I've never thought of this before but I am sure that just like there are different learning styles, I am sure there are different responses to leadership based on the person. I'd have to research and read up on it but one thing I have noticed that probably doesn't change is the importance of effective communication. I work in a facility with nearly 100 other people. Roughly 6 people or so manage the group in various forms and capacities. As you can imagine each of the 100 people that I work with have their own way of going about their work and their own way of measuring their success. Now, you have to take into account that this is a job, some people are here for the paycheck. Some are here to learn, some are here for the experience, and so on.
However, while we are okay with peoples motivation being different. Think about that, you are given a task to do, say paint a wall. Sounds simple enough, so I take my paint brush with a couple quick rolls most of the wall is painted and looks okay but you on the other hand go and get the paper and tape and tape the edges, place paper on the floor for any drips or spills, get a smaller brush to go around and get all of the corners and trim painted nicely and all the way to the end, and then finish with a couple of coats of paint. Both of us painted the wall and depending on who you are you may say one was more successful than the other.
I wrote a post before about a guy I work with that is lazy. While all of those that work around him know that, and even the manager knows that, no one has done anything about it. I understand that managers are busy and they have things they need to do and get done and they don't always have the time to be standing over us, making sure that we are working, no one like to be micro-managed. But, having some effective communication about what things need to get done and how they need to be done can go a long way.
I think about this all of the time with my kids. When you have 3 kids under the age of 4, things take longer to do. Yes, my kids recognize and hear the words I am telling them, but they rarely understand what I am saying. How many times have you caught yourself getting anger and frustrated when you told some one to paint a wall? For kids, they don't know where to begin when it comes to painting a wall so taking time to demonstrate, show them, maybe watch a youtube video, or read a story about it. While there may be various leadership styles and learning methods, learning how to communicate our thoughts and desires so we are understood has to be close to the top of that list.
However, while we are okay with peoples motivation being different. Think about that, you are given a task to do, say paint a wall. Sounds simple enough, so I take my paint brush with a couple quick rolls most of the wall is painted and looks okay but you on the other hand go and get the paper and tape and tape the edges, place paper on the floor for any drips or spills, get a smaller brush to go around and get all of the corners and trim painted nicely and all the way to the end, and then finish with a couple of coats of paint. Both of us painted the wall and depending on who you are you may say one was more successful than the other.
I wrote a post before about a guy I work with that is lazy. While all of those that work around him know that, and even the manager knows that, no one has done anything about it. I understand that managers are busy and they have things they need to do and get done and they don't always have the time to be standing over us, making sure that we are working, no one like to be micro-managed. But, having some effective communication about what things need to get done and how they need to be done can go a long way.
I think about this all of the time with my kids. When you have 3 kids under the age of 4, things take longer to do. Yes, my kids recognize and hear the words I am telling them, but they rarely understand what I am saying. How many times have you caught yourself getting anger and frustrated when you told some one to paint a wall? For kids, they don't know where to begin when it comes to painting a wall so taking time to demonstrate, show them, maybe watch a youtube video, or read a story about it. While there may be various leadership styles and learning methods, learning how to communicate our thoughts and desires so we are understood has to be close to the top of that list.
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