Flibbertigibbet

THINK, MAN! THINK!

Inger Insipidemployee is at it again.

I sent a request to my team: Please develop a tool that does X, Y, and Z.

Inger: Would it be ok if it did A and B?

Me: No. X, Y, Z.

Inger: Oh. Well, I think that only a sparkle-widget will work.

Me: If a sparkle-widget will do X, Y, and Z, then that's perfect. Make one. If you can find anything else that will do X, Y, and Z, then that's perfect. Make one. I am less interested in the journey than I am the destination. Let me know when you can show me results.

This is characteristic of how I manage my team: I set broad, non-negotiable performance requirements and then I leave them alone. I judge their performance on how well they meet those requirements and nothing else. I do not interfere or dictate any particular method or approach to their work. I say: Give me X, Y, and Z and you get gold stars.

I realize that this management style does not work for everyone, but to be frank, I don't want to manage people for whom this doesn't work. This management style requires lots of independent thought. It requires that each member of my team operate as a rational, thinking ADULT.

I will not hold your hand. I will not wipe your nose. I will not tell you how to do your job, I will simply tell you TO do your job. If there is any obstacle to you doing your job, tell me. I will move it, remove it, or provide a means of circumventing it. As a manager, I consider it my primary responsibility to make sure my team can do their work. I do not consider it any part of my responsibilities to tell my team HOW to do their work.

Can you hear my frustration here? Can you sense how irritated I am that Inger doesn't get this?