The Impact We Have On Others

As a leader, manager, or person with subordinates, we effect other peoples lives. We effect their lives both professionally and personally. Sometimes we can forget the impact we leave on others, good or bad.

When I was moved to a different physical location inside my company there was mass change needed. The subordinates below me were...well as we put it "the kids got to play rather than work". Some of these kids were trainable, mold-able, others needed to be disposed of, or as we call it "promoted to customer".

There were many reasons for this need, everything from the condition of the location to the power that was instilled in the "kids" in a way that put fear into management. Management was management for a reason, they were the ones appointed in charge. Subordinates should not have so much power that it strikes fear into management. I do not seek a tyrannical way, but it should come with respect.

I began by raising standards to an above average, but acceptable level. One by one the ones who wanted to play, and not work fell off. Natural selection at its best, at least for work ethic. The rest who refused to step away on their own, and refused to back down from their power trip over the management team was to be disposed of as well. You see, although it is actually hard to get fired from my company, it is not hard to get rid of someone if you have a need for it.

Fast forward almost three years. One such individual that I had gotten rid of from that swirl of negativity in that location had moved to another location. Although I felt she would be better separated from the company, a member of management at another location felt that they could take them on their team to help them become better.

I moved to this location where this subordinate I had originally planned to dispose of moved to. A fate that neither of us thought would ever happen. I had a much larger impact on this individual than I had expected. Leading up to my arrival this individual was trembling front to back, they began raising their own personal standards for the location to the ones I had instilled while they were with me before.

Although I never intended to make this individual fear me, this individual was one of the main causes of some of the swirl of negativity and fear that the other location had suffered. My impact of letting them know that was unacceptable had been instilled deep in them. At the new location this was not something they carried over. The management did not fear this individual when they came to the new location.

Sometimes it is hard to put this kind of tremble into another human. Though they will always blame me for what happened to them, I made them into a better subordinate. They treat their management team with more respect, challenge less, and focus more on team building.

I hope to have this impact on more individuals to make them better members of my company, hopefully in the future without leaving such a deep imprint on them of fear. Treat your people with respect, but never lower your standards. Your standards are what raises up your company, your profit, and your paycheck.

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