How You Do Anything Is How You Do Everything
This statement keeps proving itself to be true. It runs through my mind every time I figure out that someone is clearly not giving even a perfunctory effort. If it does not affect me, I don't worry about it. But when it does affect me, what do I do?
This happens all the time in your business. One person is dialing it in while everyone else has to pick up the slack.
This past week, I saw it and came to a realization: We taught the person how to treat us.
I was on a team and there was a clear weak link who missed every deadline and wasted our time. She actually never did anything, but inserted herself at the forefront for all external communication. And guess what? The rest of us let her.
I brought it up in a call and these are real quotes: "Let it go", "That is just Jane", or "Don't start a fight with her". She should have been called out, but I was not the lead and we were under a tight deadline. She sucked the life and energy out of us, who had to do her work in addition to ours because we took pride in our work and she was content to let us do it.
In my world, one with integrity and with people held accountable, I would have asked her what she is gaining by making us work harder and longer while she sits back and takes up our time? Does she think that we do not see what she is doing? But none of this happened. Instead, we met the deadline. Nothing else seemed to matter.
However, as a professional, the need to keep your word and perform to your best self is important. Few people remember good performance, but everyone will remember the person who dropped the ball, was difficult to work with, and who made the rest of the team scramble to cover for them.
What I re-learned from this event, as I have faced this too many times in group projects, is the following:
- Clear assignments and clear deadlines are needed
- Hold people responsible for meeting them with quality input
- If someone is slacking, tell them.
- If they cannot perform, they are out.
Sounds harsh, but if you don't actively manage the expectations, people will take advantage of the slack and continue to do as little as possible. You teach people how to treat you. If you let it go, they will take that as permission to do as little as possible. If you call it out, the boundary is set. This will not make you popular, but your boundaries are more important than the power trip of a slacker. Think about it... would you rather be liked or would you rather have the work done without any drama and last minute scramble to catch up from someone who does not respect you and your time? Easy decision.
Here is an opportunity to shine. Don't half-ass it! Reach out at https://www.calendly.com/libby-coaching or [email protected].