The good, the bad and the red flags

Red flag behaviors can be easy to identify in others. Take those who talk badly behind people’s backs, braggarts or anyone who eats pineapple on their pizza. Any of these actions might give us pause when we observe them in colleagues, friends, or family members. But when we decide to face our own counterproductive habits, things get a little harder – and more interesting.

I recently had a conversation about red flag behaviors with some team members. One colleague pointed out that, while I often share the values and behaviors that worked well for me in my career, I rarely mention my less desirable traits. What habits did I shed for the better? Which problematic patterns did I break free from because they wasted time and energy? When looking back, I tend to talk about the do’s rather than the don’ts.

So, let’s talk about the don’ts. Here is my preliminary list of personal red flags, and I encourage you to share yours in the comments section. These are habits that I have broken over the years, although admittedly, I still get tempted from time to time. Discipline is a muscle that needs to be exercised regularly.

• The temptation to review, well, everything. I am fortunate to lead an organization of dedicated colleagues who are experts at their jobs. I know this. Yet, for many years I felt responsible for reviewing and signing off on every piece of content, every concept, every tactic. I thought it was helpful. That they would feel more comfortable with my review. That my boss would be happier knowing I had approved every word. Eventually, I decided to give the reins to the rider who is closest to the horse. The result is a win-win. I save time for focused work and the quality of the materials remains excellent. Colleagues are empowered to make their own decisions and hold themselves accountable. And they know I’m always available if questions come up.
• The idea that I need to be in every meeting. When I started my career more than three decades ago, busyness was a badge of honor. The fuller someone’s calendar, the higher their rank in the organization. Naturally, I followed suit and made sure I was setting up and participating in large meetings galore. Thankfully, we are moving away from those days. The whole Pfizer organization is working on simplicity and cutting red tape. It is tough, but we know we must hold ourselves accountable in this area. Having seen our CEO Albert Bourla and his team slash the bureaucracy and work at “lightspeed” in vaccine development, we know it’s possible for all of us. These days, I only participate in meetings in which I can truly make a difference and I ask the same of my team.
• My love of long e-mails with a story arc. In an environment in which time and attention are in short supply, long e-mails are tedious to write and a bore to read. Classic story elements and build-up including setting, characters, conflict and resolution are best saved for that book we’ve always dreamed of writing. Instead, I like to follow the BLUF principle (bottom-line up front). In life as in reporting, it’s best not to bury the lead. And lastly, brevity doesn’t equal rudeness. This goes for voice/text messages too…
• The need to race to the office in the morning. I am an early riser, and I get a lot of satisfaction from being up with the birds and getting things done while others are hitting the snooze button. For years, I felt that this work needed to be visible, so my peers and bosses would know how motivated and hardworking I was. The pandemic helped me distance myself from this habit. These days, I work from home whenever it is conducive to productivity, and I plan my office time only around key meetings and quality time with colleagues. I’ve learned that while it’s important that the output of your work is visible, the process itself does not need to be.

So here it is, my dirty laundry and red flag behaviors. Do you recognize any of them in yourself or those around you? What other behavior patterns have you managed to break??