Article: Are Your Beliefs Holding You Hostage?

It is not uncommon for business owners and/or their managers to believe that they are held hostage by one or more team members that play a key role in their business operations.

The feeling of being held hostage by anyone or anything is not a comfortable one. When faced with this reality, you may believe that you are powerless to change your circumstances, that you are at the mercy of others and the situation. This is only a belief, and beliefs of this type must be changed in order to attain higher levels of happiness and success, in both life and business.

As a business owner or manager, you will have team members that are top producers and other team members who hold positions that are critical to the daily operations of the company. While these individuals may be filling very important roles in the business, they may also be contributing to a negative work environment; they may not be fully supportive of the company’s philosophy, objectives and goals, and may actually be hindering the forward progress of the entire organization. Typically, it is believed that if these team members were to leave or be let go, that the business would suffer. This is being “held hostage”, and it is not true.

If you feel held hostage by a particular team member, it is wise to ask yourself why you believe this so that you can explore your situation. One reason might be that you have not “loaded your bench” with potential superstars that can be immediately brought into your company should the need arise. To eliminate this barrier, be on the constant lookout for individuals that meet your criteria, that want to work with your business, and that you can bring in as needed.

To create further clarity for yourself, take time to write out the characteristics of the team member in question, what they bring to the company, and what they do that limits the effective and efficient operations of the business. From this vantage point, you can move in a direction to help this person create improvements in their attitude and behaviors. Often times, a team member is able to make positive changes once they become conscious of what they are actually doing that is not beneficial.

Another very effective option is to bring in a professional to work with the identified team member(s) that need improvement. Often, it is more effective to hire someone from outside the company, a coach or consultant that is well-equipped, objective and unbiased, and who can work with your people at a far more effective level. Human beings are only held hostage by their own limiting beliefs and a qualified professional can help you, and those on your team, reach higher levels of personal and professional development.

In the end, it will be determined whether or not this team member is a good fit for the company. In my experience as a professional Business Coach and Consultant, it is always a positive choice to set those team members free who have no interest in learning and growing, and who are not in alignment with the company’s direction.

It is important to understand that there will be instances where team members are unwilling to change for the better, even with comprehensive coaching and/or training. In these situations we have discovered a person that is not happy with their job, someone who would likely leave on their own if they, themselves, did not also feel held hostage by their particular situation. These team members are often limited by their own beliefs as to their career options outside of their current job, their capability of finding another job they would like, and their personal financial needs, to name a few.

The bottom line is that when business owners, managers and team members believe themselves held hostage by their current professional reality, fear is the main force to deal with. When we work together to take powerful actions that eliminate fear, we create a win-win situation for both the business, and the team member. Whether the team member adjusts and stays, or is removed, a strong decision is made and each is set free.

The businesses that I work with have, without exception, improved their situation by letting go of any team member that proved them self to be unwilling to learn and grow. In addition, the team members that were let go, found greater happiness and success elsewhere. These team members have often communicated to me, after the fact, their appreciation for all they learned, and how much happier they are in their new job. This only comes to be as a result of someone like you making a powerful decision.

Are your beliefs holding you hostage? It’s not always an easy question to ask, but it’s an important question to the future growth and development of your company and your people.