Why We Look For Cheese In All The Wrong Places
Here is a typical pattern….
We learn a ‘craft’ in school… marketing, finance, accounting, etc. And we receive positive feedback (good grades) when we effectively demonstrate our knowledge of this craft, and negative feedback (bad grades) when we don’t.
We then receive our first job and begin to practice our craft. Once again, rewards are based on demonstrating our knowledge of this craft. Eventually, however, we are asked to get things done through others (even in a matrix organization). When we run into difficulties, what do we do? Just like a mouse in a maze, we do what we always did for rewards, we get better at our craft. It only makes sense… this is what always worked in the past.
Only this time it won’t help us much.
Because what we are being asked to do is not something we were ever taught to do, or even thought was that important to learn, given that our reward system always revolved around our craft.
Getting things done through others isn’t something we come out of the womb knowing how to do. If you want to set your new supervisor up for success, train her. Mentor her. Set up regular meetings to work on difficulties she may be having.
And design her reward system around her ability to get things done through others.
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