 They won’t be used, they’ll be misunderstood, they’ll be overlooked, and they’ll be considered inappropriate. Two examples: 1. My aunt asked my wife how to lose weight. There was someone to ask and someone to answer. My wife gave one free piece of advice: “Move more, walk at least half an hour a day, or better yet, an hour.” The reaction was something like, “No, that’s not for me.” So my aunt went to see specialists, paid for their services, and… received the same advice. Now she walks. 2. My client decided to ask his subordinates for daily reports on their activities, apparently due to a loss of trust in them. I gave him some free advice—he shouldn’t do that, it won’t help—and I listed several reasons, including the fact that such treatment of staff will be perceived as punishment The reaction was something like, “We have different views, and you, Roman, are used to working with motivated people.” The client said he just wants them to become more effective and will try to present daily monitoring not as a punishment, but as a tool for increasing efficiency. One question remains unanswered: Why on earth would his people find it useful to be more efficient if no one has ever tried to connect their own goals with the company’s objectives in their minds? Of course, I’m used to working with motivated people, as the first thing I do is motivate them. If you had sent a bill, they would have listened to the advice in a completely different way 🙂 |