The People Problem in Business

Source: http://dupress.com/periodical/trends/global-human-capital-trends-2014

Getting an MBA prepared me for the "sexy" side of business: namely finance and marketing. But it didn't prepare me for what I think is the hardest part of running a business as an entrepreneur: the People Problem.

If you are struggling with a disengaged workforce, are struggling to hire and retain great employees, and are generally frustrated with your people, you are not alone.

Gallup research shows that only 13% of employees around the world are actively engaged at work, and more than twice that number are so disengaged they are likely to spread negativity to others.

So, not only do you have lackluster employees, more than 26% of them are actively disengaged, spewing their frustration with you and your management style through the entirety of your organization and beyond.

One negative employee spreads yuckiness  like a virus.

These "actively disengaged" employees are like a virus: they spread their distrust and evil thoughts to everyone else.

I really wish that the People Problem was a big business problem, but it spreads through small businesses and entrepreneurships, too.

So if you are going to work every day feeling like your people aren't as peppy as they used to be ... that they don't seem to care as much ... that deadlines are getting missed and customers are being let down, you are probably right. You are probably encountering the dreaded "People Problem."

I promise that I will offer solutions in future blog posts, but for now, here are the top four warning signs of a disengaged workforce:

1. Frequent push-back and fighting in meetings
2. Doodling, napping and otherwise ignoring others during meetings
3. Angry outbursts, including yelling, crying and running away
4. Snarky, rude and unfriendly emails

If this is happening to you, I'm so sorry. But please know that you are not alone, and you don't have to deal with this alone. But also don't minimize the problem. A disengaged workforce destroys entrepreneurial companies and is the most common reason I see for flat-lining and dead businesses.

Hang in there ... more to come ...