This post has been formulating in my head for a while now, as I thought how much I loved 7 Habits and The 4-Hour Work Week
I mean, the boss who makes a mistake, causes you more work, but never apologizes, or the one that makes you take the fall for his mistake? The one that calls you incessantly, at all hours and at the weekend until your partner begs you to quit? The person who screws up every small task, from booking a car or buying stationary, to transporting something from A to B? The guy who doesn’t run his code before committing it, and doesn’t know what a test case is? The coworker who’s been there 10 years but can’t write an SQL statement? The person who makes their ignorance your problem? The guy you’re continually covering for because his drinking is out of hand?
(Yes these are all situations that either I, or people I know have been in.)
Tribes
And then I thought, what if it’s just a job, not a career?
So? Make change anyway.
I’ve been struggling a bit with the organization of WISE lately – I don’t feel like some people are committed and I’ve ended up micromanaging and I don’t want to! I think this book has given me the answer though – I need to have more faith in what I’m doing and in myself, and lead.
2 replies on “Working With People Who Suck”
Just got a kindle, making the Tribes purchased – thanks for the rec, I think – nervous to read. Weird, but true – I have been thinking about Jerry McGuire lately – I am hoping this book gives me an angle that is a bit more realistic and practical, but with the same heart as the movie. There has to be a way to make important changes without having to be so melodramatic.
Tribes and Leadership Without Title really have the same message – be awesome at whatever it is that you’re doing, wherever you are, and show people by example how they are falling short. I think in situations with good people who have got a little off-path it works. I don’t know about truly dysfunctional situations though.
I love my kindle! If you want to borrow anything I write about ping me and I should be able to send it to you digitally – that is so frickin’ cool!