People are really hard work but don’t forget they are amazing too!

A moment of reflection on a weekend work flight, a message to anyone that manages people.

For a short time, a very long time ago, I was a high energy particle physicist. I know, right!? It was an accident. I had no idea what to do at university and was reasonably good at math and science. This is what happens if you listen to your math teacher*. 

Back then I was definitely one of those people that believes everything can be explained in formulas and numbers and if you can’t make that work, it’s because you aren’t smart enough.

Now I run a business that spends all of its time trying to understand people. All qualitative work, absolutely no quantitative work. We just don’t do quant. It’s been a bit of a journey getting from then to now. Buy me beer and I’ll bore you with the details.

We make our living by advising our clients on how to influence people. We tell them how to get people to buy more of something, or this thing over that thing or the same thing more often or the new thing or how to talk to people more effectively or how to change things so those people will like them more so they’ll come back or spend more…you get the point.

We have a small team of really smart, talented people spread across the world. They spend a good portion of their waking hours trying to understand why people do what they do, why they don't do what we expect them to do and ultimately what can be done to influence them to do what our clients want them do.

I spend my days trying to make all of this work as well as it can which means I spend a great deal of time trying to understand people too – that team. That team of incredibly smart fuckers that are all trained, experienced, people people. They can be difficult.

I have to try to understand them so I can work with them more effectively, so I can influence them to do things we want them to do, better, faster, and to stop doing things we don’t want them to do. Writing that down makes it seem a bit creepy but our success totally depends on their success. I don’t think there is anything more important or more challenging in my job. 

Some times that challenge can seem impossible. When mistakes get made. When there are too many moving parts, too much complexity, too many conflicting ideas and emotions, not enough time in the day to do all that needs to be done. Bring back general relativity, all is forgiven.

I had one of those moments today. Briefly. Then I read an email from a colleague who offered me some help. It’s so easy to forget that you are part of the team too! It reminded me that it’s the team, that I have to work to understand, that actually get me up in the morning. They are really, truly, what I go to work for. The numbers are just outcomes. When we forget that, we are all in trouble.

We have an internal phrase to describe The Sound and the people in it. Smart as fuck and never boring. Damn, those six words capture a lot!

So, if you are reading this and you manage people and are getting tired of how challenging they can be, take a moment.

People can be difficult but they are also funny and inspiring and caring and creative and when things go well, will do everything they can for you. It’s worth stopping to think about. They are amazing!

Also, if you weren’t doing what you are doing you could be a high energy particle physicist and, trust me, that doesn’t tend to start that many conversations at dinner parties.

Have fun.

S.

*Actually, John Clark (math prof), thank you very much for kicking me, you changed my life.