Homicide Is Not an Option 187
them. I know when you chastise them at your sales
meetings for falling short of their goals your purpose is
to get them to try harder. It has the opposite effect. It
makes them want to quit. Several times people have
broken down in tears. I believe if they had encourage-
ment and guidance from you they would not only be
motivated to do better. They would know what to do.Brenda’s voice rose as she said,So Mindy, you are telling me that I don’t know what I am
doing? And, Mindy, you are saying that you do? Mindy, you
are not the supervisor here. I am. You stick to your job and
I’ll stick to mine.Mindy responded,I understand why it might sound like I am telling you
how to do your job. It’s not my intention to do that. I
want to keep the good people we have here. I believe
encouragement and support from you would make the
difference.Then Mindy turned and walked out.
There was nothing in Mindy’s conversation with Brenda to
indicate how successful her conversation was. Time told that
story.
One month later, a woman named Karen fell $425 short of
her goals. She and her coworkers were astonished at the sales
meeting when Brenda said,
We had a good month. Karen, you were a bit short, but
pretty close. I have some ideas that might help you meet