MOVING ON... In Life and Business
Duck or Eagle?
"Goals are for the future; Values are for now. Goals are set; Values are lived. Goals change; Values are rocks you can count on." ~ Shelton Bowles
I received a book as a gift entitled, You Can't Send a Duck to Eagle School by Mac Anderson. The title in very intriguing, but the idea is one we all need to pay attention to.
How many times have you hired an employee because they were like you? How many times have you begun a relationship because you were attracted to what you are not?
An executive of a large retail company with legendary service once made the statement, "We don't have a training manual." With all the employees this company has and the level of service they provide, you might ask: how can this be? The answer is this, they find the best people they can and empower them to do whatever it takes to satisfy the customer.
You see they learned long ago that you can't send a duck to eagle school. In other words, you can't teach someone to smile, you can't teach someone to want to serve, you can't teach someone personality. It's doubtful a person can be taught integrity or character after a certain age. It's doubtful if a person isn't of high standards and character, you'll ever teach them to commit, be proactive or to go that extra mile for you or your company.
What you can do, however, is hire people who have those qualities and teach them about your products and your culture. In today's busy and rapidly changing world with the cost of hiring and training new employees; remembering to ask this simple question, "Is this a duck or an eagle" may save you countless dollars in hiring mistakes.
On a personal level, whether you're looking for a volunteer to serve on your committee or looking for a date, it might not hurt to ask the same question depending on the qualifications for the job. If a duck can do the job - perfect! But if the job calls for an eagle, don't expect the duck to soar above the crowds or rush you to the finish line. Ducks and eagles simply don't have the same agenda.
Judy Irving is an Executive Coach, author, trainer and speaker. She works one-on-one with business leaders to bring out their best (talents, strengths, skills) in order to reach their goals and vision. Her mission is to assist others in transforming the way they look at life and give them the tools to do it. www.movingon.net
