In advance of having a recorded conversation with a colleague, on the topic of work relationships, I thought I'd do some homework.
(Now my daughter’s at big school, it’s bringing back all sorts of memories, and I’m starting to appreciate that I’m a swot at heart! 🤓)
See, I had a vague recollection of having read something really helpful, about work relationships, in my all time favourite book*, that I’ve not read for a while.
(so 📚 many 📚 books 📚 to 📚 read)
So I picked it up and refreshed myself, over my morning coffee.
In the chapter entitled Application of Psychological Principles to Organizations, there’s a Case Study of ‘Alan’ – a manager who everybody sees as a difficult boss.
He’s doing his best, but is finding it difficult to get the most out of his staff, because they’re a bit incompetent and they don’t really listen to him. Which he can’t understand, because he’s really, really trying to help them.
Consequently he hates his job. As do all of his staff. And stuff’s beginning to slip through the cracks as a result of this general work-misery.
It’s fascinating and funny. Like all good 3 Principles Case Studies it starts off with everything-is-terrible and ends up with everything-is-awesome. His staff make a big turnaround, he has much better relationships with them and actually gets overheard telling another manager,
“This has been the best year of my career!”
So what the hell happened in the middle?!?!