without commitment, one might end up sub-optimally.
Now, many people give so many reasons and justifications for their failures. In the last 5 years employee’s productivity has gone down and may likely become worse in the future. When you listen to some employees excuses and reasons for non-performance, it would be very easy to pick out the fact that the main cause of their non-performance is simply lack of commitment to their jobs. Let’s look at it, when one is not committed, he/she will never go the extra mile for his/her organization, like Blanchard said, such a person will only do what is convenient to do. With the current situation of businesses today, no organization can achieve sustainable results working with employees that will only do what is convenient for them. Every organization needs staff members who are committed and are ready to deliver results regardless of any circumstance.
During one of my programs, a staff of an engineering firm raised up a point that over the years has created a false impression on employees. He believed that without adequate resources, employees might not deliver expected results. This has been the thinking of so many people till today. The truth of the matter is that resources can never be enough. Employees must learn to make the most out of the available resources. Budgets can be reduced or cut down, but nobody can ever succeed in cutting down or reducing the flow of someone’s attitude.
The commitment gap in many organizations is continuously increasing. Many people are just earning salaries without justifying their pay. “Presenteeism” is now the order of the day. Presenteeism is really difficult to discover as opposed to absenteeism. It exists when employees are fully present in the office, but they are not working, not adding value, and not committed to their jobs. Someone might ask, is it possible for one to be in the office and not working? Yes, when one is present but not adding value to the organization. A committed staff member is always adding value and will keep doing things differently in order to achieve a better result.
Points to ponder:
•It is very important to know that, people do not do what you expect but what you inspect. If you want better results, be ready to inspect. Do not assume that results will naturally come- you might be disappointed.
•Leaders and managers should show commitments first. People do what they see others doing. Leaders and managers are expected to set the examples. It is much easier to lead others when you are committed.
•Employees should focus less on things that are nice to do, but instead should focus more on things that matter most to the company.
•For your business to grow, you need staff members who are committed. Without commitment, there would be no growth.
Final note:
The reality is that no employee can go the extra mile without a high sense of commitment in him or her. Interestingly, CEOs and managers have a major part to play in lubricating the oil of commitment in their organizations. Based on the experience I have training leaders and managers in various sectors, I have come to realize that employees will never be deeply committed to a CEO or a manager who is not trustworthy, who also lacks commitment as a leader, who does not radiate honesty, openness, transparency and who does not have their genuine interest at heart.
So, now, we must ensure we close up the growing commitment gap in our organizations. Growth, progress, increased PAT/PBT and business sustainability may be farfetched with non-committed workforce who is not productive on a daily basis. Leaders should not focus more on compliance in this age and time; they should preach more of commitment, because an employee who is committed will naturally comply to set rules.
What is your organization doing to consistently have people who are committed and ready to do all they can to ensure your organization thrives even in difficult times?
Remember, lack of commitment is every organization’s biggest undoing, get help today and let commitment become non-negotiable in your organization.
Feel free and ask me how your organization can become “commitment advantaged” and reap all the benefits thereof.
‘Uju Onwuzulike’
