Balance Points from the Team

Appreciate, Don’t Redecorate

11.15.18

 

Have you ever walked into a house and started redecorating it in your head?

Not in a judgmental way, but maybe you casually imagine different art on the walls, a different color scheme, or maybe you even picture your own furniture in the rooms. Home improvement shows have turned many of us into would-be interior designers and it’s easy to mentally make changes or upgrades that jettison someone else’s tastes in favor of our own. But in doing so, we can miss the intention and soul of the space.

Perhaps the ratty, mismatched chair in the living room isn’t a sure sign of poor taste, but a treasured family heirloom. The overflowing toy box in the corner might look like chaos to some, but to others it’s what makes a house a home.

Being a leader is a little like being a good designer. When someone on your team invites you to observe how they’ve structured their piece of the company, their “room” if you will, it’s important to set aside your expertise for a moment and just dwell in their space.

The children’s minister at my church taught me this important lesson when my son was a teenager. She said that once in a while teens will open a window to their life and the most important thing you can do is appreciate how they’ve arranged their living room. You are a guest so don’t move things, don’t take art off the wall; just admire how they’ve placed everything.

The same holds true in an organizational setting. What appears to be a chaotic staff meeting may in fact be a team working together to bring forth all their best ideas. An occasional long lunch might look like slacking when in reality that mental pause recharges and refocuses.

The point is to honor the notion that there is almost always more than one way to do things rather than trying to get everyone to conform to your style.

In my last blog I talked about taking your team on a cruise; a figurative tour of the “ship” that is your organization. Doing so gives high functioning members of your team a broader, deeper understanding of different aspects of what makes the company run and what keeps it afloat.

This is a great time to share your knowledge, your insight, your nuggets of wisdom. But when you enter a team member’s state room, it’s a whole different ball game. This is not the time to turn things upside down and re-work the flow of the room; this is your turn to observe and to respect the space you’re in. And when you do that, you’ll be amazed at all you will learn.

Click here to learn more about Gary Halverson.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *