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-as-a-leader-i-believe-my-job-is-to-put-them-into-a-position-where-they-can-be-successful/ […]…

Indeed. We shouldn’t just assume people can’t be bothered or are not up to it.
We need to dig a little deeper and find the real reason.

i agree that there are some people who would be rather anywhere else than at work and who do just want to get through the shift, they might just be there for the money nothing else. But i do believe that feeling valued is a basic need and we can achieve some of that through knowing we have done a good days work. What we need to do is to let them know the importance of what they are doing, even if its just sweeping the streets, there is a reason for it, sanitation, making the place look nice, then we need to motivate them, recognition of a job well done is usually a great place to start. Make people feel proud about their work and what they have done.
I remember a story from American Football, when a janitor was working late sweeping the dressing rooms, Dallas Cowboys i think it was, someone asked him what he was doing and he replied, “i”m helping the Cowboys get to the Superbowl”.

I honestly know people who come to work not to do a bad job, but then not to do a great job either. They just want to finish their shift. What do you say to those people? How does one manage those who are happy with mediocrity?