Step 1.2 Excellence like Vikings

It’s been a couple weeks since I submitted the SMART HR Plan to my employer. They didn't fully embrace it, on the spot, but they have developed a plan to incorporate parts of it.  A couple days after I had submitted my HR Plan, they had a meeting with a few key employees. The meeting explained the next year’s developmental plans, including my HR Plan as part of it! We will see how it plays out in the coming months.

To provide more background to the SMART Goal System, here are the three main topics that have come up. The system incorporates excellence, hard work, and faithful service. That is to say, employees who are fully engaged will produce with excellence, by having the right mindset and by working hard.

 

The Right Mindset

Without the right mindset, employees will not be excellent. There are 4 mindsets (or levels of awareness) that employees have, the goal is to bring all employees to the level of conscious competent.

1. Unconscious incompetent – This is when employees are unaware that they are inexperienced; it is when they don’t know that they don’t know. They need to leave this level.
2. Conscious Incompetent– The next level is when employees are aware, but inexperienced; they seek out how to do what they don’t know. Employees at this level are moving forward.
3. Unconscious Competent – This is when employees aren't aware, but who are experienced; they know what to do, but do it without thinking. These employees aren't working to their potential, they will make careless mistakes.
4. Conscious Competent –This is where every employee should be. They know how to do something and they think at every step. They are experienced and are constantly thinking while at work.

You can probably think of a personal example of this. The last time you went to a new restaurant, you were in the unconscious incompetent. At the time, you didn't know what the restaurant served and you didn't know what you wanted. The only way you decided was by thinking in the conscious competent; you read the menu and then chose an option. You can see how it’s difficult to maintain the conscious competent mindset, it takes constant work!

 

Hard Work

At my job, in the past, I would work in the unconscious competent level. Though I was experienced and knew my work, I would become careless. Finally, one day I broke out of this when I read about the Vikings.

“The Vikings were fierce pirates and warriors who terrorized northern Europe nearly a thousand years ago… Most historians attribute the Vikings’ devastating effectiveness to their warships, which were light enough to be dragged up onto the beach. That allowed the raiders to make lightning-fast strikes, then retreat quickly to the safety of the sea. However, another contributing factor holds great significance: the Vikings rowed themselves to battle. Most other sea powers at that time used slaves or professional rowers to propel their warships, but the Vikings took full responsibility for that repetitive and strenuous activity…It didn’t matter if you carried a shield or barricaded your door. You stood little chance. The Vikings’ incredible upper-body strength made them nearly undefeatable…If we’re willing to strive for excellence, even in the boring, repetitive tasks and responsibilities that others delegate or neglect, we will reap the powerful benefits that others miss.” (Harris)

The Vikings reminded me that being fully engaged wouldn't come easily, it would take hard work. Like the Vikings, I can’t delegate hard work, if I do, I would be the biggest loser (Prov. 21:25-26).  The only way I would remain engaged and work hard is by taking the ores and rowing. There is no substitute. Each day there is only one chance to work hard (Ecc. 9:10), and like the Vikings, I need to” man up” and do it.

Faithful Service

Employers can’t force employees to work hard or to have the right mindset. Threatening employees will never produce lasting change (Eph. 6:9). Having an employee who faithfully serves a company is a valuable asset. There are two ways employers can help employees become faithful. First, they can incorporate the SMART Goal system to help each employee make goals. Secondly, they can offer rewards for hard work.

Offering rewards doesn't have to be expensive or cumbersome for the employer. My family loves to bike. When my employer provides opportunity to regularly bike, they are encouraging me to work with my best ability. I will post more about this on Friday (3/22/13).

Post a comment with your thoughts. Whether suggestions or ways you relate. I would appreciate any thoughts you might have :)

Harris, Alex; Harris, Brett (2008-04-15). Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations (Kindle Location 1604). Random House, Inc.. Kindle Edition.