Idle Threats Have Consequences

Since 9/11, the TSA has zero tolerance of any stupid empty threats made by ignorant, potentially dangerous airline passengers. If someone says, “What do you think I have in that bag, a bomb?” they can expect their bag and their person to be thoroughly searched. The word “bomb” cannot be ignored in an airport these days, and there are consequences to be suffered by the offender.

In a corporate environment, there are subjects as potentially explosive that can have unintended unfortunate consequences.

Today’s economy has generated many work-related stresses, including layoffs, restructuring, and pay cuts –resulting in painful uncertainty and frustration for many. Imagine the ramifications of a laid-off employee saying ruefully that they may just come back with a gun tomorrow? To the employee it was an idle threat; a reaction to being angry and afraid, and feeling helpless. The manager, responsible for keeping the workplace safe and protecting other employees, is obligated to interpret it as a true threat. At the least, it should be reported to Human Resources and/or Security. At worst, the person could be visiting the local police station and spending their severance on legal services.

Twice in my career, I have seen employees inadvertently fire themselves. In one case, an employee who was being counseled for performance issues got angry and conversation quickly deteriorated:

EMPLOYEE: “Well, then maybe I should just quit.”
MANAGER: “Are you resigning?”

EMPLOYEE: “Yes, I guess so.”

MANAGER: “I accept your resignation.”

Years later, this exchange haunts me a little. I don’t think the employee really wanted to resign. His performance problems should have been repairable. But he got defensive and was maneuvered into firing himself, before he fully realized what was happening.

In another true circumstance, an overstressed, unhappy management-level employee threatened repeatedly to quit. Her boss, frustrated with her unreceptive, stubborn lack of response to constructive coaching, finally told her that he accepted her resignation. She was shocked. But after having heard the threat one too many times, her boss called her bluff. He wanted a manager willing to make changes for the better – not one who constantly expressed her dissatisfaction by threatening to leave.

Times are tough, and it’s easy to let frustration bubble over. But it’s best to remember that some words spoken out loud can’t be taken back. Idle threats can have unavoidable consequences.

Function Over Form

Last week, I wrote about how doing “something special” consistently in your workplace can make you successful. I also mentioned that those things didn’t need to be dramatic. After thinking further about this, I'm adding that what you do must have SUBSTANCE. We have all worked with people at one time or another who spend their time posturing. They certainly make every effort to appear busy and, of course, important. They spend hours and days in important meetings and confab frequently with the big boss about important stuff. They jet out of town on important business, hire consultants for important work, and write numerous long and important emails. But what do they actually accomplish? Do they really serve a valuable purpose, or are they mostly about form over function? That sort of manager or executive quickly earns a lack of respect. Avoiding this potential pitfall is fairly easy if you focus on priorities and goals, and communicate with your team. Make sure that the level of effort you expend results in a commensurate level of accomplishment. Just doing email IS NOT an accomplishment. Reviewing a team member’s work product and providing valuable feedback and coaching IS an accomplishment. Flying to a far away city for a meeting IS NOT an accomplishment. Going to a meeting and bringing back actionable decisions and information that you communicate to your team IS an accomplishment. Try this exercise: At the end of every week or month, list your accomplishments – actions completed that took you a step closer to documented goals. If you list something that is more form than function you will recognize it as lame when you put it in writing. Be honest with yourself. Over time, this exercise will help discipline you to accomplish more functional tasks. This can also become a good communication to share with your boss. Time can too easily get consumed by things that don’t matter. Focus on substance. Real work over posturing. Function Over Form.

A Little Something Special

When you watch Olympic athletes, it’s amazing how often tenths or even hundredths of a second make the difference between winning gold, silver, or bronze. After years and years of training, the final result comes down to extra effort expertly applied at exactly the right moment. The same principle applies in business. Those that succeed know not only how to prepare to perform, but also how to deliver a little something special. That’s how they separate themselves from the pack. The “something special” isn’t necessarily a dramatic action. Often, little professional consistencies make the difference. Try these, and discover the long term benefit to your reputation and career: · Be on time – for work, meetings, everything – even if the office culture is tolerant of those who are late. · Dress just a little more professionally than the average person at your career level. · Prepare diligently for meetings you attend, and always contribute something. Offer ideas, raise issues, ask good questions for clarification. · Ask your boss how you can help them be more successful. You will most likely not be successful if your boss is always in the weeds. · Come to work every day as fresh and ready to rumble as possible. Those around you can tell who is engaged and who is only going through the motions. · Whenever you deliver a formal document for review by anyone else, be sure it is impeccable. It must be free of spelling and grammatical errors. The formatting of the document should be immaculate. · Always, always, always be thoughtful and professional in regard to what you send via email. · Understand the big picture and how what you do contributes to corporate strategies. · Stay completely beyond reproach in your use of company resources. · Show your appreciation for anything your boss or your company does for you. · Make an effort to continue to grow and learn, even if you have to do it on your own time, with your money. Extra effort is always recognized as a little something special. Be special and be successful.

