Karl Edwards presents Working Matters

Author: Karl Edwards

  • When Loyalty Turns Naive

    We’re discussing The Silent Achiever this week. We’re looking at the person who trusts the system to reward his or her performance according to company policy.

    I regularly emphasize self-awareness, because, more often than not, when we feel betrayed by the system it is our own naivety and/or blindness that got us into the position where others can exploit or harm us.

    Let me clarify that I am not blaming the victim here. I am trying to empower those for whom their heightened sense of loyalty and cooperation leads them to trust where trust is not due and who then find themselves overlooked or taken advantage of yet again.

    While systems are designed to be fair in principle, in practice there are a host of complications. Busy supervisors often aren’t aware of your efforts. Ambitious co-workers talk themselves up every chance they get. In these situations, your quiet loyalty has the opposite effect that you intend.

    What you need are ways to keep yourself in your supervisor’s range of vision. Stop by her or his office occasionally to share a bit of news about something you’re working on. Pass along interesting news clips related to your company. Have a weekly, “Thought you’d like to know…” that you use to keep him or her informed. Speak up in meetings, even if just to make a passing comment like, “Good point,” or ask a question.

    Instead of silently cursing the unfair system while congratulating ourselves for our quiet cooperativeness, let’s work on finding more visible expressions of our commitment and loyalty.

    What’s one new way you might show up more visibly? (Without, of course, morphing into the obnoxious co-worker whose form of self-promotion offends you so.)

    On your side,

    – Karl

  • Listen In -> When Playing by the Rules Backfires #2: The Silent Achiever

    You’re convinced the promotion will be yours. After all, you’ve been playing by the rules.

    In this week’s podcast conversation, Claudia and I discuss The Silent Achiever. This person trusts the company processes, procedures and structures. Not ones to brashly draw attention to themselves, they believe their performance will speak for itself.

    They are meeting their goals… exceeding expectations even. They put in extra hours, help others and never questions their boss’s demands.

    How could such exemplary performance possibly backfire? Why are so many silent achievers shocked and dismayed when the promotion keeps going to someone else?

    Listen in. Where do you too naively trust the system to be fair?

  • When Everything You’ve Got is the Bare Minimum

    Sometimes we limit our efforts at work to our job description because we don’t want to step on toes or be perceived as presumptuous.

    Many job descriptions are so full that it takes all we’ve got just to complete our daily responsibilities.

    In our podcast conversation on The Literalist, Claudia are discussing the reality that there are occasions when all you’ve got might be the bare minimum.

    The example I want to talk about today is crunch time. Crunch time is when deadlines get moved forward, and all previous planning no longer applies. Crunch time is when there is an unexpected absence on the team, and their workload needs redistributing.

    There are times when more or different is needed of us. If we do not have eyes to notice these needs, then our faithful fulfillment of our job description risks being interpreted as avoiding work, not being a team player, or doing the bare minimum.

    What we need to do is expand our personal definition of “faithful”, “loyal” and “dedicated” service. Instead of limiting it to the strict fulfillment of our written job description, (which is a good thing), we need to include the fulfillment of the greater goals of the department.

    When we view our job description as one piece of many in the achievement of larger department goals, then we open up new perspectives for viewing how we might best adjust during crunch times.

    Instead of being seen as doing the bare minimum, we are the ones who are making things happen, getting things done, and part of the solution.

    It’s not a matter of choosing between being too self-protective or too self-effacing. It’s a matter of being wise about your involvement given the leaders and team with whom you work. These are different for each of us.

    How do you gauge your supervisor’s perception of you?

  • Loving Monday: The Gift of You

    You are a gift the rest of us need this week.

    On behalf of those you will encounter, thank you for being who you are.

    Thank you for your choices. Thank you for your perspective. Thank you for your working style. Thank you for your demeanor.

    This place would be less without you. Less strong, less rich, less thoughtful, less wise, less bold, less vibrant, less beautiful, less alive.

