Live and Lead For Impact Podcast with Kirsten E Ross

EP 160 – How Many Dollars Do You Lose to Drama?

EP 160 – How Many Dollars Do You Lose to Drama?

This is the first in a 3 part series

Do any of these sound like you?

Are you hoping to get your team to JUST DO THEIR JOBS?

It seems everything gets done better and quicker if you do it yourself.

You try to do it all but constantly feel overwhelmed and resentful.

Fed up with all of the drama, bickering and complaining?

Ever feel like hiding from all of it forever?

That employee drama is costing you WAY more than your mood! Let’s talk Dollars!

I’ve been helping leaders just like you defeat their team drama for more than 15 years.

And, let me just say, I use the term Drama very loosely –

Because to me, when it comes to business, Drama is ANYTHING that shifts focus away from where it needs to be. You need a team laser focused on serving your customer, clients, or patients…….

Why have I made it my mission to help leaders Defeat Drama? Because passionate entrepreneurs, family businesses, and non-profits have important work to fulfill and too often drama stands in the way. Drama zaps energy, shifts focus AND WORSE – Costs WAY more money than you know!

Studies show that each employee wastes at least 2 ½ hours per week dealing with drama.

And I’ll place emphasis on AT LEAST here. Over the course of more than 15 years I’ve seen the collateral damage that happens around drama. But….let’s move forward with a simple calculation to illustrate the cost of drama at just an average of 2 ½ hours per week per employee.

Let’s keep it simple with a team of 25 employees making $18.00 per hour.

25 employees x 2.5 hours = 62.5 hours per week invested in team drama

Now, let’s multiply those 62.5 hours times an average hourly rate of $18.00 – Keep in mind, you are likely spending MORE than than per hour on at least some of your employees, if not all. We could also calculate an hourly cost of paid benefits…….But, again, let’s keep it simple.

So $18 multiplied by 62.5 hours gives us a grand total of $1,125 per week invested in team drama!

Soak it in for a minute. Is that where you want to spend your money?

But wait……It gets even worse. Let’s multiply that weekly expense by 52 weeks. How much is this hypothetical team spending on drama for the year? $58,500 WASTED on Team Drama!!

What could you do with an extra $58,500?

Keep in mind this is JUST what you’re spending on time invested in on the act of distraction. The total cost is MUCH higher if you add in lost productivity, less business, more customer service issues! And, if you have high drama, not only is your team investing more of your dollars into drama but they are likely driving away your good employees. Higher turnover means more dollars to replace people. And, your best people have more options and are more likely to get burned out.

This is hypothetical. I encourage you to do the same math for your organization. Use average hourly rate (turn an annual salary to hourly by dividing by 2080 hours) or use each person’s actual hourly rate multiplied by 2.5 and then 52 to give you the annual cost.

What’s your number?

If you’re ready to take action I have few spots left in my calendar this week for a free 30 minute leadership breakthrough consultation GO TO DefeatTheDrama.com/Session to claim yours now.

I’ve been helping leaders just like you defeat their team drama for more than 15 years.

And, let me just say, I use the term Drama very loosely –

Because to me, when it comes to business, Drama is ANYTHING that shifts focus away from where it needs to be – You need a team laser focused on serving your customer, clients, or patients…….

Why have I made it my mission to help leaders Defeat Drama? Because passionate entrepreneurs, family businesses, and non-profits have important work to fulfill and too often drama stands in the way. Drama zaps energy, shifts focus AND WORSE – Costs WAY more money than you know!

Again, If you’re ready to take action I have few spots left in my calendar this week for a free 30 minute leadership breakthrough consultation GO TO DefeatTheDrama.com/Call to claim yours now.

Learn the Delegation Strategies I’ve shared with THOUSANDS and get your team to do what you need! Grab a copy of my EBook, The Six Simple Steps to Great Delegation
DefeatTheDrama.com/DelegationSheet

Kirsten Ross Vogel is an author, podcast host and CEO of Focus Forward Coaching where we help leaders

defeat team drama
to 4X productivity,
wow their customers
and improve their bottom line
with simple, actionable strategies, systems, communication hacks and mindset shifts.

