The Other ".1%"

So I wasn't the only one bothered by "others." At this time, I was working on a team assigned the redesign of departmental workflow. My teammates were irritating me and I decided to chat with my manager about our problems.

After I explained the dynamics in the group, he looked over his glasses at me and said, "After employees have basic organizational training, have updated technical skills, and are supplied adequate equipment, money should be spent on people skills."

He canceled the order for new laptops, which we all desperately wanted, and sent my team to a communication class.

Big lesson. Don't get your order for new laptops cancelled. Instead, brush up your People Skills. People Skills are more important to your job than IQ, and the good news is-they can be learned and they can grow, unlike IQ.

John Andrew Holmes made the observation that "It is well to remember the entire universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others."

The actor, Alan Alda, has given us this advice on getting along with "others." He said, "Your assumptions are your windows to the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won't come in."

One People Skill that helps you scrub off your windows is to understand that there are two types of thinkers in the world, vertical thinkers and horizontal thinkers.

Vertical thinkers dive right into decisions, wanting to get the task done in the fastest way possible. Their logic breaks ideas and things down into neat little boxes and eliminates all the obstacles on the way to completion.

Horizontal thinkers gather information, evaluate angles, and contemplate possibilities. Then their logic finds the common thread and ZAP, they are done.

One thinking style is not right and the other wrong. They are just different. The problem comes in perceived efficiency. At the beginning of a project, the vertical thinker is already finding the fastest way to completion and believes the horizontal thinker is ruminating, munching and chewing things up much too long.

In reality, greater effectiveness would result if the thinking patterns were combined. For instance, an organization I consulted with needed a new marketing manager. The vertical thinkers on the team wanted to call an executive search firm, get resumes sent over and start interviewing-today. The horizontal thinkers were highly disturbed because they wanted to evaluate the direction of the company, the duties of the new position, and what qualities they wanted in a marketing manager. At the point of absolute stalemate, I got the call.

I pointed out that while the vertical thinkers might get things going with a bang, their fast pace would come to an abrupt halt at the end of the project, when they had to evaluate all of the points the horizontal thinkers wanted to make up front. I helped the horizontal thinkers realize the need for efficiency and deadlines and that their contemplations needed to have the edge of urgency.

So while the horizontal thinkers thought through the guidelines, the vertical thinkers rounded up a few resumes, just to see what was available and to evaluate the various skill sets listed on the resumes. It worked! In two weeks they had a new marketing manager in place.

Next time you are irritated because someone is not moving at the pace or in the direction you think is best, scrub off your window. Look at the suggestions and thinking style of the "other" person. That "other .1%" might provide the "light" to an improved way to the completion of your project.

RESOURCE
Karla Brandau, CSP is a speaker, trainer & successful entrepreneur. She is "A wealth of empowerment information" who provides "real help, not theory" to improve, enhance & energize your leadership skills. Visit her website for free energizers and program information - boost YOUR people skills today! www.timeforresults.com