You're minding your business, and along comes a Dinosaur! I'm talking about those co-workers and managers who have a business philosophy that belongs in the Jurassic era. Here are some thoughts on how to handle 
dinosaurs in the field.
1. Avoidance. Go around, go through, go over. Any way you can avoid the dinosaur. If you can't avoid (your boss perhaps), read on...
2. Find their motivation. This goes for anyone, but is particularly useful for dinosaurs. Are they motivated by self interest and political protectionism alone? Is it fame and recognition they seek? Respect of others? Money? Knowing the motivation helps you craft a strategy to deal with them.
3. Identify their reflection. What does the dinosaur see in the pond? Knowing how they see themselves gets you close to how to deal with them. Play back their reflection to them and they will trust you. Maybe if they trust you, they will leave you to do your work.
4. Maintain the order. Dinosaurs are wed to hierarchy. As unproductive as this can be in a modern collaborative work environment, keeping at least the illusion of order and hierarchy helps them deal.
5. If all else fails, bury them with data. Dinosaurs love certainty and data. If they want to know more about your work, give them all of it. The sheer volume keeps them occupied.
Do you have other tactics for dealing with Dinosaurs in the field? Let me know...
dinosaurs in the field.1. Avoidance. Go around, go through, go over. Any way you can avoid the dinosaur. If you can't avoid (your boss perhaps), read on...
2. Find their motivation. This goes for anyone, but is particularly useful for dinosaurs. Are they motivated by self interest and political protectionism alone? Is it fame and recognition they seek? Respect of others? Money? Knowing the motivation helps you craft a strategy to deal with them.
3. Identify their reflection. What does the dinosaur see in the pond? Knowing how they see themselves gets you close to how to deal with them. Play back their reflection to them and they will trust you. Maybe if they trust you, they will leave you to do your work.
4. Maintain the order. Dinosaurs are wed to hierarchy. As unproductive as this can be in a modern collaborative work environment, keeping at least the illusion of order and hierarchy helps them deal.
5. If all else fails, bury them with data. Dinosaurs love certainty and data. If they want to know more about your work, give them all of it. The sheer volume keeps them occupied.
Do you have other tactics for dealing with Dinosaurs in the field? Let me know...
1 comment:
Good words.
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