EXPULSION – When Attitude and Aptitude Are Not in Sync

“We hired attitude and trained aptitude,” is what Bob Kierlin, founder of the Fastenal Company, shared with Keith McFarland www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGjkTJj295s  in an interview while doing research for his book, The Breakthrough Company, published in 2008. [Crown Publishing Group]

Those familiar with the Fastenal story and who have known or have had the pleasure of listening to Kierlin talk about the extraordinary success of the company and its people understand what Kierlin meant. The company has enjoyed tremendous growth since its IPO in 1987 and few will disagree that is in large part due to the insight of its leaders but then they will credit the folks they hired with an attitude and aptitude to learn and be trained. But what of the mistakes – those who appeared to have the right attitude but in reality, did not?

McFarland studied 7 thousand companies and chose 9 to highlight as case studies in his book. Most shared Kierlin’s philosophy in one form or another. On this topic the author noted that, “There are times when this filter fails and people who just don’t fit join the organization.”

The Staubach Company (founded by former Hall of Fame quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys) happened to be one of the other eight case studies McFarland undertook. A Staubach official told McFarland that the moment it is clear that an attitude judgment was incorrect on the front-end, leaders must recognize that “If someone pollutes the organization and compromises its values and character, you have to have the courage to make those hard decisions even if, in the short term, it costs the company money. In the end, the organization is better off for it.”

No startling revelation here and yet, making such a move tends to be more difficult than it sounds for many. No one likes to admit the mistake to begin with but you wouldn’t be surprised to learn many find it painfully difficult to expel “the contagion” as soon as they should.

Visiting with Steven Blue, CEO of the Miller Felpax company in Winona the other day, we spent a few minutes on this subject, one dear to Steve’s heart. He’s written about it in his recent book, The $10 Million Dollar Employee.

The book’s cover lead reads, “When you most toxic liability meets your most important customer…”

In the book’s final chapter, entitled, You Deserve the Company You Create, Steve reinforces the idea that, ultimately, it is the CEO that must not allow “bad apples” to hold a company, any company, any size, hostage. http://www.stevebluewebsite.com/steves-books/book-reviews/

Jim Naleid is a Life-long Entrepreneur, Change-Agent and Thought Leader, Managing Director of Naleid & Associates and

Regional TEC (“The Executive Committee”) Chair leading a group of executives to become Better Leaders, Making Better Decisions with Better Results.