The Simple Things That Are Hard To Do

April. The crack of the bat, the pop of the glove, and the scent of fresh-cut grass signal the return of America’s pastime—baseball. Every team, from the reigning World Series champs to the underdogs that finished last in their division, starts this month with the same thing: hope.

There’s something electric about March Madness. The buzzer-beaters. The Cinderella stories. The raw emotion of a 12-seed knocking off a powerhouse. It’s chaotic, passionate, and unrelenting—just like being a business owner or leader in today’s blue-collar world.

It might be frustrating, but the truth is this: the younger generations don’t think the same way as your older workers. They grew up differently and have a different set of lived experiences. So it’s not surprising that their way of working is different, too.

Let’s suppose you have a position open at your factory. How long has it gone unfilled? How much is that costing you? If you don’t know that number, you should. Those open positions are costing you a lot. I can hear you yelling, “We can’t find good people!” Stop it! The blue-collar world has said this since 2001. It was stupid then, and it’s stupid now.

You say you’re a business owner, but are you really? Many entrepreneurs put themselves in a position of owning a job, not a business. This can be true whether you’re a solopreneur or have 50 employees. As a person supporting blue-collar businesses, I see this all too often. An owner comes to me with a company that’s been around for many years, looking to make a change. The business is profitable, and yet they can’t sell.

Each new generation brings changes to the workforce. Having spent over a decade mentoring tomorrow's leaders and observing the behaviors of a multigenerational workforce, I know how tough finding the right person can be. I’ve been leading and growing teams, coaching, and mentoring for nearly 20 years. And I’ve seen business owners make every mistake imaginable when it comes to their workforce. Here’s how you can stop begging for employees and start attracting – and keeping – the best.

You, as the business owner, are accountable to manage this risk on your business. Have a plan in place, so if something happens, you go to the plan and execute.

Making it a priority to have your lead generation and sales process fit the generational shift in the market will be a significant contributor to your success. Getting it right will add considerable value to your business. Your customers will have a consistent experience, and expectations can be met regularly.