Today I had the pleasure of enjoying a great blog by HR Bartender (I so wish I would have coined that phrase). I would encourage you to sign up for the blog. I also enjoyed some much needed structure therapy (this is a fantastic combination of massage, chiropractic and physical therapy) which addresses my underlying physical issues.
We need different things at different times. Sometimes we don’t know what we need. How can each of these people help?
The Bartender. “I feel bad.” Sometimes we want a bartender to listen to our woes and be sympathetic. We aren’t looking to the bartender to solve the problem, we just want to vent in a safe place.
In your work life this may be a need to vent about an annoying coworker, a ridiculous process, or your frustration with your current role.
The Therapist. “I feel bad” and / or “I want to feel good”. Can you help me? This could be a massage therapist, physical therapist or mental health therapist. While the forward thinking folks among us may proactively tend to their needs, often we wait until there is a problem and we need to “fix” something. These people provide immediate relief and perhaps a course correction.
In your work life, this relief may come from a professional coach or career counselor. For most, it is an intervention that may show up as a problem employee / manager, a desire for a “teambuilding event” to improve the work climate, or a harassment investigation. The right coach is a long term investment in you and your organization – go for it! Unlike a bartender, a coach helps you understand your strengths and weaknesses, helps you discover ways to enhance your situation and/or solve your problem yourself. A team building event or engagement survey is a good way to engage staff or solve a specific problem. This makes us feel good and represents a good faith effort, although we may or may not solve the real problem. Results can be superficial or have a long-lasting impact. It depends.
The Architect. “Let’s make something amazing!” ** The Architect is a designer. If they are a good architect, they design to the client’s expectations, while still challenging the client to envision more and better possibilities. They listen. They create. They design. They produce something that makes sense for that particular client. They do it from a sound foundation of knowledge and with integrity, while remaining faithful to the client’s desires.
In the workplace, this is the “special sauce” that can really impact your people, your culture and your outcomes. It boils down to the courage to clearly articulate values and differentiators, to base your hiring/firing/incentive systems on them, and to eliminate those who do not share your values.
Do you need a drink, a couch or a blueprint? In any of these situations, Roo can help.
** The photo in this post is of the Lake Harriet Band Shell in Minneapolis, MN. To locals, it is nearly as iconic as Prince. It was designed by architect (and my much missed father-in-law) Bob Rietow.
We need different things at different times. Sometimes we don’t know what we need. How can each of these people help?
The Bartender. “I feel bad.” Sometimes we want a bartender to listen to our woes and be sympathetic. We aren’t looking to the bartender to solve the problem, we just want to vent in a safe place.
In your work life this may be a need to vent about an annoying coworker, a ridiculous process, or your frustration with your current role.
The Therapist. “I feel bad” and / or “I want to feel good”. Can you help me? This could be a massage therapist, physical therapist or mental health therapist. While the forward thinking folks among us may proactively tend to their needs, often we wait until there is a problem and we need to “fix” something. These people provide immediate relief and perhaps a course correction.
In your work life, this relief may come from a professional coach or career counselor. For most, it is an intervention that may show up as a problem employee / manager, a desire for a “teambuilding event” to improve the work climate, or a harassment investigation. The right coach is a long term investment in you and your organization – go for it! Unlike a bartender, a coach helps you understand your strengths and weaknesses, helps you discover ways to enhance your situation and/or solve your problem yourself. A team building event or engagement survey is a good way to engage staff or solve a specific problem. This makes us feel good and represents a good faith effort, although we may or may not solve the real problem. Results can be superficial or have a long-lasting impact. It depends.
The Architect. “Let’s make something amazing!” ** The Architect is a designer. If they are a good architect, they design to the client’s expectations, while still challenging the client to envision more and better possibilities. They listen. They create. They design. They produce something that makes sense for that particular client. They do it from a sound foundation of knowledge and with integrity, while remaining faithful to the client’s desires.
In the workplace, this is the “special sauce” that can really impact your people, your culture and your outcomes. It boils down to the courage to clearly articulate values and differentiators, to base your hiring/firing/incentive systems on them, and to eliminate those who do not share your values.
Do you need a drink, a couch or a blueprint? In any of these situations, Roo can help.
** The photo in this post is of the Lake Harriet Band Shell in Minneapolis, MN. To locals, it is nearly as iconic as Prince. It was designed by architect (and my much missed father-in-law) Bob Rietow.