Recently, I shared my personal story about adopting our newest family member.
If you remember, she was a rescue who was living in a car with her siblings and was matted, underweight and didn’t really know how to be a house dog. And, as a friend pointed out, she wasn’t – at all – cute.
But we chose her anyway.
There was training and some learning curves, for her and us, but now that a few months have passed…I’m happy to share that Tini (Tee-nee) is thriving! She’s put on weight and has adapted well to being a spoiled Bello pup.
She’s playing, with toys, with her “brother” and with us – things she didn’t do when she arrived at our home. She’s found her voice, and it’s a loud one at times. When she arrived, she had no voice. She was quiet, (sometimes we miss that) timid and afraid.
This got me thinking how the right environment can provide a situation where something, or someone, can thrive or decline. And that can vary, depending on the thing and its situation.
A cactus has different environmental needs than, say, a cherry tree.
I know some people who simply can’t bear to be in Florida during these incredibly hot months; even many of our own residents “summer” elsewhere. I also know those (including me) who could never survive a Northern winter.
Workplaces, I would argue, are the same way. Some people may flourish in work-from-home settings, others may prefer the tried-and-true structure, and consistency, that comes from a more corporate office environment. Sometimes, changing the environment – even in the slightest way – can make an amazing difference.
Finding the environment that works for you and your team is crucial. Do you have a team of self-starters, or do they need someone checking in and providing direction? Will they thrive and grow behind a Zoom screen, or are they better suited to bloom with coworkers close by and a team environment? Are you giving the less shiny talent on the shelf a chance or are you only choosing to bring in the puppies with pedigree?
And what type of leader do you want to be? Do you want to build teams that need more management, have more camaraderie, or do you prefer to work with teams that just churn and burn without a lot of interference?
Trevor Burgess, or Mr. September 2023, is a great example of an individual who finds success because he knows what he wants in his teams. And he doesn’t waver. He’s identified the types of individuals that will excel in his companies, not necessarily based on their education or experience, but on who they ARE as a person.
He does this, in part, with a personality test, which I found intriguing. As someone who has scaled and sold in the multi-millions, Burgess is definitely someone I have watched and learned from over the years. He’s a great guy who you’ll enjoy getting to know, through the telling of his story. I’ve certainly enjoyed our friendship and connection dating back to the C1 days.
In short, does your workplace foster people finding their voices? Playing well with one another? Being self-starters who are thriving in their environment?
Bring the right people in. Teach them. Train them. Love them – sometimes softly and sometimes, not so softly. Give them the opportunity to bloom and grow and you’ll be amazed at the difference you will see in your teams. Talent is hard to find these days; retaining great talent is even harder.
I mean, just look at Tini’s before and after photos. It’s difficult to ignore … It would have been easier to pick the cutest puppy to rescue. The more talented, educated or well-dressed version. Instead, we chose to help her learn and grow and just look at what she’s turned into!
Editor’s Note: This content was originally published in the September 2023 edition of Tampa Bay Business and Wealth Magazine.