EP 134: F It for Impact – Fuel Your Fortitude – 1 of 4

F it For Impact – Fuel Your Fortitude #1 In a Series

Commit and just don’t quit – Don’t give yourself the out – Table the Decision – don’t waste time pondering

 

  • Every day I learn new things

  • It will get easier

  • I will find a way

  • I haven’t tried all the possible ways yet

  • Play it like a game – have fun while you try new things – see what you can make happen

    • Here are the trip ups to avoid to help you fuel your fortitude

    • Know that Perfect Timing is a Myth – Sometimes you have the commitment BUT – you need to commit to action – NOT just committing to commit – Don’t delay action until you feel ready – get in research mode- feel like you have to have it all figured out first – you won’t know everything until you just do it – It’s okay to figure things out as you go – unitl the kids are back in school or the sun begins to shine – WRITING MY FIRST BOOK
    • Instant Gratification is Mostly a Myth
      • Bill Gates said, “Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in 10.
      • Impact takes time – commit to the specific steps you must take daily, weekly, monthly and just keep going.
        • If you have kids you know you had to wait for that first smile – that first little positive reinforcement while you fed, changed, burped, walked…..
        • Blogging, podcasting – anything where you are working to connect with people – can feel like it’s going out into a black hole – invisible – but…often people are watching, noticing….it takes time
        • Most famous people had years of struggle before you knew them. Much of what you see is the end result of years of sacrifice – to US it’s instant fame but that is rarely the reality
      • Your Why – I have my Objectives – WHY I participate in Network Marketing – Not heart centered – more practical – and then my WHY – Objectives also help and can be good when speaking to people – different things to pull from:
        • Solo Preneur 15 years – provides a team of goal oriented people into personal development – hard to find – NM provides that environment
        • Help More People – Coach, Speak, Motivate
        • An additional Stream of Income –

    And then the WHY – Heart Centered – More than money – what that money or time freedom can do – MUST include an element of serving others – When speaking with others they need to feel that a part of your purpose is about them – This will also have you speak in a way that gives them freedom to say yes or no – to decide for themselves if it’s right for them.

    • Run Your Own Race – don’t compare –
    • Burn the Boat – Remove other options – earn the auto bonus, get the car
      • Downturn in the economy – single mom and business owner – started also looking for a job – realized – needed full focus on biz – couldn’t get my heart into working for someone else – my time and energy was divided – full force – highest earnings to date that next year

    Are you struggling with difficult relationships?

    Head over to DefeatTheDrama.com/Roadmap

    EP 128: I Learned a Life Lesson from my Car! Where Does your Life Need a Tune Up?

    I Learned a Life Lesson from my Car!

    Where Does your Life Need a Tune Up?

     

    Still struggling with difficult relationships?

    Head over to DefeatTheDrama.com/Roadmap

    I actually wrote about this life lesson learned from my car a few years back and as I’m revisiting it now had to laugh.  My son is currently on his way to get HIS car fixed with a similar issue.  He waited until the emergency situation placed on the side of the expressway calling AAA for service. I’d been telling him for weeks he needed to get it looked at. He didn’t listen and look…..neither did I….

    Here’s my similar story with the life lessons it taught me…..
    My car had had some issues.  I had to keep refilling the coolant reservoir.  I assumed that it was leaking, though I didn’t know for sure.  I’m not a big car person.  I don’t really enjoy dealing with anything to do with my car other than getting in and driving it where I need to go.  Beyond that I don’t want to take any time on it.  I try to avoid talking about it, getting work done on it, pumping gas into it, filling the tires or even shopping for a new one!  As long as the car I have can fulfill its basic function for me I’m good to go.

    Over time the coolant issue got worse and worse and I had to spend a bit more time and money dealing with my car.  I had to buy coolant and add it.  At first I needed to add it about once a month, then once every couple weeks, then once a week.  Finally I was adding coolant two times per week.  The gage I used was my air conditioning or heat (yes, this went on for months!).  When the air conditioner or heater blew out warm air rather than cold or hot I knew that it was time to add more coolant.

