Challenge statement put on the table. Team brainstorms.
Here is what happens next:
The “I know it all” person kicks off the conversation by eloquently sharing old wine in new bottle “ideas”. Everyone around the table listens politely without hearing what is being said.
The problem solver paves a pragmatic way forward, whilst the cautious person diligently puts on the table all the rules and regulations oblivious to the reality and the constraints.
The visionary speaks last and shares disruptive, ambitious and out-of-the-box ideas.
The room goes silent, as the team is processing what they just heard.
The “I know it all” person, continues to pitch the old wine in new bottle ideas. The problem solver can see the contours of the visionary’s proposition and outlines how the vision can be implemented. The cautious person goes back to the comfort of the rule book. The visionary keeps quiet.
After the meeting - the “I know it all” inundates everyone with emails reiterating the old wine in new bottle ideas.
The cautious person puts in writing all the things that cannot be done without offering solutions and a way forward, taking comfort in the rules - citing them by name and respective paragraph numbers.
The problem solver person figures out ways to pragmatically implement the vision.
The visionary keeps quiet giving the team time to internalize.
How familiar is the above scenario?
And how many of these stereotyped folks do you know?
I would bet, this is pretty familiar and you probably have come across these folks.
Here is what I’ve learnt from similar situations.
As I matured, I learnt to listen very carefully to the visionaries around me. I learnt not to pass judgement. I learnt to internalize and try to visualize their vision. I learnt to give the benefit of the doubt. I learnt to try and bring their vision to life. I learnt that even if I did not see their vision at the very moment, if I applied myself, I would be able to see it - may be not immediately, but eventually I would. I learnt to trust these folks and their disruptive, out-of-the-box ideas. I learnt to go with their flow.
And this has had a win-win end result. Even when the idea did not work, it was a win-win, because it brought the team together and resulted in an excellent team building exercise where everyone learnt how to work and trust each other. When it worked - which is 9 times out of 10 - it end up being like watching fireworks on 4 July!!!!
As I’ve matured, I’ve learnt to see the strength in diversity. As Michelle Obama once said, “Sameness brings more sameness”. We need diversity. This is not just in terms of sex, religion, sexual orientation and race - it is also in terms of personal characteristics and what people bring to the table.
I know, you are probably thinking that there are folks who bring little or nothing to the table. I am not sure this is an accurate statement. If you create a safe space and give folks a bit of gentle nudge, they may surprise you.
What I’ve learnt is that make sure everyone has an equal opportunity to share their idea. It goes without saying that we should not let any one person to dominate the conversation. So, to the “I know it all” person - next time you have the urge of being the first one to talk, pause…… Count until 20 - you’ll be surprised, as someone other than you will take the floor and you get to first listen before sharing your ideas.
Also, remember, if at that very moment you do not have anything valuable to offer (and this can happen), there is nothing wrong to say “I need more time to think about it. Let me do so and get back to you.” And if you do so, pls take it literally and really think about it.
I’ve come across many cautious folks and trust me, their counsel and guidance is definitely valuable. They become truly an asset when they offer solutions and guidance to work our way through the red tape. They may end up being frustrating when they take comfort in the rule book and do not make a genuine effort to understand what is at stake.
The pragmatic nature of the problem solver makes them the natural fit for taking the situation at hand and making sure things work like a Swiss clockwork. This is why, willingly or not, they assume the control. And quite often this can work against them, as others may see them as ambitious or as the one who wants to impress and show off.
So, to these folks, make sure you involve everyone on team so that the “control” is shared. This way, you can give your best - continue to be pragmatic - get the work done without making enemies and have fun.
So, dear reader, if you have encountered similar situations, please share your experience. If you think the above scenario is a heresy, please share why you think so. At the end of the day we all strive to create a harmonious and non-complacent workplace. So, if there are behaviors that we can change to achieve this goal, why not do so.
Looking forward to your ideas, examples and more.
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