Managing Your Team, Managing Your Self, Remember that none of us has to be here!

I once worked with a fabulous manager. Sadly, he is no longer with us but I remember all the managerial stuff he taught me. He was one of us seemingly. On the surface he played the company game, discreet, charming, efficient, hard-working, but deep down this man worked for no one but himself.

Bob was an individualist, a rule breaker (but not these Rules most of these came from him), non-conformist, maverick. He trod a fine line. He was Mr. Cool Dude. Mr. Management Should Never Be Seen to Be Done.

Sure, he got the job done and done extremely well, but he was a managerial rebel. He and I were scheduled once to go on a manager's training course. Guess who failed to show up? Yep, Bob. He wasn't going to make LEGO models for anyone.

I went. I made LEGO models. I toed the company line. Guess who got promoted? Yep, right again. Bob.

So how did we get here? Ah, moaning. I moaned. Bob would say, 'None of us has to be here.' And he meant it. Literally. Literally none of us has to be here. We don't have to do the job. We can walk any time we want. This means we are here by choice. We have chosen to be here. We choose to be here each and every day. It is our choice. If we have chosen to be here then surely it means we are enjoying it or we wouldn't be here? Right? If we aren't enjoying it then we should choose not to be here.

Basically, what Bob was saying to me was, 'Stop moaning enjoy it or leave.' This doesn't mean you can't point out the things that are wrong, but if they aren't going to get solved, you'd better learn to live with them. Enjoy it or move over and let someone else do the job who will. None of us has to be here.