How to Drive Results, Energize your Team, and Fuel your Fire! Part II of the Business Survival Series

In my last article we talked about the basics in the emergency room situation to improve your failing company or sales force, Airway, Breathing, and finally
Circulation.  We would be remissed if we did not add the next three letters of the formula to intensify your business success: D, E, & F.

D is for drive, and that becomes an interesting topic all on its own.  First you have to figure out where your drive comes from.  Are you being driven to be number one
because you have to win?  Is it out of rage and anger to get back at someone or to prove them wrong? Is it too prove
someone like your own personal cheerleader that they were right in believing in you? Or is it from another source, like out of fear of impending loss, or the fear of not having something like money?  To master the true speed of drive and focus you need to identify which type of motivation you and your company are working with.

Another important aspect of drive is the comparison of how you drive to get to your destination.  Do you get on the
freeway then just stay in the slow lane barely staying up with traffic? Do you move to the middle so that you can move around traffic and try to get ahead? Do you get on the expressway and shoot off like a rocket, anticipating traffic patterns and adjusting around the lanes of traffic to get ahead?  All of these can be a plan of action for your business as well but to get ahead and stay there you will need to have a plan similar to the last driving pattern.  Anything less will leave you wondering how did traffic pass you by and you are left figuring out what happened.

These are just some of the motivators that produce one’s drive, but it all comes down to your inner core, what is eating, stewing, or melting away at your insides?  Once you have figured out what is at the root of your motivation, then you can fuel the fire and the belief in that cause with the people around you.  Until you can clearly identify your drive and what you are passionate about and the method of driving it there, then you might as well not put any gas in your car. 

Just like on a map, you need to know what your targets are and your target destination. You also need to identify how you are going to get there, but be aware of those that drive just to throw eggs at people will eventually break those eggs and have to dance on egg shells that were intended for other people.

The letter E is for Energy. How is the energy in your offices?  Is the energy level low and your people at each other’s throats? Obviously this is a major problem. It could be stemming from a heavy handed leader with unrealistic
expectations and they are rebelling, or it could be coming from an employee that is not a good fit for the rest of the team.  Either way it has to be swiftly dealt with.

As a team leader I faced this scenario and knew that drastic measures needed to be taken.  Our team felt they had the worst luck, the worst leads, their attitudes were training the whole call floor, and they were ready to quit and it was only 10:00 in the morning. Did I, as a leader get sucked into their beliefs you ask? Absolutely not!!! 

I went in the phone room and flipped the switch to shut them all down.  I rounded up the three teams and told them that we were going to have a team meeting—at the local bowling alley.  The first game I challenged them to throw the bowling ball down the lane as fast as they could.  Then I had them switch with each team to lighten things up.  Finally we played to see who get the most strikes and spares.  I ordered up lunch for all of them and then brought them all together and said that the meeting was concluded.

What was the result you may wonder? Without 
having to lambast a soul, we set a record that was triple of the best week, in one day!  The team came together; 
they performed perfectly together from then on and led the company for the rest of the year.  Stress relief and 
knowing that we were all in this together with management that cared made the difference. What are you doing to 
drive good energy?  

F is for fuel and fire, and these are critical. If your tank is not full and burning the right fuel how can you expect to 
keep a balance of excitement and focus in your business?  

Let me be clear, I have observed several businesses that are creating false expectations for their employees by having them burn through customers, provide terrible service, and use scare tactics to empower their workforce.  These are outdated and necessary, moreover a waste of multiple resources.

How can you expect your business to fire on all cylinders?
History has shown that the best Italian sports cars, and exotic rides, even billion dollar rides from NASA like the Space Shuttle can’t run effectively on normal types of fuel.  They require extra boost to get them to perform at their best. So do your employees.  

Employees are always wanting a little pat on the back for a job well done and a carrot to motivate them. You may want to sit down with your management team and find out what 
motivates the different departments and then put those spiffs in a format that is achievable with some extra effort.  

The extra effort towards a goal from the employee combined with the improved morale will go miles towards the success of your business.  These can be used best by implementing them on a weekly, monthly, or quarterly basis for best results.

Finally, how bright is your Fire?  A fire has been to all peoples a sign of cheer.  It also is a gathering place to warm and renew ones spirit.  If your cause is so intense that you are putting every ounce of effort into it then you are on the right path. If it doesn't glow so brightly anymore, 
than it is time to rekindle that flame or add some fuel to your fire!  

Indeed the fire could require a chapter devoted to it just to 
understand all of the items that are affected and built upon.

To find out how the remainder of the emergency room alphabet can help improve your bottom line as well as add fuel to your fire, contact Brandon Kelly President of Eagle Consulting and Brandon Speaks.