A funny thing about resistance…
One of my coaching clients owns a home-staging business. In this, she arranges the furniture and artwork in houses for sale so that the house sells quickly and for more money. She has a warehouse of furniture to use if the client doesn’t have the right look. To move furniture from her warehouse to the house for staging, she employs a regular team of movers . One day, they didn’t show up. Out of sheer desperation, she and her husband drove to pick up some day-workers, and paid them what they would have paid their normal team.
To her complete amazement, they were fantastic workers. They completed the job. And they never complained once. They never acted as if they were doing her some huge favor. And, at the end of the day, instead of being completely exhausted, she actually had energy left over to enjoy her evening. Until she hired someone else, she hadn’t been aware of the option. The difference was that these guys wanted to work and were grateful for the job. She didn’t have to battle against the slightest bit of resistance. As a result, she accomplished twice what she normally would have with a fraction of the energy. Needless to say, she never hired her old movers again.
Definition of a work force: people who are forced to come to work.
People who come to work through obligation, rather than commitment, feel forced to work. Force always generates resistance. This is a law of physics. It isn’t going to change any time soon.
Is anyone on your team putting up resistance in the subtlest or slightest of ways? Are they dragging their feet? Or are they enthusiastic and eager to work? You can’t afford to waste your time and energy motivating people who are not committed. Cut them loose and find someone who wants the job.
Not in charge of the hiring decisions? Be the person who wants to work. Be enthusiastic and grateful. Your attitude will speak for you.