    It was working for me.  I knew deep down that I was spending a lot on coolant but I just didn’t feel like taking the extra time necessary to figure out what was really wrong.  I was just using the band aid method, coaxing the car along doing the bare minimum to keep it driving for me.  It was fulfilling its basic function so I just kept going with it.

    Then one morning I went out to my trusty vehicle to drive my two boys to school.  The car failed me!  It would not start.  I checked the fluid.  I had just filled it.  I didn’t think that low fluid was a reasonable hypothesis since it had been bone dry many times with no starter issues, but it was worth a try.  That tapped my knowledge base.  I had a car that was no longer fulfilling its basic function.  I was finally forced into real action.  I called the mechanic who makes house calls.

    The starting issue ended up being nothing more than a dead battery, an easy fix.  The leak, however, was a disintegrating radiator.  Once the mechanic removed it, he ran his hand down it to show me all of the little metal fins just falling away.  He said that it had been on the verge of failing altogether.  It would not have been drivable.  Coolant would have gushed all over.  There would have been nothing to fill.  I was now thankful for the dead battery.  It stopped my car from working and made me take the time to figure out what was really wrong.  Out of sheer luck, I was at home rather than on the side of the road somewhere.
    It got me thinking.  How often do we do this in our lives?  As long as something is still working, at least barely, we don’t put the time or energy necessary to address it at all.  We live with mediocrity rather than shooting for greatness.  We limp along rather than soaring.  We put time and energy into a band aid but nothing more.  And if we are lucky, a smaller issue will pop up to give us a wakeup call before catastrophe strikes.  So, what in your life needs more attention?  Where do you need a wake up call?

    Are you just skating at work but feel like, hey, the job still pays the bills?  When is the last time you put extra energy at work?   When did you put not just your time but your passion into your work?  When did you last feel gratitude towards your boss, your subordinates or peers?

    Or, maybe it’s your own business.  Are you feeling frustrated while you fail to do what you must to really succeed?

    Is your relationship with your significant other just a partnership of convenience?  Where have you set the bar?  Do you figure If the house gets semi-clean and there are some clean clothes, you both must be doing something right?  That’s good enough.  When is the last time you had a date together?  When did you last feel passion?  When did you feel an air of gratitude?  When is the last time you took a moment to appreciate the fact that your partner is in your life?  When did you last say, “I appreciate you”, with words or a gesture?  What energy is going to this important relationship to make it great?  Wouldn’t a rocking relationship be a better bar to set?  What would that feel like?

    Does stress fill your life?  Are you slapping the band aid of alcohol or sleeping pills to keep going the way you’re going?  Who do you need to say no to with grace?  How do you need to revamp your expectations of yourself?  Are you shooting for that impossible goal of perfection?  What resentments are you carrying?  Where do you need to have a voice?  Where are you making assumptions that just increase your anger?

    Do you have a health issue that you just work around?  I have to admit to that I have done this.  Are you putting a band aid on an issue?  What if it’s your tiny wake up call, the one that will come before catastrophe hits?  How can you get your body in motion?  What are you fueling your body with?  When did you have your last check-up?  What health screenings have you put off as unimportant?

    Are you just tolerating your kids? Are they something to be dealt with, just another chore?  When is the last time you celebrated them?  Where can you pour more energy into their lives?  What wisdom can you teach? How can you shower love on them?  Where do you need to pull back the reigns and pay attention to their lives?  Who are they hanging out with, what do they do?

    What in your life is slowly getting worse and worse?  What are you putting a band aid on rather than actually fixing?  What would it feel like to put full energy on fixing something rather than partial energy on band-aiding?  Where does your energy need to go before your kids are lost, your marriage falls apart, your health fails you, your boss fires you or your business fails?

    Let this be your wake up call. You are a limited resource created for impact.  Learn this lesson from my car.  Take action now.  It’s time for you to soar!