Would
you prefer to watch failure or contribute to success?
In change
management we often talk about three categories of people: those who will make
it happen; those who will let it happen and those who will resist it
happening. The secret to success is
winning the swing voters necessary to tip the balance in favour of change. But
don’t underestimate the difficulty of winning them over!
I have a big white van which is full of stuff for the
commonwealth games and I was trying to reverse into a tight spot. I got out of
the van, looked at the gap, assessed it, got in and moved back a bit more. Then
I got out of the van, looked at the gap, assessed it, got in and moved back a
bit more. I noticed someone watching me struggle to and was annoyed with myself
when I heard a crunch and knew I’d got it wrong.
The person who idly watched me then came over and said “you’ve
hit my car.” I was annoyed with myself but astounded that this person’s interest
was in watching me fail, rather than helping me or indeed acting in his own
interests to safeguard his
car.
I apologised and we chatted as we exchanged details. He
mentioned “things like this always happen to me” and I wondered if it was
because he was someone who just let life happen to him? This was my fault, I
reversed into his car, but he had plenty of opportunity to speak-up and didn’t.
I think there are some good lessons here….
1. Don’t assume people even understand their
interests/risks let alone act on them
2. Don’t underestimate apathy or laziness
(can’t be bothered, someone else’s problem)
3. The success of TV show “You’ve Been Framed”
and most Celebrity Jungle Talent is based on the fact more people are
interested in watching than doing and some have a peculiar satisfaction
watching people fail rather than making their own effort to succeed.
As a result some good actions might be…
a) Actively engage people and explain
risk/rewards and cause/effect
b) Motivate people by identifying their best
interests and helping them act
c) Work hard to create a team culture and
reward for “doing” rather than “watching” and don’t give failure any airtime
for people to gloat, but instead applaud and broadcast action.
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THE AUTHOR
Tim Rogers is an experienced Project and Change Leader.
He is founder of www.ciChange.org and curator for www.TEDxStHelier.Com (next event 11
April 2014). He is Programme Manager for the commercialization of Jersey
Harbours and Jersey Airport. He is also Commonwealth Triathlete and World
Championships Rower with a passion for teaching and learning and is a
Tutor/Mentor on the Chartered Management Institute courses.
Email: TimHJRogers@AdaptConsultingGroup.com
Mob: 07797762051 | Twitter @timhjrogers | Skype
timhjrogers
We are taught to enjoy watching failure by the culture we live in. How else do you account for The Apprentice?
ReplyDeleteJames
An excellent article, and so very true. Too many people sit on the sidelines and watch, and usually they are the ones who are ever so wise after the event.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Sometimes I think there is a fourth category of person - those that say "What happened?"
P.P.S. You displayed admirable restraint in relation to the car owner, but I might have been tempted to provide him with a little frank feedback for his own personal development.