Can You Speak Human?

Can you speak human?

This question popped in my head the other day as I was thinking about the central affliction in the organizational environment, including the technology space, between getting work done and recognizing that there are humans involved.

It's a real, constant, and ever shifting puzzle.??Different priorities, worldviews, histories, different processes (e.g., business vs IT) that may not align, and a propensity to find the gap in what those around us are doing.??Maverick and machiavellian behaviors getting in the way of collective forward progress.??

Leading teams and organizations is a tough gig. No doubt about it. Unless you strip it all down and build in a discipline of speaking human.

Leading teams and organizations is a tough gig.??No doubt about it.??

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How do you speak human???

Factor 1-Title Versus Reality

Behind the title and position (e.g., assumed, real, delegated, you name it) of power, the person across sitting across from you has real stuff going on.??It starts with asking a simple question, “How are you doing?”

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Factor 2-Strengths Versus Checking The Box

Look at the people under your care, truly understand their strengths from their perspective first, and then look at their job.??Talk to them about what they care about and then carve a pathway for them to do that.??They may not check off all of the boxes but they will be happy, you’ll be happy, their team members will be happy, and the culture will thrive.

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Factor 3-Advanced Human Speak

Give those around you a break.??When someone messes up it’s not fodder for piling on.??This includes those higher up on the org chart.??If you truly want to speak human at an advanced level, everyone deserves a break.

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What’s the heartbeat of your current culture??

I’ve personally applied these factors, mostly consistently, when working with those around me.??Especially during the period of leading the Snohomish County WorkSource offices during the pandemic.??

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We were all constant crisis mode and we got through it by realizing that the heartbeat of our culture had to be about speaking human.

Wishing you all a healthy heartbeat as you explore what it will take to build a daily habit of speaking human to those around you.

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