Can Attitude Win Over Skill?

Owners Insights - by Cassie Burchell

I think this might be a question far too many in leadership never really ask themselves. As leaders, we focus on the number more than how we got to it. What did it cost along the way and how many great people did we lose to try to save the one we thought we couldn't live without?

I value the culture in my company so much, that I will hardly tolerate anyone trying to destroy it. In fact, I have said to my team, there is only one thing that will cause me to part with an employee without fail, and that is attitude. We can improve everything else and learn new skills. I have kept people at my side who were amazing people, who needed to work on their craft but because their contribution to the culture was so great, I am willing to allow some extra effort and time to develop the skill. You hear people say, " Everyone can be replaced" and to some degree I find that to be true, except for those who contribute to the culture. Attitude, Integrity, leadership, hard work, loyalty, and ownership of the job aren't as easy to replace and taking a person like that away from your organization over one whose skills you think you can't live without comes at a great price. The "Culture Contributor" is not always the one who plans the parties or brings the snacks. The " Culture Contributor" is sometimes the silent leader who is always looking for the best in the company and leading by example rather than from a podium. If you listen to your team, and I don't mean them verbally telling you, but if you watch and listen, you will see that they all like to surround themselves with positive people. In today's world, it's not the job, the work, the boss, the customers, or even the teammates who usually make a person miserable, it's the outside circumstances we can't control or help them with. We as leaders don't and can't make people happy! It has to come from within them. So before you make the decision to let an employee go or make someone a department head based on skill alone, make sure you consider their entire being and what they contribute other than just the skill or result itself. Your team, your business, and your hours at work will be better for it and I can almost guarantee you'll see an uptick in the growth of your company if you practice this.