Let's stop calling our employees, "family"

There is nothing quite as toxic as referring to work teams as families. Families, at their purest, are there to help each other survive. They are built upon unconditional love, you are born into them, and worst of all they are dysfunctional. So why, would we want to be in a work situation that fosters these patterns? Especially when referring to colleagues as “family”, you begin shifting the dynamic where management becomes surrogate parents, and the employees the children.

Also, stop using sports analogies to help your team be better! Looking for the “A” players so we can make the most goals, doesn’t fly! Organizations need individuals at all levels. Sometimes you just need the people who are going to punch in their timecards, do the work, and walk away. An organization with just “A” players, often becomes dilutive, especially when rewards and compensation are finite. This analogy typically just upsets your employee base.

Work needs to be a place where we treat each other with dignity and respect. Where the corporation makes clear how things operate, and the rules of what is acceptable behavior. Employees are measured by their contributions, and how much those contributions impact the company’s achievements.

So, what is a leader’s job? Define the strategy, articulate the rules of the road, and give your employees the autonomy to do the work. Be there to remove obstacles, answer questions, or give advice when asked, but other than that, just let things unfold.

If you find yourself in a situation where your autonomy isn’t valued, or the family and team analogies abound, take a look and see if you are in the right place for you.