I own a business and I spend most of my time investing in the people that make this company great. I can’t think of a better place to spend my time.

It’s the easiest statement in business. I’m only as good as my weakest staff member. But do businesses really know what that means. We, as the people that inhabit this planet, are complicated beings. We do not make things easy on other people around us and we tend to carry baggage and issue around with us. I strongly disagree with the statement that staff should “leave their personal issues at home” and come to work fully prepared to help the team. Of course, I expect everyone who works with us to do their best in this regard but to think that they can forget or fully bury their other life, is foolish. What staff really need is somewhere to go that is positive when their personal life is sideways. I feel compelled to be a resource to my colleagues when they need it most.

I think the impact of a positive understanding of their personal issues, to be moving and remarkable to a company. Boundaries are critical and mutual understanding and respect is essential to success in staff discussions but ignorance of these situations is unacceptable. I spend many hours a day taking the pulse of my operations and gauging where the hot spots are. If I am told that a staff member is troubled or having issues at work or home, its essential that we act quickly. The staff member isn’t always going to be willing to discuss and may show resistance but in my experience, the results are remarkable.

I have had countless situations with my employees over the years and I venture to guess that the large majority turn out right. Listening to them is an art, all the while steering them towards resolving their emotions over something. Very often, the issues at work come from the issues they carry with them from home. It is our responsibility to give them some of our time to listen, often without comment. It’s never easy because often there are obvious answers to their problems but they need to work through the reasoning themselves. I also believe that we have an obligation as leaders to also be honest with the employee, at work and often when they open up about home. A bad situation can’t always be sugar coated for them but I always err on the side of giving them a solution. They need to walk through the conclusion themselves.

A colleague who feels like you are invested into their work AND home life is a colleague who will become your greatest advocate. Their problems may persist and they may ultimately not be able to clear themselves of the issue but they will be committed to you and your business cause. Take a few minutes to look at your employees with a different set of eyes. See them as people. People who have tumult in their past and future and those who, like you, are vulnerable to the situation. If you can reach them on another level, you are giving them a great gift that they will remember and desire to return in the form of valuable performance.

Marco