Don’t be afraid of trying new ideas

He appeared on my television screen in the early 1960s. I was nine and a baseball fanatic. When I first saw him, ball 4 had crossed the plate. He drew a walk. Unlike the hundreds of batters I had watched before him however, Pete Rose did not walk to first base: he ran a sprint! As a young major leaguer, he loved to play the game. His energy on the field earned him the name: Charlie Hustle. Long before he had the most hits in history or later, when he committed serious transgressions against the game, the kids of a certain generation held Pete Rose in awe. Once we saw Pete every other player was second best. Being around people with energy and a passion for their work creates special enthusiasm for many of us. Their passion becomes our passion. It ignites a spark that enables people to believe they can do so much more.

In addition to being around a person with deep passion, coaching people up is a way to unleash energy and production. Although micromanaging people is an unwanted skill from days gone by, being out, working with others, and providing real direction can change your business. Over many years of managing people, I found employees fearful of making a mistake or worse, upsetting their manager. They would rather do nothing than risk someone’s wrath by making any type of mistake. I believe it is essential to let all team members know the expectations, in plain, spelled out terms. What does the club stand for? What can the individual do for a member or guest? When problems arise, what can your staff do to repair it without a management huddle? In this In My Opinion post, I am providing three ideas on unleashing the better producer in every staff member.

Be sure your team understands that trying things and falling short is not fatal. Work with your management team to create an understanding of club standards, and where the foul poles sit. Many employees want to protect their jobs. This may cause them to avoid trying things. They may go to great lengths to simply keep their spot on the team. When they do, chances are they may become a less productive member of the team. Instead, work to discover their interests and their passion and allow every team member the opportunity to invest more of themselves.

There are no silly ideas. It is important to communicate to all that you invite new ideas. With each employee coming from different backgrounds with unique experiences, there is the possibility that team members can bring forward ideas that can…