Loyalty Isn't a Very Useful Concept

“Our followers owe us some loyalty for all we’ve done for them!” exclaimed the CEO. Hmm. Let’s unpack that for a moment.

So, it sounds like what the CEO is saying is that his relationship with his followers is out of exchange. He’s been kind and generous to them, so now they owe him a debt of loyalty to balance the scales.

What I usually find is that this kind of CEO expects a blank check from her followers because her “generosity” can never be repaid. Basically it’s “I gave you something (e.g. a job), and now you owe me for the rest of your life.” A follower that would go for a win-lose relationship like this has to be the worst negotiator on the planet, eh?

Truly, isn’t it just a veiled shaming and threat? It’s more like, “I demand unlimited payment or you’re a bad person,” or “I demand unlimited payment or I’ll punish you by taking away your job.”

Relationships that last are good for both parties, i.e. win-win. If you hire someone to do a job, then they owe you a fair amount of effort for what you have given to them. If you pay them the least you can get away with and treat them disrespectfully, then you’ll typically get an equal amount of commitment, effort, and contribution to your business.

If you hire someone to do a job, pay them market value for the role, treat them with respect, and grant them as much autonomy as possible, then typically you’ll get a high level of commitment, effort, and contribution to your business.

This higher level of contribution, however, has little or nothing to do with the notion of loyalty. This person will stay with your business for a long time because they can meet their personal goals while helping you meet yours, and that’s the very definition of a win-win relationship.

Don’t be a stranger. (770) 993-1129. tdockery@TheResolveFirm.com