“People underestimate the importance of diligence as a virtue. No doubt it has something to do with how supremely mundane it seems. It is defined as ‘the constant and earnest effort to accomplish what is undertaken.’ Understood, however, as the prerequisite of great accomplishment, diligence stands as one of the most difficult challenges facing any group of people who take on tasks of risk and consequence. It sets a high, seemingly impossible, expectation for performance and human behavior.” ~ ATUL GAWANDE
Dear Readers, Community, Friends,
IT ALL ADDS UP.
Take a moment. Look around. Who are the connectors, influencers, wisdom-keepers of your organization? Look more deeply than the obvious (C-suite leaders, managers, etc.). If you were to take stock, who in your company has been there the longest (Perhaps even longer than you)?
These employees of longevity are your thread people. With talent acquisition and employee retention posing the biggest challenges for businesses, thread people may offer priceless wisdom. Once compiling the majority of a business’s workforce, they are now few and far between, with the majority of the employment population typically only staying at a job for 4.1 years; 2.8 years for those between the ages of 25 - 34.*
Think for a moment – why have they stayed? What storms have the weathered? What wisdom do they have to share about what systems are currently working, and which ones are not?
Thread people can benefit a company in so many ways, from their understanding of the company operationally, to knowledge about what has worked or lessons that have been learned in the past. We have talked before about conducting Stay Interviews – invest the time with these team members to hear why they have stayed (what ethos do they share with the company; what purpose have they cultivated during their employment; and, what benefits make them feel valued?).
Set aside time to celebrate them and let them know they contribute well beyond their job description. Their time, loyalty to the company, and diligence have benefitted everyone. Lift up your thread people, and remember – they are sometimes the essence of what weaves teams together.
* {Economic News Release from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics}
