When is the last time you saw your teammates give what the company covets: Discretionary effort?
Some leaders create environments where employees get an adrenaline rush from contributing without concern for the hours on a clock. Other bosses miss the point: They wish their team would do something on a Saturday, but they won’t.
That’s because people won’t give the discretionary effort if they feel their talents are being squandered. Why come in on Saturday if Wednesday and Thursday were wasted by bureaucratic policies, cultures of blame, slow decision making from above, or teammates who don’t play well with others?
Asking people to give more, when the company is unable to utilize what the employee is already giving is insulting.
Discretionary effort is rarely received because it’s been asked for. It’s given, because the conditions have made it a choice people want to make.
What conditions for superior effort from others will you create today?
