See the Tree, Not Just the Seedling

Have you ever “given up” on someone before they’ve had a chance to prove themselves? Maybe it was a coworker who saw things differently than you, or a team member you “inherited” who didn’t seem to do their fair share. Perhaps it was a new boss whose management style you didn’t like. As Chief People Officer, I’ve talked with far too many associates who’ve simply given up someone before “that someone” had the potential to grow and prove themselves. When we see other’s limitations and ignore their potential, we allow our beliefs to become a reality—stunting not only their growth, but ours as well. We become so critical of the “seedling” that we don’t see “tree” growing right in front of us!

Sometimes a person is misaligned for a role and a change needs to be made. But more often, human nature is the culprit behind “giving up.” We’re impatient with a person’s slow learning curve; we expect perfect results right away without clarifying clear expectations; we get frustrated with someone’s behavior when they’re not doing the job how it should be done. Such was the case with Greek grammar teacher, Joseph Degenhart, who was so furious with an unruly boy that he demanded the child be expelled from school. He wrote, “Nothing will ever become of you.” The student, as it turned out, was Albert Einstein.

Continue reading this article on the Franklincovey blog.