What if you gave every employee a small cash fund and a few hours each month to spend as they wished – as long as it was in the interest of the business. And then what if a couple of them got together to purchase a Foosball table and install it in the company break room? And then they organized a foosball tournament for a Friday afternoon?
What is your immediate reaction?
Choice #1 I am upset. I trusted my employees and they abused my trust by spending company time and money on fun and games. That was supposed to be for work!
Choice #2 I am proud. I trusted my employees and they delivered by spending company time and money on morale-building, then they held an event to promote team-building.
I think both choices are wrong. You trusted your employees enough to let them spend the company’s time and money as they wished. Why not trust them enough to let them tell you what they did and why they did it? You gave direction and they acted, now ask them about it. Chances are they’re proud of what they did and maybe they can’t wait to tell you about it.
Have faith in your people. Give their ideas a chance rather than making assumptions or jumping to conclusions. Today they are buying a Foosball Table. Tomorrow they’ll be designing, building and selling your company’s next make-or-break product. So let them play a little Foosball, maybe even join them for a game or two. Then they will join you to build a winning business.
That is what trust is.
