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Management,
TeamworkI’m sure there are a lot of us who are very happy in our jobs, and that there are still some great companies out there that drive a great team oriented environment and take time to think about business process. I know I’ve been there a few times but it’s also becoming more rare as many companies are starting more and more to drive a slave-driven, non-team oriented culture in some work environments in America today.
Also, I consistently hear “Nothing is going to be perfect” in your job. And that’s definitely true and personally I never have expected “perfection” in my job in terms of the expectation that I will be 100% happy 24x7. I’ve been in some absolutely wonderful environments and lost them due to situations beyond my control (company goes out of business, moving, etc.). But I’m talking about environments that are so bad, they literally cause stress for the majority of their employees daily because they are just horribly run environments and have been for a long time…and usually this will never change for that particular employer. This is what the article addresses.
As engineers, marketers, really any profession… it’s very hard for us to 100% of the time “just be a little worker bee, do what’s told 100% of the time, and go home”. The whole point of teamwork is to have opinions, ideas, or be able to give constructive criticism (questioning a process for the good of the team and company) as long as it’s not overbearing & politely communicated to your peers. You can’t expect a team to come up with good solutions unless this naturally takes place. And it’s the job of the manager to facilitate this, listen, and take ideas and talk about them to help promote and maintain a great team oriented environment.
With that said however, I have some advice to give.
First, there are often times in any environment (good or bad) where a business decision(s) will be made by a manager that:
- seems to be based off a bad/inefficient process model
- is politically motivated
- is (baseless) seemingly grabbed out of thin air with no thought behind it
- is based on a power trip by the person making the decision
- is made solely in order for the individual making the decision to look good in front of others (personally motivated)
- is made as a result of laziness
- are so bad at times, that you’re instantly unmotivated and think how the heck and I still working here?
- does not care to drive a team oriented environment
- etc.
And there are also in these same environments some very smart, talented, team-oriented members who:
- have experience over x years in many cultures, environments, teams
- truly care about working as a team, driven not by politics or heir say. Honest hardworking colleuges
- have a lot of input based on proven industry best practices
- have common sense that others lack
- have a strong work ethic
- have passion to do the best for the business, not “just to get it out the door”
- the overall goal is a “do it right the first time” and “business process improvement” mentality or at the least some focus on a good amount of quality so that it is extensible later
If you’re reading the 2 lists above, they conflict at times. And in bad environments they conflict a lot. They are 2 completely opposite types of people. And in my experience working in both good and bad shops over the last 10 years, they can make it or break it for the success of your career and personal life.
So here’s what you should learn from this:
- Like it or not, you can’t influence everything no matter how hard you might wish to try even if it’s for the good of the team or company
- Know when and if to fight your battles
- stop and think about it first. Is it that important to be fighting at this time? Timing is everything
- is the person you’re trying to persuade in a good mood? Bad moods shouldn’t affect teamwork but unfortunately life is not perfect either
- is the person you’re trying to persuade stubborn in that persuading them more at that point in time is only going to work against you?
- is the issue you’re trying to passionately help to improve really something you need to put all your energy into? (sometimes we think it is, but it’s really not)
- Sometimes even though you’ve politely constructively criticized a bad decision and did it ever so carefully, there is a time to stop and let go
- Don’t just always give up though
- Take the bad idea, and instead of constructively criticizing it, lift it up instead. Give them credit (what are you nuts??) and put small twist on it thus creating a win-win situation for the both of you
- Read a great book: How to Win Friends & Influence People
and this:
- If the environment you’re working in is not team oriented due to management, most likely coming on too strong at your current place of employment is only going to throw oil on the fire
- It’s not worth it. Just get the job done, do it well, and go home. It’s not worth your extra energy in these cases where bad decisions are consistently made because that energy can be looked at as a negative to bad leaders who refuse to run and promote a true “Team” environment
- Think about the fact that if married, you need to hold this job for your family (or future wife and kids, your dog ;) or what have you)
- Turn it into a Learning Experience. I know, what is there to learn from a bad decision? Nothing, but outside that bad decision you will ultimately learn something when you’re coding, documenting, etc. View it this way and it might be a little more palatable in those times
It’s often tough for some professionals who unluckily end in some pretty awful environments (non-team oriented, code & run, slave-driven mentality, driving fear into a team instead of teamwork, you name it). But the fact is, there are times you need to find ways motivate yourself in these unfortunate situations, keep your mouth shut, and give up that passion at times so that you can live to fight another day.
If you ever end up in some of these really bad environments, you need to let go to help reduce your own stress.
By nature some of us just truly “care” about doing the best for the company we’re employed with as well as the overall team we’re working in. We are not cocky, but just very enthusiastic.
Sometimes we do have to be that “little worker bee” who always does as told, when you know without a doubt that the decision(s) being made that particular day makes absolutely no sense or will undoubtedly fail. It’s one point in time where it may not make sense. And that time will pass. It’s for your health, sanity, and well-being to be able to let things go.
Conclusion: You can only control so much and that passion & truly good intent can sometimes get the best of you my friends.
