A real life lesson about how to keep the trust of your employees even if/when you may temporarily piss them off.
As most NBA basketball fans know, Magic Johnson, the L.A Lakers President of Basketball Operations, was offering to trade many of the Lakers core young players like Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, and Kyle Kuzma to the New Orleans Pelicans to get superstar player Anthony Davis in return. However, Magic did NOT inform those players on Lakers himself that he was trying to trade them. They became aware of Magic’s trade offer via the media. Ultimately, the deal was not completed before the trading deadline.
Today, those same players who were discussed in the potential trade deal are still employees for the Lakers.
How do you believe they feel about Magic and the Lakers in general right now?
Obviously, those players have a sense of distrust, lack or loyalty, disappointment and anger towards Magic and the Lakers although they have not said so publicly. Magic said he’s subsequently spoke to each of those players AFTER the trade deadline had past and essentially explain to them that it was just business and that’s how the business of basketball goes.
This is NOT true because it did NOT have to go that way. He handled this improperly.
Those players who were potentially traded for Anthony Davis but are still currently on the Lakers WILL NEVER GIVE 100% THEIR EFFORT TO THE SUCCESS LAKERS ORGANIZATION AGAIN.
How Magic should have handle this:
At the beginning of the season or before engaging in trade talks, Magic should have told every member of the Lakers that if we are able to bring in a Superstar Talent like Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard, or Kevin Durant we might have to trade you to do so; we don’t want to trade you but if that’s what has to happen to bring in one of those 3 players then will do it because it would better our team.
The current LA Lakers would NOT have been happy to hear this news but they would understand because the whole roster already knows (with exception of Lebron James) that none of them are on the level of any of those 3 SuperStar players in terms of playing basketball. In addition, they would still trust and respect Magic for notifying them in advance that a trade involving any of them is possible.
So when they hear their names in trade rumors, they are not going to be upset or surprised. If they were actually traded for a superstar, they may not like it but they would understand.
If they are NOT traded before the trade deadline (which is what actually happened), they would still be content in working for an organization (the Lakers and Magic Johnson) that is trustworthy and honest.
What can you learn from this situation as a business owner or executive running a company?
Companies are only as strong as the people they employ. Your employees feelings towards you and your company greatly affects how hard they will work for you, the results of their performance, and the success of your business.
Employees who are temporarily mad at you but still TRUST you can still be great employees who can give their all (100% effort) to You and your organization. However, employees who don’t TRUST YOU (regardless of whether they like you or NOT) are toxic to your organization because they will NEVER give their all to your organization and even worse they are more likely to do or say something to negatively affect you or your organization when given an opportunity. 646-535-6502 or [email protected] for professional marketing help or business advice! Follow https://www.linkedin.com/in/mwnow @mw4ever + @mwlives+ the M Life
