It occurred to me this evening that I’ve started carrying around a notepad and pen with me. I write this (the typing bit came later of course) in the Indigo Bistro in the South Tower of the Sheraton Hotel in Vancouver. I’m reading a book between courses (”Airman” by Eoin Colfer) and have the notebook to hand too.
I’m doing more and more writing these days, both for work purposes and for the blog here at Silesti.net. I find myself more easily thinking in literary terms and I know that it’s bleeding over into my spoken language too.
I’ve always read a lot and attribute my, pretty decent I think, grasp of the English language to this. I know for certain it wasn’t schooling! It’s only since I started seriously blogging here, and writing real, proper documents related to work that the creative and narrative flow has started. Maybe it’s also to do with being more comfortable in putting my ideas forward, committing them in perpetuity and for anyone to read too.
Most of the time people are generally fair and reasonable. So what is it that makes someone deviate from the norm? What is it which would cause a previously sane, sensible and rational individual become a duplicitous, self-serving wretch?
The only answer I can this of is this…
FEAR
They are scared that they will be betrayed and make sure that they ‘get in there first’
They are scared that they will be ‘found out’, that something they guessed at, or missed, or didn’t actually know will be brought to the fore and they’ll look stupid.
They are scared that someone else will actually do a good job and that somehow this will undermine them the next time.
My response to this is simple….. GROW UP!
There will always be someone who is smarter than you, quicker than you, bigger / taller / prettier / more athletic / whatever! than you.. it’s called life!
Don’t see this as a threat, use it as an opportunity to learn, maybe (you never know) these ‘gods’ will be happy to share some of the experiences which got them into the position they are.
The other thing to remember is… You can’t be the best at everything. Accept this as a truth and work on the areas where your strength lies. Be a ‘go-to’ person in your field who has the gift of acknowledging others skills.
This, in itself, is a desirable trait which will raise your professional worth.
However, occasionally criticism is due and correct! On these occasions, be up front! State your position, make your observations, offer supporting evidence and, most importantly, provide viable alternative scenarios. Without this last piece all of your good work will appear to be nothing more than than jealous carping and any short term gain will be hugely outweighed by the damage done to your reputation.
Over the last couple of days I’ve been delivering a Marketing and Operations Workshop to a hoster in Philadelphia. I’ve spent the last 2-3 weeks pulling this together and gone through some considerable head-scratching and chin-rubbing in the process.
It’s not easy creating the context in which you can criticise someones processes, business strategy and even their web-site without being summarily booted off the premises. But I think I’ve done it! Delivering the workshop was one of the most interesting things I’ve done in a while and bringing together people from the Sales, Marketing and Technical areas of the business to talk about what they do and why they do it proves to be a revelation, and not just for me!
It was nice leaving them last night a seemingly more cohesive team, who’s direction was clearer, who’s focus was sharper and who actually seemed to be communicating with each other about common goals. They were left with a good strategy about how they bring new products and services to market, specifically in this case around Windows Server 2008.
There are occasions when I pat myself on the back.. they don’t happen very often but this was one. I think I did a good job!