Shoot the Monkey

A few evenings ago, my husband was telling me about one of his college classes 30 years ago. A law of physics was illustrated by dropping a stuffed monkey from a height and shooting it with a dart gun; demonstrating that the pull of gravity on the dart was the same as that on the monkey, regardless of mass. Therefore, the dart could be aimed directly at the falling monkey – not where one expected the monkey to be – letting gravity do the work. Ron recalls this as the “Shoot the Monkey” lesson. How does a professor manage to imprint a specific class lesson on a student in a way that is memorable 30 years later? This is the art and power of storytelling – a valuable principle well learned by all business professionals. When and how are stories well used? FOR PRESENTATIONS: Presentations must always have a clear purpose. Often, they take place for the purpose of influencing or obtaining approval for action. Your story should paint a clear picture of the current situation and need, bring your solution alive, and describe the new world order once your brilliant idea is funded and adopted. Go beyond dry, boring bullets. Use creative graphics and audio to tell your story and provide a lasting memory. AS MARKETING TOOLS: One obvious example of storytelling in marketing is the Case Study. You’ve given me all the specifications and standard marketing pitch about your product; now tell me a real life story of how it worked for someone. That is compelling! Another opportunity is advertising. I’ve always found commercials that tell a story to be the ones I remember. Have you seen the Brinks (now Broadview) Security commercials where they show lifelike scenarios of scary home break-ins? (There's an example at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28o21UFsmO0. ) If I didn’t already have a security system, I would run straight to the phone to order one. In this case, storytelling makes the danger of being unprotected something to which we can relate. IN MENTORING: Sharing career experiences and wisdom through storytelling is a natural tool in mentoring relationships. “When I started my career 20 years ago…”, “I used to have a boss that told me…”, or “I learned that lesson the hard way when I…” could be the beginning of all kinds of true stories about the successes and foibles of work life. They are an effective and memorable way to provide guidance without directly saying, “You should do this…” or “Be sure not to do that…”. When you have an important message to share, remember “Shoot the Monkey” and find a way to create a memorable communication through storytelling.

More Than A Paycheck - A Passion

Recently, there were two deaths in the news that caught my attention and engaged my emotions. One was the passing of Captain Phil Harris, a 54-year old crab fishing boat captain featured on the Discovery Channel’s “Deadliest Catch”. The other, more violent and tragic, was the accidental death of 40-year old Sea World marine biologist and trainer Dawn Brancheau. Both Captain Phil and Dawn Brancheau could probably have avoided their untimely deaths by changing their professions in order to avoid obvious risk. But all accounts are that they loved their work, understood the risks inherent in their professional lives, and wouldn’t have considered abandoning the careers they loved to sidestep danger. Captain Phil Harris, Captain of the Cornelia Marie, was a chain-smoking, sleep-deprived, stressed-to-the max adrenaline junkie. His lifestyle made his health a ticking time bomb. You know he knew all the risks of crab fishing in the Bering Sea; but he faced them headlong, refusing to compromise on how he lived his life. Captain Phil suffered a stroke while offloading a boatload of crab. A few days later, after being able to spend some time with his family and friends, he passed away. Rest in peace, Captain. Dawn Brancheau’s sister, Diane Gross, said about her sister’s drowning by a killer whale, "Words can't describe the loss that we suffered today, but she lived a full life and she lived life to the fullest.” Her family said she aspired to working with killer whales since her first trip to SeaWorld at 9 years of age. The position she held there for 16 years was her dream job, and Dawn was regarded as highly experienced and at the peak of her field. To her husband, Scott Brancheau, and the rest of Dawn’s family – I am so sorry for your terrible loss. We haven’t all experienced the passion for our careers lived by Captain Phil and Dawn. Yet we work hard for long hours over many years, sacrificing time with our families, and stressing our health to move forward and be “successful”. In the memory of those who died doing what they love, let’s all make time to think about how we can change things to be more in love with what we do. Work is more than a means to a paycheck; it’s a big part of personal fulfillment. Don’t settle for less than finding and exercising your passions through your career. Life is too short.