So often it gets frustrating dealing with people issues. There seems to be a gap between what you may think of a person's performance and what they think of it.
I just dealt with that. I had to choose who would take charge of an important project. For some reason, I kept gravitating toward an unusual choice, a person who had not led a project before. My safest option was a veteran who always gets assignments like this one. As I analyzed my dilemma, it became clear to me.
The veteran was a safe choice and a good performer. But he hadn't grown in years, his passion and ideas were somewhat stale. The other person, was also a good performer, but he had grown, he was better than he was a year ago, better today than a month ago. And his ideas and passion reflected it.
I went with the unusual choice instead of the veteran. The veteran didn't really understand why, because after all, he was good and he knew it. But he didn't care enough to do anything about it.
The other bonus for going with the unusual choice? It's so much more fun and uplifting working with someone that is passionate and growing.
Barry LaBov
LaBov and Beyond
www.labov.com
Friday, May 8, 2009
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I've been in all three of those positions. I've been the tried and true vet, I've been the new guy, and I've been the one who gets to delegate.
ReplyDeleteTried and true can also be boring and uninspired.
The new guy can be fresh and a hot shot.
Hopefully the new guy will inspire the vet and the vet can show the new guy some insight from his experience and both will be better.
That's a great way to a). Grow a person, and b). set a fire under the veteran 's butt.
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