Without trying all mavericks are influential

Sophie was in a bad mood, she was upset with her manager who had just criticised her unfairly whilst increasing her workload, and she had also slept badly due to some personal issues. She didn’t want to talk to anyone, so she got up, closed the door, and returned to her chair.

She sighed, fought back tears, and stared back at her computer. It was going to be a long day.

Phillip glanced up and saw Sophie close her office door. He raised his eyebrows in surprise, ‘that’s unusual’ he thought. Phillip knew that Sophie always kept her door open, she liked to see and hear what was happening in the open plan office and she wanted to ensure that everyone knew that she was approachable and that they could drop by and see her anytime.

He slowly got up, knocked softly, and walked in.

Phillip: Hi! Everything ok? (He asks cheerfully)

Sophie: (Glances up and gives a weak smile) Can I help you, Phillip? (said in a despondent voice)

Phillip: Er, no I just wanted to know whether you are ok? (pulling up a chair and sitting down)

Sophie: Oh, er, yes. I’m fine (said quietly) Just a little busy.

Phillip: Oh (gets up quickly), I’ll be going then.

Phillip leaves and returns to his desk, thinking deeply. He was certain that he saw tears in her eyes, something he’s never seen before.

He pondered and concluded that something must be seriously wrong. Perhaps there were going to be redundancies in the company, and she couldn't tell him about it yet? Hadn’t he just seen the Director leave her office?

Whilst he was considering this, a member of his staff approached him to ask a question. Phillip distractingly answered him, forgoing the usual pleasantries and banter. His employee concluded that ‘Phillip had been told some really bad news by Sophie’, as Phillip was very happy before he went to see her. When this employee saw one of his colleagues approach Phillip to talk to him, the employee stopped him.

Employee 1: Hey, I wouldn’t see Phillip just now, unless it is urgent (said in a concerned hushed voice)

Employee 2: Oh, why? (lowering his voice with curiosity)

Employee 1: I don’t know, but he just got some really bad news from Sophie and he doesn’t want to talk about it

Both employees spend ten minutes discussing what this bad news could be and what implications it may have for the company. At the end of their conversation, they both repeat and embellish their conversation to their friends in other departments.

This pattern is repeated for the rest of the next hour. Six more managers enter Sophie’s office to discuss an issue and return confused and concerned about her distraction and lack of banter. She is downcast and unhappy and is acting unusually. She finds it difficult to look them in their eye.

Each manager leaves more unhappy and despondent than when they arrive. They are quiet with their employees, and very reflective. The employees gather together to discuss and conclude that their manager has received some bad news from Sophie and is unable to tell them yet. Perhaps the rumour of redundancies is true after all?

After an hour, Sophie stretches at her desk. What a morning, she reflected. She’s had 7 managers in her office wanting to talk and all she wanted to do was curl up, lick her wounds, and concentrate on the next thing. Sophie had found it so hard to look them in the eye, because she was sure she would cry and ‘spill the beans’ on why she was so unhappy. The Director’s unfairness and criticisms had pushed her over the edge this morning. She realised that she hated him and now wanted to leave.

If only she could tell this to at least one of her friends that had come to see her this morning, perhaps she would be feeling better by now?

Sophie sighed and stood up. ‘You know’, she thought, ‘I’m going to go and see them now and see what they really wanted earlier. Just talking about something else will help cheer me up and distract me’.

She opened her door and left her office, noting the worried look Phillip gave her. ‘I must see how he is when I get back, I wonder what’s the matter with him?’ she thought. Sophie took a long walk around the offices to get to each manager. She was surprised about how hushed the offices were and how despondent the employees looked. ‘Why is everyone so miserable?’, she pondered.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t see any of the managers as they were now in meetings, so she grabbed Phillip on the return to her office.

Sophie: Have you got a minute?

Phillip: (He notices the looks his staff give him, as he enters her office, and shuts the door) Yes?

Sophie: What’s going on? Why is everyone in the company so glum?

Phillip: It’s because of the redundancies, everyone knows about them but no-ones been told any detail.

Sophie: Redundancies?

Phillip and Sophie have a brief discussion and Sophie (who is a Socialised Maverick and therefore very self- aware) realises that it’s her odd behaviour that started the rumour. They have never seen her so concerned and non-communitive and had incorrectly concluded that this reaction was because something bad was going to happen to them.

She realised that by trying to appear professional and saying nothing about her concerns had started a panic. Sophie could have been a little vulnerable with Phillip, who was someone she trusted within the organisation, and told him a little about what was going on with her. She sighed.

Sophie: There are no redundancies. I’ve just got a few things on my plate right now. Personal issues that I don’t want to talk about, and the Director chewed me out over something that wasn’t my fault and it just added to my worries. Sorry, I wasn’t available to you before. (She smiles at him)

Phillip: (pulls up a chair and sits down). Is that all? You know you can talk to me about whatever? (He smiles back)

Sophie: Yeah, I know, thanks.

They spend a few minutes discussing what Phillip originally came to discuss. When he finishes, he exits the office leaving Sophie’s door open. His employee that came to see him before, asks him whether everything is all right, indicating Sophie.

Phillip: Yeah, why shouldn’t it be? (smiling)

Employee 1: ??? Er, no redundancies then?

Phillip: ??????????? No redundancies

Employee 1:???? What’s up with Sophie then?

Phillip: ??????????? Nothing for you to worry about, it’s personal. Cut her some slack and get back to work! (they both grin at each other and Phillip notices that the first thing his employee does on return to his desk, is reach for the phone. Phillip smiles and gets back to work himself).

About an hour later, Sophie leaves her desk searching out the managers to see if they still needed her. She notes with satisfaction the differences between her earlier visit and now. There is an industrial buzz in the offices and the employees seem happy and engaged.

Later she pondered on what had happened. Is it possible that her mood really affected 300 people that quickly? Why did that happened and how did she unknowingly influence them?

What do you think, did her mood affect 300 people? Can you relate?

(Extract from The Maverick Paradox: The Secret Power Behind Successful Leaders. Judith Germain 2017)

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Judith Germain is the founder and principal consultant of The Maverick Paradox, a leadership consultancy that utilises Maverick Leadership principles to catalyse transformation. Enabling business owners, leaders, the C-Suite, and organisations, to thrive in complex, constantly changing environments by improving their diversity of thought, impact, influence and leadership capability.

She is the leading authority on Maverick Leadership, an author, C-Suite and CEO Mentor, consultant, trainer, and speaker. Judith is a Brainz 500 Global honouree, recognised as one of 500 Companies and Influential Leaders who are recognised for their entrepreneurial success, achievements, and dedication to helping others, and a winner and finalist of a number of awards.

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