I began my career as a teacher of 4 year old children in a daycare center.   Much of what I needed to know about leadership and management I learned from having to effectively control a classroom of 20 plus children without a whip or a harsh word.  I remember one of my students, Ben, had a very chatty personality and he loved to talk during nap time, circle time, and every other time in-between.   Instead of yelling at him, putting him in “time out” or the other harsher ways I could have handled the situation, I ran to the toy store one day after work.   It was there that I purchased Ralph.  Ralph was a big mouthed, green, fuzzy alligator puppet.  He too would NOT be quiet (I gave Ralph Ben’s personality) 

 So, I put the chatty child in charge of making sure Ralph was quiet during story time and nap time.  Oh how much this one decision changed the dynamics of the classroom.  Ralph and his 4 year old supervisor Ben sat perfectly quiet and still.  I praised this young child for his excellent ability to control Ralph and thanked him constantly!  He loved the recognition and most importantly, he loved the responsibility. 

I believe it is critical that we think of our employees and team members as people that need to be nurtured, cared for, listened to, valued, educated and disciplined with love and care in the forefront of every interaction.

Do you have a “Ben” that you’re managing?   What are you doing to ensure they get the most from you and that you get the most from them?  Do you know what motivates them?  Inspires them?  Do you praise them for what they do well and gently steer them in the right direction?