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Today, I would like to share an excerpt from my book, “Achieving your best day yet! A more fulfilling career… a more impactful life.” I think this piece touches on the issue of assessing employee performance that every leader faces. Yet, this question can also serve as that internal gauge with which we assess our own value within an organization, our community, or even our family. Take a few minutes to consider this critical question…

What if Every Employee was Just Like You?

I have frequently had discussions with colleagues about how to assess the performance or attributes of other employees. For example, what factors tip the scale when an employee is on the borderline of the highest rating at year end?  When assessing an employee’s performance, you naturally look at both their overall positive and negative contributions to the team or company.  However, it is often a challenge to determine exactly which way to go when that employee is squarely on the borderline between the two.  Or, if you are struggling to determine whether to hire a candidate, you might find yourself weighing the pros and cons to make that final hiring decision.

One of the ways I look at this situation to assist my decisions is to ask these questions about that individual, “What kind of company would we have if every employee was just like him/her? Would we have a great company?  Or, would it be mediocre?  Would our customers love working with us or hate it?”  It is amazing to me that when I ask these questions, my answer almost always becomes clear.  You form the culture of a company or team person-by-person, action-by-action.  And, having the wrong person can either make an unbelievably positive difference or it can destroy the team.   By making promotion, rating, and hiring decisions based on this set of questions, you can often see clearly the direction you should go.

In the same way, I find that asking those same questions about yourself during an introspective moment can have a profound impact on your own performance and direction. You might ask, “Would this company or team be better or worse if every employee performed just like me?  Or, behaved just like me?  Or, served others just like me?  Or, cared for others just like me?  Or, went the extra mile just like me?  Would this be a better place or more encouraging environment if every employee was just like me?”  If you can be honest about these questions, you can reveal ways that you can become a better employee, better person, or better friend.

Likewise, this same set of questions can help you self-assess in other areas of your life. If every spouse was just like me, would our society be better, happier, and more fulfilling?  If every father/mother was just like me, how would the kids of this world be different?  If every neighbor in our community was just like me, would this be a better place to live?  If every driver was just like me, would our roads be safer and happier?  If every friend was just like me, what would be different about our world?  It is never too late to make a difference.  It is never too late to make those around you better.  It is never too late to turn a bad day for someone else into a good day simply by serving their needs.  In short, it is never too late….

(This book is available through Amazon.com at the following link: https://www.amazon.com/Achieving-your-best-day-yet-ebook/dp/B087ZRSXP8/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=eldon+henson&qid=1611286201&sr=8-1)