The Common Denominator

This week I wanted to think through a comment that I hear often when coaching or mentoring individuals.

Here is the toned down comment, "My Supervisor is so unthinking! You would not believe what they did!"

Have you ever wondered why it is that the Supervisor of every employee is at the center of the problem? Ask someone about their Supervisor and they have all kinds of things that their Supervisor is doing wrong or that they could do better. Why does the Supervisor take the hit?
Think back to when you were a teenager, how could your parents be so unthinking in their decisions? How could they be such an...?

It stands to reason that the person that directs us in our daily work would be on the receiving end of our frustration and resentment, if prolonged. I have coached and mentored many individuals that it is almost comical how it is that the Supervisor of every one that is employed by someone else can point their finger at their boss and state how, why, and when their boss did something wrong.

Full disclosure...I write this blog from personal experience. From being the Supervisor and from being the person pointing my bony finger at my Supervisor or my Manager and thinking that I know what they should be doing.

Here is what I have come to. I don't really think that my Supervisor wakes up each morning and thinks about how they could do something irrational or stupid to make me look like a fool? As a Supervisor in the past, I know I haven't done that. I will grant you the Peter Principle, that people are promoted to the highest level of incompetence and some Supervisors can be malicious and just as, if not more selfish than us. But I am referring to the good natured individual that we have at work that is really trying to do their best but just can't measure up to our level of perfection.

In all of this, what is the Character Matter?
As an employee or a recipient of work direction, I should have some understanding and compassion for the difficulty that it may be to carry the responsibility of Supervisor or to have to please their boss. I should learn to be understanding and gracious, knowing they are trying their best. How would I want to be viewed if I was the Supervisor?

If you are a Supervisor, guess what? Your direct reports have many ideas on what you can do differently and what you are doing wrong. The Character Matter to work is to ask them on a regular basis how you can improve and for their perspective on the situation. They will be engaged because you asked them and you may be surprised that they may have a good idea.

Where does Character Matter?
Character Matters when a Supervisor does something that is logically inconsistent but I am able to adapt or help them see the impact of their decision by providing pinpointed feedback. Character Matters when my colleagues are complaining at the coffee area and I can try to share an alternate viewpoint that helps them understand the difficulty of supervising. Character Matters when I want to complain about my supervisor and don't because I have blind spots in my life too.

Until next time...