Seth’s Blog almost nails it with this one: its your choice to make your work look effortless. Left unsaid is that you also can, and should, actively reduce your vulnerability to others’ drama.
A company commander or team leader will work to mitigate risk and reduce exposure to accomplish their mission and keep soldiers safe. Likewise, you and I must actively work to reduce our vulnerability to the things that impede success: distractions, lightbulbs, middle men, yellow lights, and most of all, drama.
This include the drama your life injects into the workplace, as well as the types of non-dramatic people you choose to do great work alongside.
You make the decision on how much drama you allow, foster or participate in.
Everybody has their shit, and so will you. Do you have a relentless focus on mission or are you happy to engage in destructive water cooler talk?
Drama is the shit that comes up but ought not detract from your team’s momentum. Much of it grows from ego, vanity, or a lack of confidence. Some examples:
- a constant need for pep talks or attention
- gossip
- repeated mistakes, and failure to learn from those mistakes
- inability to resolve or move past daily squabbles
- thin skin and hurt feelings
- failure to take action when one knows what to do
- long e-mail chains where a phone call would solve the problem
- slobbishness
- hiding or hoarding information
Its very easy, even exciting, to add input, tolerate or foster drama in your workplace. You have to make deliberate decisions to avoid and discourage it.
When a team mate’s recurring drama forces them past a threshold where they are no longer adaptable, don’t take self-starter actions, or don’t seem to want to be there, it’s time for a leader talk. Ask the right questions. Are they capable of thriving in your environment? After all, we prefer smaller, busier teams.
Most importantly, don’t look in the mirror one day and catch yourself injecting drama into your team. Work hard, above all else. Make it a hard exception that drama detract from your workday … and balance it with your aforementioned focus on mission.
Drama sucks. Get away from it.
Critical clarification: Drama comes in many fashions, but don’t compare it to Real Tragedies like life-changing injuries or sicknesses, family hardships, or major career adjustments.
(Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Mikki Sprenkle, DVIDS)
