How to overcome -isms in business/life

I don't know whom I am speaking to today, but I just want you to know that as an entrepreneur, you shall face discrimination in your line of work. That's a given, but it's not important. What's important is how you react to that discrimination.

So today, I am going to share my experience with discrimination:

An entrepreneur I am working with made this confession to me two days after I started mentoring him:

‘Since I joined this platform, I have been reaching out to male mentors only because I was biased against women, but none of them got back to me. When I saw your profile, I decided to give you a try, and you surprised me when you responded.

I wasn’t expecting much from the sessions, but since I had signed up, I decided to turn up. I am glad I did because of the depth of your analysis of my situation and the poignant issues you are raising that I had not even thought about. Do you mind if I recommend you to my friends?

That, my friends, is called sexism! It is alive and well in every sphere of our lives.

Lessons learnt:

💥As you go about your business, know that people will judge you and cast you aside not because you are not good at what you do, but because of whom they are.

💥When you turn up, bring in your A-game. It doesn’t matter whether you are being paid or doing it pro bono. Wow the pants off your client!

💥Don’t get mad at the –isms thrown your way; get even by being the best version of yourself

What has been your experience with -isms and how have you dealt with them?

Employee onboarding

Dear entrepreneur,

While it has become fashionable for companies to want to hire someone who can ‘hit the ground running,’ the reality is while they know how to do their job well, they do not know how to do it your way!

Every company has got its own operating systems, its own unique way of delivering on a service/product, so you really can’t hire someone today and let them loose in your organisation without training them.

It is imperative that you arm them with the skills and tools they need to succeed in your organisation, otherwise, they will be frustrated and leave you or you will be frustrated and fire them before they have brought to you their A-game.

Sometimes, arming them with the skills involves meeting with them weekly and directing their efforts in a way that meets your core values, vision and goals. Take the time to indoctrinate in your employees your ethos, values, culture, so that they can align their skills with your corporate persona. A garrulous but highly performing employee will destroy your company. Do not sacrifice your future for short-term wins. 

So before you have someone go out and represent your brand, make sure that they understand what your brand is about and they embody your values, otherwise, they will alienate your customers and stakeholders.

What employee onboarding systems do you have in your organisation to ensure that you get the best out of your new hires?