Nobody cares about my future!

What do you do if you have a boss that isn’t engaging your strengths, recognizing your true value, giving you the direction you need to move forward, or in general being the true leader that you would be if you were doing his job? Yeah, ok. I wish I had a nickel for every time someone got caught in the trap of not taking responsibility for their own career advancement. Waiting for your boss to figure it out and create an environment conducive to your future?

”So, how's that working for you?”

If your answer to the above question is “Not so well” then do something different.
- Recognize that the only person who will get you anywhere is you. Stop being a victim to your own lack of success.
- Get engaged and do something about it. Stop complaining that the boss isn’t doing their job.

So, what's your area of responsibility in your current position? Is it service, hiring, training, food quality, food or beverage costs, cleanliness? Surely, you've been assigned a specific area of responsibility.

Is your area of responsibility performing at its optimum level? Is it an example of how your department should be executing?

If your answer is yes – then go help another department or area. Engage that leader and help them get to an exceptional level of execution. Do it to help, not to prove wrong. Assist, bust your butt, do whatever you can to get someone else winning the way you are and expect nothing in return. Get them promoted! The more people waving your flag saying how great you are, the better.

If your answer is no – well, there's your problem! If you can’t get your own area right, why would you expect your boss to do anything different? Get a coach, find a mentor, read, research, engage your team, and do whatever it takes to get your team pumping out the results that are expected.

Initiative is one of the most important qualities I look for in an exceptional leader. You have to be able to engage yourself first before you can expect someone else to engage you. I would much rather try to get a horse to slow down then keep kicking it to run!

And don’t get me wrong, I am not telling you to go it alone…..if you don’t have the answers, ask for help and keep asking until you find someone willing to help. If people keep telling you no when you ask for help, you are asking the wrong people.

You haven’t asked me yet.