Tonight I was finishing the day with a few colleagues when I had a moment of epiphany. I asked one of the other guys a question which he didn't have the answer to. Jokingly, I said, "hey your a manger, you have to know these things". His response was somewhat sarcastic, but also very truthful when he said, "even if I knew the answer it wouldn't be good enough for you".
Now, most people would take offense to this response, but knowing the work culture that I exist in every day as well as I do, I didn't. This was actually a huge compliment, because I pride myself on understanding the big picture, and knowing the reasons why certain things are done. I was a kid who asked questions like, "Why is red the color people decided to use for 'stop'?". Now, I am the adult at work asking why processes are done a certain way, or why specific company decisions were made.
...but, in the midst of this exchange, something came to me... maybe it was just me. I have always thought that everyone was as inquisitive as I am, but that maybe they just didn't have the energy to always ask questions. Or, that they decided at some point in there life that it didn't matter anymore. However, it may be possible that different people need different information. Does that make sense?
Well here is an example. This is exactly the question I asked one of my co-workers tonight after I had this internal discussion with myself.
When you are learning how to play a board game, what is the very first question that you ask?
Is it a question about how the play is conducted, like what the rules are, or how someone has a turn? Do you ask questions about the board, the pieces, or the cards?
This was my colleagues answer... "How do you play?"
I always ask three questions in this order:
1. What is the object of the game, or how do you win?
2. How does the play happen?
3. Any other rules or nuances?
So for monopoly, the answers would be:
1. To bankrupt your opponents - this is usually done through acquiring monopolies, hence the name.
2. Each player takes a turn rolling the dice to move a specified number of spaces. Depending on where you land, you pick up a card, pay a penalty, win money, have the opportunity to buy property, or pay rent. If you own all of the properties of a specific color you have a monopoly and can collect a base rent, or build houses/hotels at a cost that will charge your opponents a much higher rent when they land on them.
3. If you roll doubles three times you go to jail, when you pass go you collect $200, and free parking is always a $500 prize.
So, what does it mean. It means that when it comes to my colleague, he wants someone to tell him how the job works- what do we use for dice? What is the board for?
I want to know, "why are we here? What is the goal?". The natural progression of my approach is to figure out how to win the game once I hear what the object of the game is. The pitfall for me is that I often don't listen to the wisdom of those who have a lot of practice playing the game. The guys like my colleague usually get really good at what they are doing- the playing, but can forget why they are doing it or what they are ultimately after.
Two different approaches... both right and both wrong. What a learning experience and what a strong case for working in teams with differently minded people.
Who knew the Parker brothers had so much to offer on team dynamics.
