As the Holidays approach, stress mounts. 

Like any container, the more you put in it the more pressure.

If I were to view my calendar as a container and the dates filled as contents it would explode off my desk every December.

Recently, while trying to plan an annual Christmas party the management team and I were debating locations etc…

One of the locations was closer but required a cash bar; the other, where we had the party in past years, was more distant but had the advantage of offering BYOB.  The management team had a clear preference; in a twist on “time is money” they wanted closer rather than cheaper.

But what about our front line staff?  You know; the people we serve? 

So, in a classic bit of leadership it was suggested (not by me; I am a leader so I really don’t have to do anything but allow the good people I work with “do what they do!”) that we canvass the staff.  We had two weeks before we needed to make a decision anyway.

The polling came back with a slight bias towards the more local option.  Now, this didn’t make sense to me.  You see, I know that our overall staff is from a broader geographic region making location less of a defined variable; it meant different things to different people.  But, the cost of a cash bar was universal since we were all still (at least for now) using the same currency; the good ‘ole American green-back (the ole green-back, ‘she ain’t what she used to be, ain’t what she used to be!)

So, I asked how many manager’s voted and how did they vote.  Now the mandate became more clear and the apparent opinion was, people would rather drive to a free bar than walk to a cash bar (spare me the drinking and driving issue; we are responsible adults).

In the end my decision was not popular… among the managers.

But I am reminded of the old and great quote; “there go the people… I must follow them for I am their leader!”

Remember:  You are always in charge; but you don’t always have to be first!

You may also be interested in a similar theme; Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way! Originally posted here on my birthday, October 22, 2008 here is the link:  https://blog.lonkieffer.com/?p=33

 

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Lon Kieffer, author of “Get Out of Bed and Go to Work!”, Speaker, Consultant, Expert on Workplace Culture Change and Generational Conflicts, gives seminars, keynote and plenary addresses, runs annual sales meetings, and provides Common Sense Consulting at:  www.LonKieffer.com. He can be reached at:  (302) 462-6748 or via email at:  Lon@LonKieffer.com