Skip to main content

Should you expose yourself?


Respected Ron was starting his work day from the home office.  Making himself comfortable behind his beautiful mahogany desk, Ron settled into that oversized leather chair while contemplating which task he would jump into first.  He decided to start with taking a look at a handful of contracts awaiting his input.  Suddenly, that all too familiar feeling washed over Ron and he began to fidget in his chair, internally Ron was torn on how he should share his perspectives.  It seemed that he had so many things to consider in this digital age, Ron reminisces for a brief moment on how much simpler business seemed when folks met face to face.  However, at the current pace, there is simply not enough time in the day.  Given the single dimension of computer-based communication, Ron had to consider his approach, here are some of his thoughts:



  • create a dependency | of course, I will spin a web that nobody can escape.  Darn, just then Ron remembered a conversation with his Father years ago.  Ron, said Reliable Rick, Ron's Father, if when you place your finger in the middle of a glass of water, and after pulling your finger out of the water a finger slot is still in the glass, you are irreplaceable.
  • CYA |  you know, those always copying everyone in the company with email, come on.  Also, those who have saved every email from the beginning of time.  What exactly is the desired outcome?  For you to say, "I told you so", really?
  • found out | I have arrived at this elevated position; however, the foundation is a bit shaky.  Possibly a battle-field promotion or you are a great salesperson, selling your talents.  Either way, down deep inside you fear that you should not be in the position and that lack of confidence oozes out when making these types of decisions.
  • judged by few or many | one of the root issues with collaboration is the spotlight which sometimes shines on individuals.  If I only send one person an email with a response, my exposure is contained; however, post a response to a conversation in a public environment, all bets are off.



As Ron reflected on his thoughts he began to see a theme.  Could it be that he was not trusting or worse yet, not trustworthy?  Possibly he was stymied by social mores?  No, those are both too vague, maybe a part of him lacked confidence. His anxiety, and time consuming contemplation of how to share, could be more about how he perceived himself within the organization and how that persona was accepted by others.  Feeling a bit nauseous from his mental merry go round, Ron decided to forget about all of it, and only focus on the bigger picture of what drives the most value to his fellow teammates and the enterprise. 
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

expert at everything...not a problem

Well... I would say sometimes there certainly is a perceived notion that one person is an expert at everything. For the worker "everything" may be defined as the specific area in which you were hired or are constantly scheduled. Our opinions are frequently influenced off of past experience, or information we've received from their coworkers. Unfortunately this only gives us partial insight to that workers expertise and often is limited to their most recent history. Narrowly focused accounting is made of the skills that this individual possess. Come on, can't we figure out a way to leverage all of the skills of a particular worker? One of the challenges has always been that relationship between the activities which need to be accomplished and the myriad skills of individuals within your workforce. In addition, even if you could inventory and get a pretty good handle on the skill sets, they are constantly changing (with any luck) and thus the ineffective process of ...
Post a Comment
Read more

In$pired

As the steam from Avid Andy's coffee fogged his glasses on this crisp January morning, he reflected on last year and thought enthusiastically about the year ahead.   Sometimes the noise of business is deafening, we rarely take the time to contemplate our moves, instead are often thrown one direction or another.   Hey, face it, if you are reading posts to gain perspective you fall in the group of folks who pride themselves as obsequious hoop-jumpers.   We live to help others and expect that all of those around us feel the same way.   I just love Influential Irene.   Okay, it is out in the open, she is an inspiration for me and so many others.   Irene reminds folks every year, without fail, these three statements which she fondly refers to as "the punchline" (although this is no joke).   Businesses, of any size, will be successful if they remember that it is people that make a company.   Put this advice into practice, today: Sincerity |...
Post a Comment
Read more

What happened to Customer Service?

Leaving your customer with the sensation that they are highly revered to your organization, isn't that what customer service is all about? However, in order to obtain that level of connection wouldn't it help if every individual which touched the customer sincerely understood what service you are providing? If we go back to my core belief, expressed in other posts, "people want to do the right thing". Taking that at face value, it leaves our primary jobs as mentors and educators. Many complicate this topic by blaming it on the generations, as a matter of fact that is where I was at when I started to think about composing this post. It is true in some ways that over the years our culture in America has changed. You can experience this by visiting different parts of the United States, for instance go to the deep South and you will get a different level of customer service then you may on either of our coasts. Yet that is really a scapegoat to avoid the root pr...
Post a Comment
Read more