My Way or The Highway

Do you impose your way of doing things on teammates, colleagues or direct reports? Answer carefully...it is easier to do than you think.

 

Though you may not outright say "my way or the highway," you are probably pushing your instinctual method for accomplishing tasks onto others. Here are a few examples: One of my clients is a natural brainstormer. For any new venture in the company, he requires every team member to brainstorm ideas for moving forward. Another one of the clients is a great simplifier. He discourages Q & A sessions from taking place at the end of meetings because he claims they are an inefficient use of time. Yet another client is an innate researcher/specifier. She requires her employees to regularly attend informational seminars and professional growth classes.....See the trend?

 

None of the above activities or requirements are bad in themselves. They become bad when pushed on to someone with a different operational approach. 

 

So, how do you avoid creating a "My Way or The Highway" culture?

 

The answer is simple: focus on results rather than method. In other words, hold individuals accountable to the end goal, not how he or she got there. Let's look back to the three examples above. My first client's ultimate goal is to successfully move forward with new ventures. Some in his team may brainstorm out-of-the-box solutions, but others may best contribute by creating a step-by-step plan. My second client's aim is to work efficiently. Many of his employees are most efficient when they first gather all of the information (thereby preventing unforeseen problems down the road). My third client seeks out expertise. Maybe some in her team can gain it through real-world experience rather than in a seminar. 

 

Again, the key is to focus on the goal and allow each person the freedom to get there in his or her own way. Not only will this approach maximize the efforts of your team, but it will also showcase the diversity of talents represented in your organization.