Dan Rockwell (Leadership Freak) once wrote a piece titled, “7 Principles of the Pig.” In the article he was using pigs as an analogy for a team of workers. While some might take offense to being referenced as a pig, Rockwell did make good use of some principles. Perhaps my favorite went something like this: No matter how badly you want eggs, if all you have is pigs, you’ll get lots of bacon, but no eggs. In the article, he is saying, do not try to make people into something they are not. Utilize those on your team for what they are and what they can produce.

One lesson to take away from this is to learn who is on your team. Learn who they are. What are their specific gifts and talents? What in their personal lives will help the organization? What might hinder their work in the organization? And most importantly, “What can I do to assist in their skills growth and each one becoming more effective in growth and production.

When leaders focus only on production, the personal side is eliminated. Therefore, growth of the individual is also eliminated. When this happens, morale drops, and people cannot get excited about their work or the organization for whom they are working.

Get to know the people in your organization, the people on your team – paid or volunteer. The only way to help them is to know them. The more you get to know the people working for you – those on your team – the more effective your organization will be. The more effective your organization is, the more your people will desire to stay. And good, satisfied people draw more good people as well.

Now that’s what I call making bacon!

George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist, coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life.