It was business as usual.  My favorite client and I were trying to resolve a conflict and, as usual, she was running off at a hundred miles per hour feverishly working, looking for a solution. 

 

She had consulted me to help analyze her Workplace Culture and make recommendations to help reduce some Generational Conflicts.  The “old-guard” in her company wanted to maintain the status quo. The new-blood in the organization wanted to establish different work flows. 

 

The interesting thing, once we slowed down and looked at the demographics is that this Generational issue was not an “age” issue; the Generations were defined in the context of longevity or tenure.  In this case the average age of the “new blood” was actually older than the “old guard” of existing employees. 

 

Having slowed down long enough to look at this un-emotionally; I could see we had some Generational tools available to address the Workplace Culture issues.  I was ready to share my findings.

 

The biggest obstacle, however, was my client!

 

She was completely unaffected by any of this; her solution to all problems was to simply work harder and faster.  She held no preferences or preconception of the “right” way to perform the tasks; she simply wanted them done!

 

Every time I set up a meeting with my client to share my observations it turned into a one-way street of communication. 

 

It reminded me of the old joke; “what are you doing?  This is a one-way street!”

 

“Yeah, well I’m only going one way!”

 

Never mind that it was the wrong way!

 

My client wasn’t being rude; she was just so excited running in every direction that she just couldn’t slow down to figure out which way to go!  Sound familiar?

 

So I said, “I have a joke for you.”

 

In her usual excited and joyful manner she enthusiastically said, “Good.  Let’s hear it; I need a laugh!”

 

I said, “It’s a knock, knock joke.  Go ahead and start it…”

 

My client eagerly said; “Ok.  Knock, knock!”

 

I said, “Who’s there?”

 

“Kathy!” she said.

 

“Kathy who?” I asked.

 

“Uhh, umm, Kathy?  Umm….?”  Her eyebrows furled and a confused look on come over her face; “What’s funny about that?” she asked.  Then realization set in and she laughed and said, “Hey, you are supposed to start the joke!”

 

So I did, and said, “Knock, knock!”

 

“Who’s there?” Kathy asked.

 

“Lon!” I said.

 

“Lon who?”

 

“You know, the guy you hired to help solve this problem!?”

 

Thankfully Kathy has a great sense of humor to go along with her enthusiasm and legendary work ethic (I would never have tried this without knowing these things about her!).  This simple little joke (my favorite knock, knock joke by the way!) helped me get Kathy to realize that she needed to slow down and NOT be in charge long enough to see that she was headed in the wrong direction.

 

Sometimes “the lights are on but nobodies home!”

 

If that’s the case; when opportunity knocks, will you open the door?

 

Sometimes we all need a reminder that we are NOT in charge!  Read about a time where I myself learned this lesson.   Read:  “Lead, Follow or Get Out of the Way!” My Blog entry from October 22nd… at:  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