This seven-word phrase can transform your company culture and maximize Generation Z performance.
The Sitter Tree is a community-based babysitting service that allows families to book a highly qualified sitter online. One of the reasons my wife and I like to use the service is because the sitters are asked to do one thing above and beyond what the families ask of them.
On separate occasions with different sitters, my wife and I have come home to find the dishes done, laundry started, trash taken out, and the kids' playroom cleaned up. Leaving our home better than they found it has left a favorable and lasting impression.
Leave it better than you found it.
It's a timeless principle that your mother probably told you once in reference to the cleanliness of your childhood room. However, I have never heard this simple yet profound principle applied in a business setting.
I was recently reminded of the need for this principle to be applied when I witnessed a restaurant employee damage a posted window sign while washing the inside of the restaurant windows. The employee moved on without fixing it. They left the restaurant worse than they found it.
"Leave it better than you found it" can be a game-changing stake in the ground of your organization's culture that can positively transform your employee's attitudes and behaviors.
These seven words are a powerful filter for any situation.
- Leave the restaurant better than you found it.
- Leave a conversation (online or offline) better than you found it.
- Leave the customer better than you found him/her.
- Leave training better than you found it.
- Leave your inbox or to-do list better than you found it.
- Leave the meeting better than you found it.
- Leave the department better than you found it.
- Leave the team better than you found it.
Considering that 77 percent of Generation Z would be interested in a situation in which they could have multiple roles within one place of employment, establishing a "leave it better than you found it" culture could have compounding benefits for an organization.
Every time a Generation Z employee enters a new role, they will be seeking new opportunities to better the role or department. Encouraging Generation Z to inject their fresh perspective and unique skill sets into the organization will breed the necessary innovation to remain a relevant and highly sought after workplace.
A "leave it better than you found it" mentality also empowers Generation Z to take action and have the type of impact they seek at work.
I help companies better lead, engage, train, and sell to Millennials and Generation Z. If you’d like help solving tough generational challenges inside your organization, click here.
