For “Teams” read Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Face Time, and any other technology which might allow us to “jump on a call”.
Yuck.
The Berlin Wall fell in 1989.
I remember it well, since it coincided with me doing a three week programme at London Business School.
Did the programme make me a better manager? Let’s go with “probably”.
But I do remember writing this on my feedback form on the course:
“Altruism in organisations does exist you know”.
I think I was around 24 years old when I first became a problem for somebody.
And if you think that suggests a certain lack of self-awareness prior to that point, well maybe.
Even then, I really didn’t mean to be a problem. But clearly I was.
Why?
I was a Research Chemist once with a firm called ICI.
A new graduate, I was given a problem to investigate that was causing some problems for a particular business.
Sounds a bit like a 60’s folk song, don’t you think?
Anyway, watching the wildlife on our local pond today made me think about communication styles.
I know. I need to get out more.
“I could never work with him” she said. “Not in a million years”.
Coaches are tuned-in to spotting assumptions. I spotted this one.
I’ve had a great year growing things in the garden. I mean just look at the photo.
We’ve been eating tomatoes, mangetout peas, onions, garlic, runner beans, courgettes, peppers, potatoes, cucumbers. I could go on. And on.
As we all learn to work differently, at least for a time, learning to play nicely so that everybody wins is going to take some effort.
I was late for a meeting last week. Nothing I could do about it. Obviously. I had to scrape ice off the car to start with. Didn’t have time to listen to the weather forecast the night before. Too busy.
Driving the car today, I got stuck on the inside lane behind a slow-moving truck. Totally my fault. I should have read the road better. So I indicated my desire to pull out. Translated, that meant “Help. I’ve messed up here. Can you let me out please?”
We were gathered, four of us, for a meal before an evening at the theatre. Very nice. And probably quite expensive. This was London after all.
“Face the door” said Bert Lang. Bert was my Dutch boss when, many years ago, I took on a management role on a chemical plant in Holland. I’d never had my own office before. Somewhat intimidated by the whole experience, I had my desk facing the wall. “Face the door, own the room, take control” said Bert, and he was right.
Over the years my wife Liz and I have been privileged to join several groups “helping” (really?!) to build small houses in Ethiopia. It works like this. We turn up, along with twelve or so other international volunteers who have never met before, we have a leader, and we work alongside the local tradesmen and villagers in helping to build houses.
I got a speeding ticket recently. Since you ask, 57 mph on a 50 mph stretch of a “smart motorway”. I took my punishment like a man (see below) and went on one of those Driving Awareness Courses that are an alternative to three points on your driving licence. Mine was a Motorway Awareness Course.
Excuse me? Run that past me again. I’d just taken on this new job. And here’s one of my team telling me that “we all hate” another manager in the team.
I’m guessing most of us have heard of the “elevator pitch”. Done well, it’s a “compelling narrative”. But here’s the thing. Lots of us don’t have them.
I walked in the park with a client today. I do most of my coaching this way. We put on some boots and weather-appropriate clothing, and we get outside.