Someone is Counting on You

It's very easy to realize and remember that someone - probably many someones - are counting on you.  You may hear it a lot from others.

From your coach, "The team is counting on you!"

From your parents, "We're counting on you to take care of the house while we're gone."

From your friends, "I'm counting on you to pick me up on time!"

As leaders we must go beyond knowing that people are counting on us and realize that everyone on our team has someone - or many someones - counting on them.

Counting on them to provide shelter

Counting on them for food

Counting on them for support in many arenas.

We cannot treat this lightly - it is a HUGE responsibility of a leader to remember this and create the environment that allows the team to be successful so that they can live up to those counting on them.

Too often I see "leaders" treat this responsibility cavalierly, ready to write off a team member quickly, after one screw-up...one mistake.

"Oh, Mr. X isn't going to make it.  I told him to do something and he did it all wrong.  He needs to go."

I hear statements like that a lot and it bothers me.  Mr. X has family or others counting on him in some form or fashion and we're ready to write him off so quickly without thought of what will happen to him and the people counting on him.

Some might say that "It's not my problem.  I have a business to run and if Mr. X is messing up. He needs to go before he hurts my business."

Very short-sighted

EXTREMELY short-sighted.

STUPID

We will be better leaders, better mentors if we remember that our team members have others counting on them.  We will do all that we can to provide the support, teaching, training, coaching, and development to allow Mr. X to be a great team member.  If we do all of this and Mr. X still doesn't get it then we owe ourselves and Mr. X a graceful exit from our business.

It's just the right thing to do.

So always remember that there is someone - many someones - counting on every member of your team.  It'll make you a better leader and create that environment that allows for success to happen.

Your team is counting on you