You Have To Work For Someone You Have Respect For

I just returned from a business trip to California where I rejoined a former boss in his new technoly based company. I have not given up my coaching which is a passion but I am integrating in this new position of Director of Business Development as I have deep respect for this man I have chosen to go to work for. This will be our third time working together in the third start up phase of growing a business that I know will succeed and be impactful in the valuation industry of mortgages. A focus of mine will be to add value by acquiring business from the mortgage lenders who are tired of poor communication, lack of response and want to have more control over the vaulation process.

It's really important that if you have to work or chose to work for someone, that you like them, respect them, trust them and believe in what they are doing.  Why is this important?  In order to be happy, productive, motivated and energized, you have to like what you are doing and know you are being led by someone who cares and who you can trust. More important than all the systems and processes of the world. Healthy companies are just as much or more important as smart companies. Smart companies have good systems and processes in place for strategy, marketing, technology, product, services, logistics, etc. Healthy companies are companies that care about the people in the organization, have open lines of communication, allow collaboration, ideas to be shared, and are led by leaders who hold their ego in check and are leading by example and passion and who create an environment for people to contribute and thrive.

Far too many companies focus on getting the job done, "too hell" with everthing else, "you have a job, you are working and earning a living and that should be enough." Very sad but true. If there was a gathering of people in a room (no matter what the industry) and I asked the audience how many people can honestly say that the leaders in their organizations care about what they do and communicate what's going on, very few would raise their hands. This is changing slowly but surely, espeically with younger generation leaders who see the value in collaboration and open communication. Every year companies around the country are recognized for "being the best place to work", look for them in your area.

From my coach training and interacting with people on a regular basis, I know I could never work for a dysfunctional company again. It's not worth the stress and frustration to do so. I am excited that I have a new  opportunity to be in a healthy environment and contributing and continuing to coach leadership and management teams to understand that people drive the engine.