    You know how many of your particular distinctives are impossible for me to include here. Thank you for every one of them.

    Thank you for showing up today. Thank you for showing up fully yourself. It’s going to be a better week because you are here.

  • Question of the Week

    When faced with unacceptable job performance, do you tend to fire people too quickly or endure too long? How well has this approach served you?

    The Question of the Week is offered to increase awareness of one’s personal leadership practices and encourage experimentation with creative alternatives.

  • What is “Courageous Networking?”

    Insightful Link

    I came across a helpful term this morning. “Courageous networking.”

    People experience networking differently. Some love making new connections. Some can’t stand it.

    If you’ve just been promoted, though, and are learning to function in a new realm of expanded responsibilities, freedoms and pressures, you need as many connections as possible.

    “Courageous networking” has to do with being active and systematic about finding and connecting with the sorts of people you need. Check out William Byham’s post, Just Got Promoted? Network! Network! Network!

    He’s got some specific ideas for what you can do.

    On your side,

    – Karl

  • Listen In -> When Playing by the Rules Backfires #1: The Literalist

    Fulfilling one’s job description is a good thing. Right? Well, not always.

    We begin a new podcast series this week entitled, “When Playing by the Rules Backfires.”

    Wait a minute. Is that possible? I thought we were supposed to play by the rules.

    Yes, but sometimes in doing so we undermine our own effectiveness, sabotage how others perceive us, or forfeit key opportunities.

    Join Claudia and I as we meet and discuss:

    1. The Literalist
    2. The Silent Achiever
    3. The Peacekeeper
    4. The Enforcer
    5. The Rule Keeper

    Today, we meet the Literalist. Join the conversation and listen in.

  • Loving Monday. A New Weekly Feature.

    Getting out of bed on Mondays, is your dominate feeling one of anticipation or dread?

    Do you feel like you’re being drawn into the new week or being dragged into it?

    Today we begin a new weekly series entitled, Loving Monday. Let’s start the week off together with a brief encouragement to step into our weeks with an intention to show up authentically, engage fully, and make it a good week for ourselves.

    Whatever our circumstances, we have choices for how and whether we will engage. By accepting ownership of those choices, we can experience a rich sense of accomplishment in the midst of our complex, if not difficult, lives.

    Let’s encourage each other to step into each Monday determined to greet the week with anticipation, resolve and a good sense of humor.

    Together, I am confident we will look forward to loving Monday!

    On your side,

    – Karl

  • Question of the Week

    While making a decision may cost you if it doesn’t work out, not making a decision will cost your more. How do you quantify the costs of your indecision?

    The Question of the Week is offered to increase awareness of one’s personal leadership practices and encourage experimentation with creative alternatives.

  • Two Keys to Perseverance

    Perseverance is not always a matter of mustering sheer will power.

    While determination on our part is crucial, we come up against obstacles, opposition, and constraints that hold us back, sabotage our efforts and attack our spirit. What once felt like an indomitable fount of energy, creativity and genius slowly crumbles beneath us even as we scramble for higher ground.

    I‘ve been learning that perseverance requires tactical preparedness, as well as inner strengthening.

    More than sheer commitment to our own project or dream, we need to be aware and savvy about the people and forces that work against us. We have to including contingencies in our planning to account for opposition, and initiatives to head off anything we can anticipate in the way of trouble.

    There is no room for naive idealism. To deny the reality of difficulties is to participate in one’s own defeat.

    We also need an inexhaustible spirit and strength of character. Such inner resources don’t appear from nowhere. Two lifelong tasks to this end are: 1.) digging a deep well of resources that restore, refresh and renew you, and 2.) learning to draw on those resources when needed.

    Which is your stronger suit when mustering the determination to push forward in spite of all that would hold you back? Do you lean on your sound planning or your inner tenacity? What might we learn from your success in persevering?