Question:

"Ryan, corporate America talks about a disengaged work force, I sometimes feel like I have some players who disengage?" Jimmy

Answer:

Jimmy, the engage/disengage issue is obviously not just a "hockey" issue. Let me share a story that just happened to me that illuminates this problem.

I was recently in a rush ... does that sound a bit like the 21rst century?

Our pool had turned a dark green and I desperately needed to shock the water back to some semblance of clear. So with a hundred other things to do in my day, I ran into aisle 34 of my favorite big box store where I had picked up pool items in the past. There, almost at the very end, was the pool shock that I needed. I lifted the largest container and at that moment remembered that we needed one other pool item. Scrambling and searching unsuccessfully for the item, I finally resorted (it's a guy thing not to ask first) to finding someone who could help me. I hauled my heavy container of pool shock up the aisle and found a woman wearing the special big box store shirt and addressed her politely, "Excuse me Ma'am, I am in a real rush, kids are in the car and wondered if you could help me find this particular pool item."

Without even looking up she snapped out, "Everything pool is in aisle 34," and continued with her writing.

A funny thing happened in that moment as I stood stunned by her attitude of ambivalence: I must be getting old and crotchety (soon to be 50) because for one of the first times in my life I decided that I have options. And even though this has always been my favorite big box store, I would exercise my purchasing options! In that moment I decided to never shop at that particular store again. Then for some weird reason at home that evening I did the math. The "everything pool is in aisle 34" lady didn't lose a mere $39.95 sale, she lost a $24,000 lifetime customer.

This woman was a mature worker. She knew the ropes and the consequences. She was off her game, disengaged and her team paid a huge price. I have been around teams all of my life and I have come to understand that excellence and ambivalence very seldom happen in a vacuum. We are interdependent people. My pro-hockey background tells me that the "everything pool is in aisle 34" woman was either disillusioned with her team (a culture not paid attention to) or turned off by an ineffective leader (people don't often disengage from companies they disengage from people.)

I believe that all successful people, teams, organizations and companies share two basic qualities. They have a SMART side and they have a HEART side!

Individuals and organizations demonstrate that they are smart in the way they plan, organize, improvise, devise strategy, create organizational structure and systematize what they desire to accomplish. Individuals and organizations demonstrate their heart through their passion to achieve, their personal and cultural energy, their constant focus on purpose, and their attention to the personal and cultural heart beat.

The "everything is in isle 34" lady was on top of the smart side of her job. The store was stocked. The isles full of displayed product. The cashiers were ready to take my money. So why didn't I buy? The heart side, the personal energy, the Heart side was disengaged.

The last word goes to Olympic Women's Hockey great Hayley Wickenheiser who articulated this so well in our newest book SIMPLY the BEST Players on Performing (in stores by Christmas): " Players can really influence it (team HUNGER or engagement) or hurt it. I believe it takes 20 players to create a winning environment, but only one to wreck it. One player with a bad attitude can really affect the team in a negative way and it probably takes five or six players to make up for that. To keep that positive energy it's always a challenge to keep the negative away from the dressing room as much as possible. We always talk on our team about energy takers and energy givers. Some days you're not going to be your best when you show up at the rink or are on the ice, but trying to always give something positive no matter what is key to a successful team."

Ryan Walter played 15 NHL Seasons, won a Stanley Cup and has a Masters Degree in Leadership/Business. He works with players, teams and Minor Hockey Associations, synergizing teams and growing tomorrow's leaders. Ryan also speaks at conferences and does long-term performance/team development work with corporations and organizations across North America. For information on booking Ryan or to purchase his books contact Ryan at ryan@ryanwalter.com or go to www.ryanwalter.com .