Gepubliceerd opPosted on 31 July 2018
Fer de Jong Jongert

There are a lot of people-related issues in organisations. Often, these issues are not solved, but work is built around them. There are entire kingdoms built around issues. Drinking one cup of coffee between two people can often solve an issue, but this seems to be too hard. We see it, look at it and live on with it! Day-in-day-out a painful scene that gives little energy.

Being truly yourself, showing you completely, is challenging in work situations. In addition to a position, such as manager, analyst or assistant, which you have received upon entry, you will have to face strategies, rules of conduct, values, team dynamics. There are all kinds of “boxes” full of expectations from you and waiting for you, even before you are inside.

The only thing you can do within a “box” is to just adjust yourself. Being completely yourself, and being able to show and contribute your personal strengths completely, is possible in a worn-out form. The space to bring in You is simply too limited. And precisely this limited space offered, prevents an organisation from a highest gear state. Organisations do not unleash their full human potential.

When a project is formed, it is not first checked which personal strengths are needed to do this project properly. Organisations split work, tasks and projects, based on positions. I call this Position Thinking.

Financial tasks go to the Finance Manager, sales-related matters to the Sales Manager and human-related topics to the HR Manager. Assuming that these persons have all personal strengths needed, to bring this task, as good as possible, to a success.

Because organisations split work based on positions, you immediately create extra work. In addition to carrying out the new task or project (the actual task), the appointed person is starting to be very busy “acting As-If” you have all the personal strengths that are necessary to bring this task to a success. A lot of energy goes into the “acting As-If” you have those personal strengths, which you do not. This energy and effort can be seen as direct “Waste”. A person in a “As-If” mode simply does not have these strengths.

For example: a new IT project is assigned to a person who has previously been an IT project manager for an entirely different IT project. This person is given the responsibility for the project, and upon appointment immediately feels the assumption, that he must have all the personal strengths, needed to make this specific project a success.

In addition to the actual task, much of his time and energy is set to “act As-If” he has personal strengths, that he does not have.

The disappointment is great, and this often arises quickly, if it turns out that this person does not perform as expected. The “acting As-If” of this manager appears to be paying off too little.

This example happens every day. Because the focus is on position thinking, organisations create an incorrect start full of expectations for the assigned person. Immediately people issues arise.

How to Tackle People Issues at the Start?

Instead of position thinking, look at the work that needs to be done and how to bring this to a success, before you assign to a person. Now using a “Better Together” mindset.

If an organisation, and therefore a team, has a “Better Together” mindset to make maximum use of all necessary personal strengths to bring Best Result, you can avoid people issues right from the start.

“Better Together” Mindset stands for: All available personal strengths of any individual in the organisation are known and openly shared. We make active use of our personal strengths in any task or project that the organisation is working on.

For example, there is a question to work differently, more effectively, with each other throughout the whole organisation and this is being asked to a management team. Who is going to manage this project?

From a “Better Together” mindset this means: Which personal strengths do we need to the maximum to make this task as successful as possible? These can be, for example, facilitating, connecting, addressing. Because the organisation and the collaborators work from “Best Self” and personal strengths, it is easy to make a match, who you need for this. Instead of traditionally appointing a person, persons will actively stand-up and offer their personal strengths. Everyone wants to help and is willing to step forward when you are asked to contribute personal strengths.

And do not think about having only 1 person willing to take on this task. By having more than 1 person available stepping forward, you all are immediately in the process of forming the Best Team for this task. Instead of, how it almost everywhere goes: “Oh, this is about people and working together, then the HR Manager is the right person!”

Working in a “Better Together” mindset, Best Self and personal strengths, bring Recognition (You are asked about and seen in your personal strengths!), Satisfaction (You can contribute!), Involvement (The use of your and your team mate’s personal strengths provide a demonstrably Better Result) and Appreciation (The synergy pays off and visibly delivers the Best Result).

The focus on team mates change. The team mate is now being seen by others for what he or she can bring in personal strengths, to create that Better Together.

A “Better Together” mindset brings a commitment to make full use all your personal strengths. Personal strengths that you do not have, you can easily ask from others. Negative and wasted energy from your effort on “acting As-If”, turns into a positive and activating energy that supports realizing goals.

Bringing what you are very good at, your Best Self, is the basis of appreciation, passion, craftsmanship, meaning and enthusiasm. The best thing that brings this way of working is that you create Best Result really together. You need each other’s Best for the full 100%.

Personal strengths that you do not have, you can easily ask others. And what you asks is delivered! Besides trust, this provides confidence and safety.

By being open about what your Best Self is, your personal strengths are and how to bring these into the team, you create together a well-being trust, safety and openess.

The basis for every winning team!

Click here for more information how to create a Better Together mindset.

Being your Best Self builds the Best Team, bringing Best Result in the Best Well-Being.

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *