b'PEOPLE-POWERED LEADERSHIPHow do you Catch Your EmployeesDoing Something RIGHT?ITS A PARTof every leaders job to ensure every- Heres why I make time to catch people doing thing is going smoothly. Its human nature to focusthings right.on the things that are going wrong and to try and fixWhen your employees feel that their success is them, and sometimes its necessary to do this.noticed, they are more likely to be engaged with their That said, focusing on successes is powerful. Youwork. Engagement is the fuel that drives productivity; attract what you focus on. Thats why you should makeit turns routine tasks into exciting opportunities.time to catch people doing things right. Every CEO I speak with tells me that one of their Let me explain. I make time every week to let mykey performance indicators is retention and attraction employees know when theyve done something great.of talent, and I know that a culture that celebrates and SHAWN BROOKI have it built into my calendar to make time for this. Ienables employee success is a magnet for talent. High is the President oftake 30 minutes every week at a certain time to stopperformers are drawn to environments where they Seed World Group. and go through my internal team to catch someonecan grow, learn, and be recognized for their contribu-doing something right. I either make a quick phone call,tions. By reducing turnover, companies save on the or a send text or an email that just lets them know thatsignificant costs associated with recruiting and train-I noticed a success they had.ing new staff.As a leader, I find this to be profoundly important.We know that innovation is critical to our continued When our attention is fixated on the negative, we inad- success and when you focus on employee success, vertently invite more of those obstacles into our path.you provide opportunities for learning and develop-Conversely, when we concentrate on our aspirationsment. Employees who are encouraged to acquire new and necessities, we tend to draw more of those posi- skills and challenge the status quo are the ones who tive outcomes toward us.will help a company pivot and adapt in an ever-chang-It sounds simple in theory, doesnt it?ing business environment.Yet, in practice, its not always easy to maintainI also know that everyone running an organization that focus amidst lifes challenges. Nature has a wayright now knows that investing in employee success of reminding us of our place in the grand scheme ofis not just a matter of good corporate citizenship; its things. Every year, we put our faith in the soil, plantingstrategically important. The catch is, are we doing seeds and hoping for a good harvest. It takes a humbleenough? We know that companies that prioritize the spirit to understand the uncertainty of this process. professional growth and satisfaction of their workforce Growing up on a farm really shaped my leader- are building the foundations for long-term success ship qualities, and one of the most important lessons Iwhich leads to others eating OUR lunch using OUR learned was humility. In farming, youre bound to facepeople. setbacks and challenges. You learn quickly that gettingIf you want to keep YOUR people YOUR people, knocked down is inevitable, but what matters most iswhat else can you do to help them truly see the role your ability to pick yourself up again. Because oncethat they play in the companys success? Make it a you can do that, youre able to help others rise as well.point to start catching your team members when That makes me want to focus on employee successthey do something right. I can guarantee youll see the and not on the negatives.benefits almost immediately.SW20/ SEEDWORLD.COMJUNE 2024'