Recently I was talking to a Canadian couple about life as an empty-nester. We talked about raising kids and how fast the time went by. I thought quite a bit about raising our two kids who are now out of the house and on their own. Two kids. Two VERY different kids.
Dustin was and still is neat and orderly. Everything had to be planned and orchestrated precisely. He enjoyed routine and rarely deviated from it.
Allison on the other hand was the picture of creativity, free-flowing ideas, and minimal structure. While Dustin never rearranged his bedroom the entire 13 years he lived in it, Allison had hers painted twice and moved her furniture and decorations around at least twice a year.
Two kids with the same parents growing up in the same family structure and yet so different.
Which is sort of like the people who work for you.There are no two human beings that are totally identical. Geneticists say that the probability of finding your EXACT double is 2 x 10 32. In other words, you’ll never find it. Everyone has unique needs, wants, motivations, personalities, values, experiences, and gifts. They bring their uniqueness to you each day and because of this, you must treat them differently.
No, this doesn’t mean you play favorites (and be careful you don’t – particularly when one of them seems a lot like you!) but you must engage and motivate them differently. It might mean making adjust ents to their work environment and the way you communicate with them. After all, don’t you want to maximize their contribution and potential?
So this week, get to know individuals individually. You may discover hidden talents and unexposed gifts. As The Boss, this is your job.