Who You Gonna Call?
Your company has had two different technicians out to take care of a customer’s problem. They can’t. Your manager tells Sue to get Bob on site right away. Why Bob? Because Bob is the go-to-guy. Bob makes problems go away.
Do you think Bob is valuable to your manager and company? And if someone is valuable to you, would you take extra special care of him? I am thinking you’d pay attention to this person’s needs. Is he getting:
- the proper education
- the right tools
- a decent amount of time off
- proper wages and benefits
- your (the manager’s) cooperation
- important resources
- help with relationships
- access to inside company or industry goings-on
So, doesn’t it make sense to get into a position like Bob’s?
You don’t have to be a senior technician to be a go-to guy. Your manager needs go-to people at every level. Your manager needs someone who he can depend on and someone who cares enough to do the job the right way. A key to filling this position is to be continually improving. Always try to make yourself better.
You need resources, education, tools etc., to develop and grow. Your manager needs someone who he can depend on and get the job done right. Isn’t this all about finding out what the other needs and then trying to give it to them? You bet!
So, when they gonna call you?
Lest we forget, the successful manager puts more effort into taking care of and developing the person with the most promise. The most promise includes a willingness to learn, to go the extra mile, the ability to learn and the right attitude.
For those of you that don’t fit that bill remember this: It make little sense to try and build a building on quicksand. The same goes for people that don’t have these attitudes. It does not mean they are a bad person, it means they aren’t ‘into’ their jobs. Everyone has ‘potential’. Potential is different from promise. Promise is potential in motion.
Bart Gragg | Blue Collar U´s last blog ..Blue Collar Managers – It’s Your Turn To Be Heard!