Nick Powills: It’s Not that They Are Not Smart, It’s that They Are Not Engaged

Have you ever gotten frustrated with someone and called them a dumbass? Sure you have. But, what if it’s not about smarts. What if it’s something much simpler than that?

What if it’s not about brains – rather, it's about engagement. Does that change your opinion? It changes mine.

We have had plenty of people walk through the doors of our company who could easily be labeled a “dumbass.” But, that’s the easy path to bucketing people who failed to perform. Let’s look at the truths.

1. The first truth is that we said yes to them. There was enough substance in their interview to make us say yes.
2. The second truth is that we “communicated” the job.
3. The third is that they didn’t do it.
4. Finally, the fourth is that they left – whether it was us or them.

That’s the natural flow. But, as I have thought more about this, it isn’t that they are dumb – dumb would have misspelled things on the resume and left political viewpoints up on social media when looking for a job. It is that they are not engaged. Why would someone not be engaged?

1. They lied during the interview. While they told you they wanted a career, what they really wanted was a paycheck.
2. We didn’t communicate well during training – truly defining “the why” behind what we do.
3. We didn’t hold them accountable, meaning we let them skate by versus correcting their actions.
4. They are not engaged because we haven’t given them purpose – a true reason to look at the opportunity as a career versus a job.

As you can see, there is certainly more blame to be taken by us versus them.

Engagement is certainly a two-way street, but it starts with you – meaning, as businesses or leaders, it is up to us to lead. It is up to us to clearly explain the why. It is up to us to correct actions. It is up to us to take swings to inspire. Why? Hiring is too expensive. Recruiting is too expensive. Sales is too expensive.

This goes for clients and customers, too.

It won’t always work out, but if you as a business owner, entrepreneur or leader look at engagement as your opportunity versus their weakness, it will give you the chance to change up operations to better solve your challenges, and to not look at those who are not engaged as dumbasses.

Ultimately, that mindset will make you much happier.