Education Article
"Have To" vs. "Want To"
Nick Fitch, store manager at Hy-Vee in Bloomington, IL, and Carrie Elliott, HR manager, set an example worth celebrating. Their store is always well-stocked, clean, and friendly. You'll rarely find Nick and Carrie in their offices—they're out on the floor stocking shelves, bagging groceries, catching up with employees, and doing whatever it takes to serve their community. Ask any team member, and you'll hear the same thing: "They never ask us to do anything they wouldn't do themselves; they're real team players and great leaders."
Hats off to Nick, Carrie, and everyone whose words and actions say, "I want to be here... I want to do this job!" It's no wonder their store is thriving—attitude truly makes all the difference.
We've all faced life situations where we felt we "had to" handle something—no choice but to react. Those moments often leave us feeling trapped, frustrated, hurried, and out of control, which inevitably shows in our decisions and behavior. Worse, we're so busy managing the situation that we rarely reflect on how to prevent it from happening again. Once it's over, we're just relieved to move on. (Side note: it's not really "over" if we take no steps to address why it happened—or how to avoid it happening again.)
We set ourselves up for the same challenges to recur, over and over. Living reactively is not healthy for us, mentally, physically, or emotionally, and it's definitely not productive. A "have to" attitude serves no one well.
On the other hand, when we encounter "want to" opportunities (and there are so many), we often take them for granted. We don't always pause to enjoy the peace and satisfaction they bring, or reflect on why those situations are working for us. As a result, we don't do enough to ensure they continue to improve our lives.
These dynamics play out at work, too, leaving no peace in that environment either. While "have to" situations impact all aspects of life, they can be particularly disastrous in the workplace—both for the business and for your career.
Of course, there will always be tasks you don't enjoy—ones you feel have been unfairly dumped on you, are outside your job description, or for which you feel unprepared or short on time. It's not uncommon to develop resentment toward those tasks and the people assigning them. That resentment can poison your attitude and result in lower-quality work, strained relationships, and missed opportunities.
If you're realizing that you're not being your own best friend in your "have to" and "want to" moments, you may be right! The good news is that a change in attitude is entirely within your control. You can decide that your job is to perform to the best of your ability at all times, no matter the assignment.
None of us were promised jobs that would only include tasks we enjoy, are trained to do, or that align perfectly with our career goals. When you were hired, your employer saw your potential—your creativity, positive attitude, learned skills, and willingness to grow—and they trusted you'd bring your best to every challenge. They hired your "want to" mindset!
If you take pride in doing your best every day because YOU ARE WORTH IT, you have a "want to" attitude. This mindset not only makes your day better, but it also ensures your customers are well served because of you. A positive attitude is recognized by others, and growth opportunities naturally follow.
From an organizational perspective, some businesses might believe they have a monopoly on their product or service and don't need to worry about whether customers "have to" or "want to" do business with them. But remember: customers always have options, especially in today's world of online shopping and easily accessible service providers.
Rest assured, there's always someone else out there who wants your customers and demonstrates a consistent "want to" attitude when serving them. Customers have high expectations—and rightfully so. They'll quickly leave your business for someone who provides the care and enthusiasm they deserve. Your loss is their gain. A "have to" attitude puts you and your business at risk.
Your primary responsibility every day is to ensure customers want to do business with you and never feel they have to. A "want to" attitude is the key to sustained success—both personally and professionally—and it will keep your business thriving.
Foster a culture where you and your team approach every task with a "want to" mindset, and notice how much better you feel. You and your customers deserve a great day, and the positivity will shine through in your personal life, too. Win-win-win!
