Here is a true story about one of my favorite “Diamonds in the Rough”.

I was a new Manager in a company and getting to know my team. My supervisors were complaining about a particular employee who was always late for work. Although they all agreed he was a fantastic operator, they were so frustrated with him. Because he was late all the time, they did not think he could be relied on because the line did not start on time.

Being curious, I decided to see for myself. I started talking to the employee to dig deeper. At first it was just small talk. Checking the product quality and asking him how it was going. Then, after a few days, I asked him more personal questions.

Me: “What do you want for your future?” Employee: “I don’t know.”

Me: “Do you like working here?” Employee: “Sure.”

Me: “What do you like about it?” Employee: “Troubleshooting feels really good.”

He knew he was good at it, and I agreed. No one could operate like him. I connected with him daily to build trust and help him open up even more. Then one day, it happened:

Me: “Help me understand something. You seem incredibly talented and engaging. Why are you always late for work?”

He looked at me and said: “5 AM is so early. I am always tired. I just cannot seem to get out of bed in time. Mornings are not a good time for me.”

As we chatted, I found out that he didn’t stay up late watching movies or staying out late with friends. He just found he was more energized at night. He would get his chores done in the morning, do some wood working and get exercise. The next day I decided I would ask him an important question. I asked him if he would like to work on the afternoon shift and see if that would fit his lifestyle. Although he wasn’t sure, he thought about it and said he would try.

Go find your Diamond in the Rough! Give it a shot! It is well worth it.