It's the Little Things
So this week we're talking about former C students as well as the stuff that can trip up even the most skilled employee, the one with an impeccable record of employment and references that you could write home about. But they may suffer from smaller but powerful and potentially destructive characteristics. Maybe you have a colleague who swears whenever he gets nervous. Perhaps another can't stop herself from gossiping about her nemesis down the hall. Or you never know when the manager who's been there forever is going to blow his stack. Folks, these are not good qualities, but they're very human responses. Still, each type of behavior can spell disaster, or, more specifically, eventual unemployment.
So let's get back to those C students for a minute. Haven't heard from the author I mentioned, but I want to say one quick thing before I return to the bit about getting tripped up by one of those bugaboo bad habits. People, kids in high school really, get Cs for all sorts of reasons. They may be distracted by stuff going on at home or perhaps a learning disability was never picked up. The point is: getting one or more Cs in high school isn't necessarily a predictor of how someone is going to do in life. Really, what did we know when we were in high school? When I think about what I thought about when I was 16, 17, 18, I sort of cringe, because on many days I wasn't thinking about much. Now I think all the time and not thinking sounds pretty good sometimes, but that's another story.
Okay, I know I'm flipping back and forth a lot, but now I'm really going to stick with those bad habits I was talking about before and why they shouldn't be ignored. For years, companies put up with bullies, shy employees who don't make the calls they should, those who are so disorganized that their messes spill over into other people's work lives. We call it poor performance or we rationalize, especially when we're talking about those who are gifted in other ways, that "it's just the way they are" as if their behavior has no chance of changing. We don't do any favors for people who are gifted but lack certain characteristics that keep them from reaching their potential. No one likes confrontation, but isn't that what human resources is for? I'm kidding. Sort of. Ultimately, we are responsible for ourselves, our actions, our words, our behaviors. Our colleagues and supervisors should be able to talk with us honestly and have the courage to tell us when we need to grow up, shut up, or sit tight. But as I said, ultimately it's our job to say these things to ourselves.
Here's my pet peeve about me: sometimes I get so excited about what I'm hearing I interrupt the person who's talking to ask another question. I love learning, but I love even more knowing that I'm not being a pig when it comes to talking too much. It's something I'm working on. What are you working on?
