Be a Champion in the New Work World
Championships do not just happen, they begin in the mind of a leader. As anyone who has ever played a sport knows, the mindset of a champion must be both flexible and strong. Champions harbor the ability to cope with setbacks and obstacles, but they also have the strong will to succeed and overcome any failures that come their way. It is their strong belief in themselves and the ability to collaborate with others who share a common goal that keeps them mentally adept and resilient.
In football, a talented running back might get 40 or even 50 carries in a single game. And in almost every play he will be chased, hit and tackled. But the player who is also a leader will not only get up, he will also mentally wipe away the fog of the last play, learn from what went right or wrong and then huddle up with his teammates to consider what new methods they might use to reach their one goal, the end zone.
The other night I was watching one of the Houston Astros being interviewed during the World Series championship after an impressive no-hitter game. The broadcaster asked the player how, after a bit of a setback, they seemed to always rebound and go forward. The player answered:
“We have a team that cares about the players, and we want to win.”
The Houston Astros went on to win the World Series, but even if you aren’t a baseball or football player, we are all players and teammates in the quest to achieve success in the New Work World. And this same philosophy can apply to running a successful workplace. After the setbacks both employers and employees have experienced over the last few years, how can we all become champions going forward to create a team of winners that continue to rebound and help our workplaces win?
Let’s investigate some tactics that might be helpful for both employers and employees by using a few steps of the Faremouth Method as a strategic maneuver to get us to achieve important goals and support each other in the process:
1. Do a Self Inventory
Employers: Ask yourself if you are the type of employer who creates an environment that makes your employees want to win and become successful? Have you done a strategic inventory of what makes your place of employment an attractive choicefor the stellar employee? If you have had heavy turnover lately or can’t find the right people in this marketplace, what might you do to change that situation? Doing a serious inventory of what might need to change is the first step towards getting the “champion” talent you need in this applicant- shortage market.
Employees: Ask yourself why you have been on several interviews but are still not getting offers? Could your skillset lack the current technology skills that many employers are seeking? Would taking an online class that you could add to your resume improve your chances of getting offers? Have you been harboring a negative or entitled or resentful attitude towards the process of job seeking? How might you adjust your mindset to throw out negativity, move past the challenges of the last few years and focus on the positive aspects of your life today? How would it benefit your job search to become a champion of gratitude instead of taking your success for granted?
2. Step Out of Your Comfort Zone
Employers: The current shortage of experienced candidates is causing much distress in almost every area of business. What if you championed a new way of hiring that included looking at transferrable skills? What if you worked with a consultant who could show you how to investigate this method? If you have always had a mandatory degree requirement, what about changing that to “must have related experience or a skillset that demonstrates that the learning curve would not be long or difficult to achieve”? It’s an applicant’s market at this time, and becoming a champion in your hiring efforts might need to change so that your jobs don’t stay open for many months.
Employees: Many employers are not as flexible these days compared to the hybrid working situations they have used in the last few years. If you have gotten comfortable working from home but a new opportunity that pays significantly more would allow you to be viewed as the “champion of your household” by being able to afford more experiences that you and the family would enjoy, would readjusting your workday flow really be that difficult compared to the rewards it could bring?
3. Take the Time to Do It Right
Employers: Interviewing three candidates to find one successful hire might not be the scenario you are experiencing in this current market. What if you championed a new system in the company by getting all the current employees together and getting to know who they really are and what types of new employees would fit best with your current team? Having a group of employees that seem to “gel” well can be an important step in having a positive work environment and also retaining employees for long periods of time. Be the coach of your employee team and work with them more closely to champion new ideas that might expand your business platforms, that will positively affect your bottom line.
Employees: What if you brought in new systems of support to help you find a job that might be a better fit for your skills and talents and interests? Taking assessment tests or seeking out a career consultant to investigate why your last few jobs were less than fulfilling might be a new strategy to implement in your career search going forward. You deserve to be the champion of your career goals but sometimes we need help to find that missing link.
Whether you are an employer or an employee, you can become a true champion in your work life if you have a flexible, determined mindset that allows you to rebound and go forward. We all can expand and grow if we champion the changes that will make all of our teams, both personal and professional, winners in the New Work World. Use these steps from the Faremouth Method; Do you own Self-Inventory, Step out of Your Comfort Zone and Take the Time to Do It Right, and see how these changes help you create greater success and win your own Championship in your workplace arena!
