I am an obsessive romance novel reader; it’s something I get from my mum. I can hear the little voice in my head saying “Just to the end of the chapter and then I’ll go to bed.” My eyes have that tic in the corner telling me to stop, but I’m so fixated on the story and character interaction that I’d happily forego sleep as long as I know what happens next.
So how does living in the romantic fantasy between the pages help me with my team management style?
This is not about office affairs….sorry if that spoils your fun.
Every office is filled with a cast of characters. There’s usually the hussy, the good girl, the psycho, the villain, the hot guy, the nerd, the sly dog and the agony aunt or any number of these. Think about where you work and the variety of temperaments and behaviours involved there. When you are in a management position you need to get a real handle on the personalities of your staff. If you want to be a successful leader you will understand how the interaction will ensure a better outcome for all the players concerned.
Take this scenario: A new girl comes into your team to take on some of the work that’s been piling up lately. The staff thinks they can handle it and don’t want an extra person taking away their work or their overtime. Who do you get to show her around and why?
A. Someone who already does that job feels threatened by her appearance and acts a little standoffish, maybe even rude. Yet, this is the person with the most knowledge about what you want the new person to do.
B. Someone who used to do the job but has other duties now and becomes a show off trying to get in to the good books through over sharing and over acting but is liked by the rest of the team.
C. Someone nice but does not do that particular role offers but will be thorough in ensuring she is introduced to everyone and given a basic induction.
Which one should I get to show her the ropes, who is she going to ruffle the feathers of, add to the evolution of the plot and give you value for money in making sure the desired outcome is met?
Essentially you are looking to create the happily ever after, even though you know there might be a few speed bumps along the way.
As a manager, you have to ensure that all the players have a happily ever after. No one likes a grumpy staff that doesn’t really want to be there. So how do you manage the team to ensure personalities don’t get in the way of productivity?
Here are 5 things I learned to work with when bringing new players into an already functioning group of staff.
Just like in romance novels:
- New players will shift personal dynamics, choose wisely who you align this person with to get the most out of their skill set.
- Psychology plays a big part in ensuring all parties are happy. Everyone has something that troubles him or her.
- Nothing is ever as it seems. Let the work output speak for itself, not the gossip.
- Everyone’s flaws can be used as positives.
- Communication is the name of the game. So many things can go wrong when people don’t talk to one another.
So, back to my question, whom would I get to show the girl around and why?
I would use Person A. But before I did this I would get them into my office and have a chat about why they are the right person to do this (tell them something to make them feel good). Address their concerns logically and ensure they understand. Explain the outputs required with an extra pair of hands and get an agreed position so they have some input and control over the situation.
You get to write the story and create a suitable outcome.
Barefoot Mentor is all about sharing inspiration. And I certainly get a lot of inspiration from the people I meet when networking or mentoring. One thing I have always espoused is ensuring recreation is included as part of your mentoring journey. Having things in common with someone allows for easier speech and interaction.
So if my favourite downtime thing to do, reading romance novels, resonated with you, I’d love to hear your comments below.
Share to be inspired, be inspired to share.
