The Fallibility Factor
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I'm usually the first one up at our house. This morning was no exception.
I started the coffee. I walked and fed the dog. Then I poured my first cup of coffee.
When I went for the sugar, the bowl was empty. Last night, my wife had used the sugar in the bowl to prepare dinner. I filled the bowl, shoveled some sugar into my coffee and went away to work.
I'm guessing that my wife used up the sugar in preparing dinner, then set the bowl aside to fill later. A phone call, a conversation, or any number of things could have claimed her attention before she got back to filling the bowl. Since the lid was on the bowl, I didn't notice the need when I cleaned up the kitchen.
I'm guessing about what happened. That's because I didn't talk to my wife about it. There was no reason.
It wasn't a common occurrence. It didn't create a big problem. It wasn't part of a pattern. It wasn't intentional. And, my wife didn't require extra training in sugar bowl filling. It was a mistake.
Mistakes happen all around you all day long. They happen at work and they happen at home. You make some of them. So do other people. We do it because we're human.
When people on your team make a mistake, you have two choices. You can make something of it. If you do that, remember that even the smallest mention doesn't make things better and may make them worse.
Or, you can just not worry about it. I suggest option B unless the mistake is common, creates a big problem, is part of a pattern or was intentional. Everyone, including you, will have an easier and more pleasant time of it.
Boss's Bottom Line
It is not your job to be the chronicler or even the notice of everything that is good and bad on your team. Save your energy and attention for things that make a difference.
Categories: supervision,Management
Tags: Supervision Management
Great story Wally. Especially liked the "sugar bowl filling" training comment. LOL.
I'd like to add - from my point of view - ignore the little mistakes but make sure you recognize the little successes. More so today than ever before!
Keep'em coming.
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Excellent point, Paul. Noting the good things, even the small ones is a good thing.
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Love this post Wally. I have a person in my life who is a chronicler of small mistakes and I find it so de-motivating. I couldn't agree with you more, though!
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Thanks, Becky. The scary thing is that those little comments can do damage even when they're not meant to.
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That was great and an excellent point . . . I need to come up with a rule for it. What do you think of Rule #25 - Cover the small stuff and Celebrate the big things . . . still in process. - David
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I like it Dave. Keep working on those "rules" and thanks for stopping by.
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You raise a very subtle point here and important. Some people go on a rage for the smallest of mishaps and then get to deal with all the relationship trouble they created. Our preocupation with quality and excellence in the workplace sometimes leads us to ridiculous expectations of ourselves and others. Mistakes happen and they are not always learning experiences...glad you brought it up!
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Thanks for the comment, Monica. Yes we can sure get preoccupied with having everything come out perfect. And we can certainly set off small emotional nuclear explosions that force us to deal with the fallout. And we can die the "death of a thousand comments."
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