I'm not standing in line!

A while back, I wrote about what prompts some one to quit/move along & look for change!

While working with different departments in the office, I started looking @ employees who have stayed along for 10, 20 & 30 years with my present organisation! Some of them are here for the right reasons... some just don't like change... this prompted me to look @ what makes a job so great and what makes you want to get up every morning looking forward to go to work!

It was not the work itself... but the "worker" that made the difference... that made it remarkable!

What is that sets that "remarkable" worker bee apart from others and make him/her the general and leave the others in the dust???

Celebrate in public, berate in private!

Project management, leadership gurus and every one who sits on a "high" throne, always suggest that you celebrate in public. Go all out and host that surprise party to reward your star performer. Acknowledge that extra effort. A simple thanks when you encounter him/her in the walkway. On the same note, don't publicly praise the shy guy/gal. They will retract into a shell. Take that effort to know your team and understand who prefers to be acknowledged in a private manner.

You want to kick that a#&; in his/her a#&;! Don't do it in the open. Not unless you want to build a reputation as being an a#&; yourself and generate some hate in the departments! Being sensitive has its advantages...you can discuss sensitive issues beforehand and agree to disagree and avoid a potential firestorm!

Think outside the "Box". Was there even a box? Sorry, did not notice it!

Job descriptions - honestly - that's what the HR dept wants to document as a point of reference, for legal requirements. Those who strictly live and die by their job descriptions... they are ones who suffer the most. I've constantly heard folks say - I will not do that... its not in my job description! Hey... I did not ask if you "will" do that... I asked... "can" you do that job... do you want to learn? Do you want to be known as the "stone wall", or do you want to be the one who is knows as the person who will tackle the job, because it is the need of the hour? When a project is in jeopardy, its the "do"-er who will jump in, just because it needs to be done!

Some times, this can be seen as a#& licking by those who stick by the code of the "job description"! Let them be... they will learn when they have to report to you & understand the difference between taking the horse by its reigns and being an a#&!

"Wacko Jacko" - thats me! Mellow, yellow... sure!

Do you have the disheveled, unkempt, quirky, often "different", team member? Pay attention, they are the ones who have the "out of the world" ideas, which just seem to work! They will be a delight to work with, if you can get off your high horse of how a person should look like & behave!

People who don't care about the boundaries of things often end up challenging what is norm and are able to look for solutions well beyond the realm of where ordinary worker bees stop!

Shall I hold my pinky high while drinking high tea ma'am?

On the flip side, the same Whacko Jacko, if s/he knows what works and what doesn't, (with people), will know when to put on the "normal" suit, and blend right into the crowd and be a team member :). Now achieving that balance, is what makes Jacko, "Mr. Jacko"!

I'm the fiddler!

Don't let the child in you die, as you mature! The day you stop asking questions, just because no one else is asking, you kill the inquisitiveness, you kill the desire to know! As long as you have that one curious person, it will always be a fun day! S/He just cannot stop changing things, because they asked a question and the answer led to a change, which will eventually lead to success!

Silence is golden?

The fiddlers are usually the quiz masters. They cannot and will not keep quite! Not every one will go with the flow and nod their heads to the directions given!

"What will happen if I take the turn here and not 10 miles from here?"

They are the ones who will not hesitate to speak up when they think that some thing is wrong. I've seen a 2 day old (2 days in the company) employee, question the CIO during a townhall session, just because he thought that the suggestions did not meet the company's vision! Turns out, he was right, & the CIO had missed out on a critical piece of the puzzle! Bravo for him.

You are on!

I spite thee, you doubter! Just because some one with years of experience says it cannot be done, does not mean it cannot be done! Taking on challenges is like being on an adrenalin rush to these guys! Knowledge is a must, but sometimes, it ends up becoming a hindrance to reach the goal! Remember the little girl in the Matrix movie, telling Neo to unlearn what he knew, so that he can bend the spoon? Remarkable employees have the urge, the innate desire to show good results, that they do not let traditional learning or knowledge slow them down!