Don’t Let Your Derailers Steer You Off Track
The Selfies are common everyday people, some of them might even sound familiar. Just like everyone, they have to combat derailers. How can they bring their best self to work? Interact with the player cards to find out!
Meet The Selfies
DETAILED DAKOTA
Can she step out of the weeds to focus on the big picture when a strategic challenge hits her division head on?
DETAILED DAKOTA
Dakota is a perfectionist. She pays close attention to the smallest details and continuously revises and edits her team’s work. Dakota’s team was assigned a new project that is supposed to result in a significant change in the direction of the organization. Dakota has her team focused on perfecting individual parts of the project, but she has not conceptualized or communicated how these pieces come together to meet their long-term goals.
What went wrong?
Dakota was derailed by her high preference for attention to detail. Dakota got bogged down in executing tactics at the expense of thinking strategically.
How can Dakota enhance her leadership?
Dakota should take more time to focus on and communicate how the long-term, strategic needs of the organization are achieved through the tasks and activities her team needs to tackle.
What went wrong?
Dakota was derailed by her high preference for attention to detail. Dakota got bogged down in executing tactics at the expense of thinking strategically.
How can Dakota enhance her leadership?
Dakota should take more time to focus on and communicate how the long-term, strategic needs of the organization are achieved through the tasks and activities her team needs to tackle.
TASK-FOCUSED TREVOR
Can Trevor support members of his team while also making sure that things get done?
TASK-FOCUSED TREVOR
Trevor is a Director of Operations and leads a large team. His focus is on getting things done, and his interactions with employees are almost exclusively around who is doing what, and when. During the pandemic Trevor’s team faced many adversities, and Trevor was solely focused on the tasks that needed to be accomplished. He did not spend time checking in on how team members were doing personally, and came across as indifferent and uncaring. People were left feeling as if Trevor didn’t care about them, but only what they could accomplish for him. This approach negatively impacted the sense of community and engagement in his team.
What went wrong?
Trevor was derailed by low concern for others. He did not pay enough attention to the individual and unique needs of his team members.
How can Trevor enhance his leadership?
Trevor should take time to consider how others may be feeling, especially when they are encountering difficulties. He can strengthen his work relationships by asking people how they are doing, and providing appreciation and support.
What went wrong?
Trevor was derailed by low concern for others. He did not pay enough attention to the individual and unique needs of his team members.
How can Trevor enhance his leadership?
Trevor should take time to consider how others may be feeling, especially when they are encountering difficulties. He can strengthen his work relationships by asking people how they are doing, and providing appreciation and support.
MICROMANAGER MIKE
Can Mike let employees complete their work without looking over their shoulder and questioning everything they do?
MICROMANAGER MIKE
Mike has recently been promoted to lead the team he previously worked in. Mike makes sure to instruct his team on how to complete each task the way he did them when he was in their position. He supervises his employees closely, asking them to CC him on emails and run all decisions past him for approval. Mike’s team members feel a significant lack of autonomy and trust – they get frustrated when Mike checks-in on them all the time. Mike’s team is also struggling to get things done in a timely fashion because he needs to be involved in everything.
What went wrong?
Mike has been derailed by his high preference for control. He is micromanaging his team and their engagement is declining as a result.
How can Mike enhance his leadership?
Mike needs to give his team members more independence to make decisions and learn from their own mistakes. Without extending this trust, he will struggle to scale the efforts of his team members.
What went wrong?
Mike has been derailed by his high preference for control. He is micromanaging his team and their engagement is declining as a result.
How can Mike enhance his leadership?
Mike needs to give his team members more independence to make decisions and learn from their own mistakes. Without extending this trust, he will struggle to scale the efforts of his team members.
AMBITIOUS ANNE
Will her competitive zeal derail her ability to collaborate with others?
AMBITIOUS ANNE
Anne sets challenging goals and is relentlessly competitive. Her motto is “In it to win it!” When opportunities arise to take on projects that will advance her career, she quickly jumps on them. At the same time, she avoids low-profile tasks as much as possible. While successful on small projects that allow her to work independently, Anne’s approach comes at the cost of positive relationships with her colleagues – they see her as aggressive, selfish and uncooperative.
What went wrong?
Anne is getting derailed by her high ambition and personal drive. This hampers her ability to work with people on tasks that require collaboration and provide shared wins.
How can Anne enhance her leadership?
Anne needs to consider how her personal goals can be better achieved through teamwork. By focusing on team wins, rather than individual wins, she can build better relationships and achieve more.
What went wrong?
Anne is getting derailed by her high ambition and personal drive. This hampers her ability to work with people on tasks that require collaboration and provide shared wins.
How can Anne enhance her leadership?
Anne needs to consider how her personal goals can be better achieved through teamwork. By focusing on team wins, rather than individual wins, she can build better relationships and achieve more.
INNOVATIVE IVEY
When a standard procedure is working fine will her desire to implement new ideas just waste everyone’s time?
INNOVATIVE IVEY
Ivey is the CEO of a trendy health food brand. Her innovation is the reason behind the company’s success. She thinks outside the box and is willing to consider farfetched, even impractical ideas. Even though the manufacturing plant is working well, Ivey often has new and unproven ideas that she wants implemented. Her employees put significant time into figuring out how to incorporate these changes, only for Ivey to bring in another idea that forces them to change yet again. The lack of consistency and structure has resulted in frequent manufacturing problems and delays.
What went wrong?
Ivey was derailed by her high preference for innovation. Her dislike of routine and consistency resulted in unnecessary change and the lack of consideration of the practical steps necessary to implement her ideas.
How can Ivey enhance her leadership?
Before committing to a new idea or approach, Ivey should ask herself if it is overly idealistic or impractical. Does it offer the best solution, or is she simply drawn to it because it is new?
What went wrong?
Ivey was derailed by her high preference for innovation. Her dislike of routine and consistency resulted in unnecessary change and the lack of consideration of the practical steps necessary to implement her ideas.
How can Ivey enhance her leadership?
Before committing to a new idea or approach, Ivey should ask herself if it is overly idealistic or impractical. Does it offer the best solution, or is she simply drawn to it because it is new?
FREAKOUT FRED
When difficult situations arise, can Fred learn to keep his emotions in check?
FREAKOUT FRED
Fred describes himself as passionate and outspoken. Those around Fred describe him as temperamental and someone who gets easily upset. People avoid bringing him bad news since his reactions are intense and sometimes volatile. Fred now finds himself learning about problems at the last minute; while his team members look to others for level-headedness in the face of challenges.
What went wrong?
Fred was derailed by his low self-control. He overreacts to events rather than addressing problems in a constructive fashion.
How can Fred enhance his leadership?
Fred should take time to consider what people are saying, and filter his thoughts, before reacting. He can always come back to the issue when he has had some time to process the situation and feels calm.
What went wrong?
Fred was derailed by his low self-control. He overreacts to events rather than addressing problems in a constructive fashion.
How can Fred enhance his leadership?
Fred should take time to consider what people are saying, and filter his thoughts, before reacting. He can always come back to the issue when he has had some time to process the situation and feels calm.
What’s Your Work Personality?
Everyone has a personality, but not everyone knows how to bring their best self to work. Self-awareness is the first step in developing high potentials.
