This morning during a meeting with a business owner, he realized that he had failed as a leader.

His organization had experienced yet another problem with their internet access. As one of his employees worked on it with tech support, the employee cheerfully made the comment, “At least it is job security!”

The owner was happy that this employee so cheerfully went to work on the problem, but then he stopped; then thought, pondered, and began to worry.

This owner then explained that “No! It is not job security!” We fail as leaders if we do not stop and say this. True job security is getting basic issues dealt with quickly and being able to move on and invest time in higher level activities. However, employees having to continually go back and deal with the same issues simply ties up energy and resources to get the same results. As business leaders, we need to have everyone fixing issues permanently, and then moving up the “task ladder”.

Similarly, if people want to work with us and we continually “work ourselves out of a job” and move onto “higher level” items with them, the relationship will always be developing. We will always be wanted.

If you are lazy, I am suggesting a bad approach for you since it does take more work. It requires development and change. It is a different type of job security! If you desire to truly become all that you can be, whether or not you are in the army, this is a unique and exciting approach to life!

• What does the phrase “job security” mean to your employees?

• Do your leaders and teams have systems in place to ensure that problems are solved quickly and effectively, including the “root cause” to prevent them from reoccurring?

• How do you and your employees work to move towards a higher level and continually improve each other, processes, and products?

If your organization needs help defining and refining its definition of job security, contact our expert guides at 800-786-4332 or email CClemmer@AppliedVisionWorks.com. It only takes 30 minutes to get started!