True-Blue Employee
In the world of sports, and in the workplace, you learn quickly who’s on your team when the scoreboard isn’t in your favor. It’s easy to stand shoulder to shoulder when things are going well. The sun is shining, progress is steady, and everybody wants to be part of the picture. A true-blue employee, however, shows up in a different way.
“True-blue” means dyed in the wool. It’s not surface-level or situational. It reflects who you are at your core. A true-blue employee doesn’t just represent the organization when things are going well, they represent it when challenges arise, when pressure builds, and when outcomes are uncertain.
I remember a game years ago where everything that could go wrong did. We were down big, 7–34 going into the fourth quarter. Mistakes piled up. Doubt crept into the stands. Some folks headed for the exits early. A few stayed, believed, and supported, not because they were sure of a comeback, but because they were committed. Those fans were true-blue, and that is what a true-blue employee looks like.
Max Lucado, in Experiencing the Heart of Jesus, talks about fear that becomes faith. Fear shows up in all of us, when numbers are down, when change is coming, when uncertainty fills the room. The difference is not the presence of fear; it’s what we do with it. Faith steps in when we choose to trust, to stay, and to move forward anyway. A true-blue employee does exactly that.
A true-blue employee shows up when the work is hard and recognition is limited. That individual remains committed when others drift. Truth is spoken when needed, paired with a willingness to help solve the problem. Effort doesn’t fade in adversity, it sharpens.
There are moments in every organization when standing tall isn’t popular. The crowd may shift. The easy path is to step back. A true-blue employee stands firm, aligned with the mission, even when it carries a cost.
By the way, that game? We came back and won 42–34, scoring 35 points in the final 15 minutes. So, here’s the question this week: Who are your true-blue employees, and are you one?
Thought for the Week, “When fear shows up, let faith step forward, because true-blue employees stand tall, stay the course, and lead with belief when it matters most.” Dave Klatt, former Fort Scott Community College football coach.
Dr. Jack Welch serves as President of Fort Scott Community College. With a career spanning professional sports, public education, and rural community development, he brings a servant-leader mindset and a passion for building trust-driven cultures that empower people to thrive in the classroom, on the field, and in life. He is also the author of Foundations of Coaching: The Total Coaching Manual.