#117: Specializing in nonsense
Quite a number of years ago Adam Smith pointed out that the reason the division of labor leads to greater productivity is because it allows people to specialize and become very good at what they do. Today we take it for granted that specialization, created by the division of labor within teams, will result in productivity gains. But should we take this for granted?
Too often, at least for my liking, I encounter teams that allow people to specialize in nonsense, and to become very good at it too. There are two main reasons why this happens:
(1) Team members forget why the team exists in the first place and
(2) team members prize team cohesion above speaking out against nonsense.
When why the team exists begins to matter less than that the team exists, you have a team which has become very good at.... But I’m sure you can figure that out for yourself.
I’m james@nonsenseatwork.comCopyright: 2007 James Henry McIntosh
James can be heard on Public Radio, 88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA.
Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am
#116: Workers want to be plugged in
Are you one of those people who worry that your work is not staying at work, where it belongs, but following you into your private life? Yes, it is true that you no longer need to be at your desk to get work done. And, yes again, you can blame it on improvements in communications systems and the wide-spread use of mobile communications devices.
But it seems as if the opposite is actually happening. Managers should worry more about private communications invading the workplace. Today, workers expect to be plugged into their social networks while at work, whether by e-mail, instant messaging or mobile phone.
According to the Economist magazine, workers at a food-processing factory near Geneva revolted last year when the director tried to ban mobile phones from the factory floor. The workers argued that they wanted to be reachable during the day, just as people are who sit at desks. The director was forced to relent.
I’m james@nonsenseatwork.comCopyright: 2007 James Henry McIntosh
James can be heard on Public Radio, 88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA.
Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am
#115: Learning to let go
One reason why the nonsense at work gets out of control is that most of us have a tendency to stay stuck in the past.
We hang on too long when things begin to look bad, instead of letting go. We stay committed to a course of action even when negative feedback warns us that we should not. Here are four reasons why we do this:
(1) we have a tendency to seek out information that supports our own argument, and to discount information that does not;
(2) we have a tendency to distort any new information so that it appears more in line with our initial thinking;
(3) we don’t want to lose face if we were publicly involved with the initial decision; and
(4) my favorite, the sunk-cost trap – we tend to hang in because of money that we have already spent.The surest way to get unstuck is to stop this nonsense by updating your initial beliefs in the face of new information.
I’m james@nonsenseatwork.comCopyright: 2007 James Henry McIntosh
James can be heard on Public Radio, 88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA.
Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am
#114: Migrants are early adopters
Did you know that migrants, rather than geeks, are the most advanced users of new communication tools? This is the finding of research conducted by Stefana Broadbent, an anthropologist who leads the User Adoption Lab at Swisscom, Switzerland's largest telecoms operator.
The reason is that dispersed families with strong ties and limited resources need communication tools which are cheap or free, such as voice-over- internet, instant messaging and webcams.Here are two examples. A Spanish family living in Switzerland has a daughter who often does her homework with her aunt. The catch is that her aunt lives in Spain and so they use a free Skype video-link. And a family of immigrant workers from Kosovo living in Switzerland has installed a big computer screen in their living room. Almost every morning they have breakfast with their grandmother back home, via a webcam.
Are you ready for a video breakfast with your boss?
I’m james@nonsenseatwork.comCopyright: 2007 James Henry McIntosh
James can be heard on Public Radio, 88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA.
Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am
#113: Where nonsense is at work
In between the two hierarchical extremes of executive floor and factory floor, of suite and cubicle, is where nonsense is at work. In the middle are the people who want to protect the hierarchy because they dream of securing more of its power and rewards.
(What about the people at the bottom and at the top? The people at the bottom are pressured into submission by the hierarchy and the people at the top are immune to any form of pressure – mainly because they are exerting the pressure.)This is how the middle-people protect the hierarchy: The middle-people are charged with translating the vision from above into instructions, rules and regulations. These instructions, rules and regulations are supposedly designed to make it easier to execute the strategy. In reality, though, they do little more than to protect the hierarchy for those engaged in climbing it.Before you say, “Nonsense!”, I suggest that you study your policies and procedures more carefully.
I’m james@nonsenseatwork.comCopyright: 2007 James Henry McIntosh
James can be heard on Public Radio, 88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA.
Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am
#112: Yawning is a compliment
Picture this. You’re leading an important meeting when someone yawns. How do you react? Do you get angry because you think the person is bored and rude? Or do you continue, knowing that you have just been paid a compliment?
Excuse me? Yawning is a compliment? Yes, according to a recent article in Evolutionary Psychology. After conducting experiments, researchers at the University of Albany in New York concluded that yawning actually helps the brain to stay alert.We believe that people yawn because they need oxygen. Instead, people yawn when they need to send cool blood to their brain for optimal mental functioning.What if others at your meeting now start yawning? Well, it appears that group yawning may be a mechanism to help a group stay alert in the face of danger. So, if your team yawns, take it as a compliment that they understand the need to stay alert in the presence of the alpha dog.
I’m james@nonsenseatwork.comCopyright: 2007 James Henry McIntosh
James can be heard on Public Radio, 88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA.
Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am
#111: Explaining nonsense at work
It’s time for me to explain why I focus on nonsense at work. The term ‘nonsense’ describes absurd, ridiculous, foolish or meaningless words, ideas, or conduct. Nonsense is purely subjective: you are likely to see ‘nonsense’ when you disapprove of it. (For example, you might disapprove of the word ‘bull’, although others use it to indicate nonsense.)
The problem with nonsense is that it side-tracks you from your work, tricks you into wrong decisions, and trips you up short of your goals. Nonsense stops you from being successful.Nonsense is always at work. It never stops. That’s the bad news. The good news is that there is always some sense in nonsense, if you look for it. And if you are willing to look for it, time and again you will find that you can make the nonsense at work – work for you.You see, nonsense has a purpose. It works at getting you to change your ways.
I’m james@nonsenseatwork.comCopyright: 2007 James Henry McIntosh
James can be heard on Public Radio, 88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA.
Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am
#110: Taking a break
Welcome back from your holiday – if you had one. Did you know that America is the only rich country that does not give any statutory paid holidays? That is, holidays that you are required by law to take.
Finland gives more paid statutory holidays per year than any other country in the rich world. This ensures that the average Finn gets a total of 44 days off, including annual leave and public holidays.
Even Britain isn’t stingy. British citizens get 8 statutory public holidays. But then, most European countries allow more than four weeks minimum required by th European Union.
What about the world's biggest economies, namely America and Japan? Well, Japanese workers get 18 days off and American workers get around 14 days. As I said, welcome back. Someone has to pay the price for keeping this one the biggest economy in the world.
I’m james@nonsenseatwork.comCopyright: 2007 James Henry McIntosh
James can be heard on Public Radio, 88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA.
Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am
#109: Dr Wally's Final 'Parting Shot'
Here is Dr Wally’s Final Parting Shot: Be careful out there – don’t work hard. Working hard gets you two things – more work and tired.
I have met many people who carry on as if working hard is an end in itself. They seem to focus more on what they are doing than on why they are doing it, on busy-ness instead of on achievement.Surely, it makes more sense to be clear on the outcome you want and then to work in a manner that gets the most out of your efforts. In other words, work smart.According to Dr Wally, working smart means you are working to a plan; you are committed to getting it done; you monitor what you do and make adjustments; and you keep learning what works, or does not work, for you.Now you know what lazy people, like me, already know: Your success is determined, not by how hard you work, but by how smart you work.
I’m james@nonsenseatwork.comCopyright: 2007 James Henry McIntosh
James can be heard on Public Radio, 88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA.
Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am
