Are You Too Responsible?

by Rick White, President 180BIZ                                                                (Estimated Read Time 4 minutes)

We've been talking about getting help in the past few episodes. We've been talking about where to find them and how to grow them. We’ve been talking about how to help them improve whether through acquisition or apprenticeship or just improving the people we have. I often see shop owners accept more responsibility for what's going on than they should. I listen to them tell me they are not getting the hours they need from their techs. They say that they need to make them do this and that.

It's not your responsibility to make someone do something.

It is not your responsibility to make your techs, or your advisors do stuff. It is not your responsibility to pick it up. Let me explain what I mean. You have the responsibility to set a clear destination. You have the responsibility to understand how each person helps you get to where you want to go. You are responsible not for what they do or don't do. You are responsible for making sure that you have a destination and that you understand how each person contributes. You are responsible to ensure they have the resources they need to do their job. What does that mean? It means that they have the tools, the training, and the equipment there for them to do their jobs. You are responsible for creating an environment that's challenging and fun. You are responsible for creating a compensation and benefits plan that helps your team see financial stability and success.

You are responsible for the environment, path, and resources, the rest is an invitation!

Once you understand that you're responsible for the environment, you're responsible for the path, you're responsible for the resources, the rest of it is an invitation. You invite your team in. You cannot make them do it. Recognize that you will have some issues. You're always looking for the right person in the right position. You may have someone in the right position, but they may not be the right person.

You must recognize where your responsibility ends and where the invitation begins. Inviting them in to be part of something bigger, part of something that will help them achieve their dreams. But not everyone will get on the bus. Not everyone will accept the invitation. Don’t accept responsibility for what they're not doing.

There are some people who shouldn't be on your bus.

There will be some people who are on your bus and are either been on too long or never should have got on in the first place. The worst thing you can do is keep them on the bus. Your goal is to help grow your team. If you feel like you're banging your head against the wall, step back. It's not the wall's fault. Identify what your frustration is about. I guarantee it's because you need one thing and you’re getting something else. You keep thinking there's something wrong with you. That is not the case.

If you have a clear destination, if you understand how everyone will help get you there, if you set clear goals and expectations for everyone, if you provided the resources, the path, and the conditions to succeed, that is the end of your responsibility.

This is where responsibility ends and accountability starts. 

And this is where accountability starts. It’s a very fine shift there but super important to understand. You are responsible for setting the goals and expectations and then you hold them accountable for it. And if they're not meeting them, then it's time to have an honest talk about it giving them a timeframe. You are carrying a burden that is not yours to carry. It's not yours to pick up. If you created the environment, if you've given them the resources, if you've shown them the path, this is where you will see whether someone is on the bus that shouldn't be. You may be keeping someone you see potential in, but they don't or won't receive it. That's not on you. That's not what this is about.

Give them the opportunity, you don't need to make them take advantage of it. 

This is about you giving them the opportunity and then helping them to take advantage of it. It’s not about you making them take advantage of it. You're to help them see that opportunity. Remember what you are responsible for. You are responsible for giving them an opportunity. It is up to them to make sure they take advantage of it.

Also, I would love for you or someone you know to be there to attend our next Shop Owner's Round Table, absolutely free. Typically, we have about anywhere from about 40 to 60 shop owners in there. It's really a lot of fun. One hour to just talk shop.

And then the last thing is if you to dive deeper into “Getting Help” listen to the full webinar on it with the Pocket Business Genius webinar series.

God bless. Stay safe, have some fun, and go make some money.

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