Three Relationships for Discretionary Effort

November 08 2021
By: Shawn M. Galloway

Getting people to do more than they have to in order to receive a paycheck is a challenge for even the best leader. Discretionary effort is vital for any area of operations to achieve excellence. In my work with organizations to pursue excellence in their culture, strong relationships are critical, especially three - someone's peers, the position above them, and the organization's purpose.

Peers: When I know I have friends at work, I trust they are looking out for me and my best interests, as I will look out for them. I'll not allow them to put themselves at risk, and they would not allow me to either. I'll go above and beyond for people I care for, respect and trust.

Position Above: People pay attention to what their boss pays attention to. If I think mine also cares about me and doesn't ask me to compromise my values or company values around safety, I'll trust their intentions and requests, especially when they are transparent and candid with me; I'll also want them to look good.

Purpose: All companies serve a purpose to those purchasing products or services. When I can connect to the value provided to others and see how it makes lives better, I'm more likely to go the extra mile and put forth extra energy to help the company succeed.

How well are you curating and protecting these important relationships within your company culture?

"I think for any relationship to be successful, there needs to be loving communication, appreciation, and understanding." - Miranda Kerr

"When people are financially invested, they want a return. When people are emotionally invested, they want to contribute." - Simon Sinek