Collateral Damage 9-1-1: Why Traditional Fixes Fail

It started out like so many other Collateral Damage 9-1-1 calls.

“I need your help.” A weary voice sighed. “I’ve got an employee who is causing holy hell in our company. I don’t want to fire her because she’s tops in our industry. It would really hurt us to lose her, but I’m fast running out of options. I’m at my wit’s end.”

The phone went silent and I could feel the person wrestling with exhaustion and frustration.

“I’ve tried everything I can think of to fix this problem. I’ve talked to her until I’m blue in the face. I’ve reprimanded her. I’ve threatened her with disciplinary action. She’s attended every training class we offer and has done all kind of assessments. Nothing seems to stick.

She’ll do better for awhile and I’ll think we’ve got the problem licked and then – WHAMMO! She goes on a rampage like Rambo.

If I have to fire her, I will, but I’m hoping you may be able to help. You’re our last hope.”

Here was yet another situation where top performer collateral damage had escalated from irritation to emergency all because everyone was looking in the wrong places for answers.

Traditional fixes like performance counseling, 360 assessments, training sessions and coaching are valuable tools for run-of-the-mill performance enhancement, but when it comes to effectively and permanently stopping top performer collateral damage they miss the mark.

Here’s why.

Traditional tools focus on the tip of the iceberg.

Think about it. Traditional tools typically do three basic things:

1) Quantify the individual’s performance.

2) Set goals for improvement.

3) Encourage the individual to change their behavior to achieve the desired goals.

So…why doesn’t this work to permanently stop top performer collateral damage?

Here’s the deal.

If you’ve ever tried to permanently lose weight, stick to an exercise plan or quit smoking, you know that success requires much more than simply changing your behavior. For the first couple of weeks, it’s easy to say no to a few cookies or take the stairs instead of the elevator. However, when things get really stressful, those old behavior patterns call to you like comforting lovers.

“A couple of cookies won’t hurt me.”

“I’m so tired. I’m going to skip my run today. I’ll do an extra ten minutes tomorrow.”

“Who the hell has time to listen to your long-winded explanations!?”

Oops. Before you know it, in spite of your good intentions, you’re right back where you started.

To sustain your new behaviors over the long haul, you have to reconfigure the way you think.

It’s the same thing with top performer collateral damage. To stop top performer collateral damage, the top performer must change the way she thinks.

Let me share a secret with you. Collateral damage comes from the 90% of the iceberg you don’t see – your unconscious mindsets.

To permanently stop collateral damage, you have to look below the surface and recalibrate your internal operating system.

But here’s the kicker.

Your success and your collateral damage grow from the same invisible root like tangled vines.

Your million dollar challenge? Nip the collateral damage without killing the success.

I can hear you now…

“Holy Toledo! How in the world do you do that?”

Don’t sweat it.

With the right help, it’s actually easier and quicker than you would imagine… especially if you don’t wait until Rambo is on a rampage.

In my next blog post, I’ll show you what does fix top performer collateral damage.