Ask any business owner what their biggest headache is, and you’ll likely hear the same answer, over and over again:
“Employees.”
Sound familiar?
It’s a bit ironic, isn’t it? Employees are often the single greatest asset a business has—yet they’re also the most common source of frustration. How can that be?
The answer lies in one simple truth:
People are emotional beings.
The human mind is a feeling machine that also happens to think—not the other way around. Read that again. Better yet, read it three times.
Feelings drive behavior far more than logic or reason. And that’s why working with people—employees, colleagues, team members, friends, even family—can be so challenging. No two people feel the same thing at the same time. Life outside of work affects performance inside of work. That’s reality.
And if we’re being honest, it’s not just their reality—it’s ours too.
What Every Employee is Asking (Whether You Hear It or Not)
At some level, every person who walks through your doors is asking questions like:
- Am I heard?
- Do I feel valued?
- Do I respect the people I work with?
- Do I contribute to something meaningful?
- Does my story matter?
- Is there hope for my future?
You might not hear these questions out loud, but they’re being asked all the same—and your workplace culture is answering them every day, for better or worse.
A Story Worth $12,000
I’ll never forget a young man who once worked for us. He made a costly mistake—over $12,000 in damages due to careless operation of equipment. We had him on video. He knew he was about to be fired. And honestly, his behavior prior to the incident had already put him on thin ice.
But we paused and asked ourselves: What if we responded differently?
So instead of letting him go, we invited him into a conversation—not just about the mistake, but about his value to the team. We explained how his actions mattered and reminded him of his potential. We told him we were choosing to view the $12,000 loss as an investment in his future.
From that moment on, he changed. His attitude, his accountability, his performance—it all shifted. He became one of our most dependable team members.
Choose Your Lens: Frustration or Opportunity?
Here’s the bottom line:
You can choose to see employees as your greatest frustration… or as your greatest asset.
Either way, you’ll be right.
The lens you use will shape how you interact with your team—and it will absolutely shape how they respond to you.
And here’s the truth that gets overlooked: There is deep fulfillment in mentoring people and helping them grow. It’s one of the most meaningful parts of leadership.
Look in the Mirror First
If you’re having challenges with your team, start by looking in the mirror.
We are 100% responsible for our results. That includes the culture we create, the tone we set, and the way we make people feel.
So before asking “what’s wrong with them?”
Ask: What might I be doing—or not doing—that makes them feel undervalued, unseen, or unmotivated?
Employees are people. And people want to matter.
If you can consistently meet that need, you won’t just solve “the employee problem.”
You’ll unlock the full potential of your most important asset. Brilliance exists in all people! Help them access it.
Would you like to talk about how to convert frustrations into the best investment you’ve ever made? Let’s talk.