Get concerned when passionate employees lose focus

Passion is like a nascent budding that needs to be protected and cultivated. Do we have an environment that appreciates passion?

Tim McClure once said that when passionate employees lose focus, it usually sends a signal that the work environment has become very dysfunctional.

It means suspicion and insecurity has clouded the culture, and employees have retreated into self-protection behavior patterns to protect themselves from the forces within the company as opposed to the forces externally.

I recommend every leader to be aware and act on this immediately.  When you have a passionate team inspired to help the company achieve its vision while fulfilling its purpose, you must do everything in your power to ensure the team keeps that vibe. Otherwise, you run the risk of pushing away great talent while settling for mediocrity.

As a CEO I have since noticed that employees are always vocal before becoming quiet; this usually happens when nothing is done to solve their concerns or business issues; I have also come to learn that CEOs have to listen from the bottom up and not top-down.

Sitting in the ivory tower looking out at the blue skies seeing people coming in every day telling them everything is fine does not show the holes that are springing up. A reaction is only given when the business is underwater and all staff are drowning.

This is where many leaders go wrong; they miss this caveat of "getting concerned." They tend to assume that if all tasks are getting done then all is well. As a leader, be the one to point out a concern. If it is not addressed properly, look for an alternative.

It is quite simple. If you see this happening in your business or organization, it is time to reassess and start working on the problem. You may be surprised that the problem could be you!

Have you been listening to what your employees have been saying and suggesting?

You must understand that “culture change” can only happen if the organization is committed to it, by having a plan for change that directly engages and involves all employees, in which all of them have a role to play in bringing about those changes, one step at a time. And this happens only after finding the root cause.