Loyalty in your company

I’ve been in business for 40 years.  High and low performers have come in and out of my business.  I’ve seen a lot and learned a lot.

I do appreciate loyal employees.  The ones who believe in the mission, believe in the team and myself, and show up each day year after year, without a doubt in their mind.

Of course, when we talk about loyalty, you have to look in the mirror and ask if you are the kind of person people would be loyal to, and if you built a team of managers who are the same.

Some people swear their loyalty.  They don’t use that word; rather it may sound like “I’m all in” or “I’m fully committed”, but they are really mercenaries.  They are here for the money or some other reason and as long as they get it, they are “in”.  These people often don’t stand the test of time because when a test comes, they think short-term and they are gone.

Patriot or mercenary?

Hoping people will be loyal to the mission over long periods of time depends on other factors.  Do they feel important at work?  Do they have the right amount of challenge – not too much and not too little?  Do they know the mission?  Do you?  Are YOU all in?  Are you sure?  Because they know.  If you are unsure of yourself, you don’t have a plan, you react badly when things go wrong, and you can’t manage your own affairs, how can they expect you to lead the organization through thick and thin to the promised land?

Great leadership makes the difference; and even with it, some will not be loyal, and some will be indifferent.

But some will hitch their wagon for the long term and form the core of your company. 

Cherish them.