For the past month I have been collecting survey data in relation to how successful portfolio, project and programme management has been implemented into the organisation (but don’t worry I am not talking about that).
Last week the survey closed and to my surprise after doing all the donkey work of collecting the data I thought it would be passed onto the analytic team to try and establish what the survey data ‘says’.
To my surprise, the manager (and I mean the main manager) asked me to do it. I was up for it – this was a chance to impress and I wanted to do a good job.
I have analysed data before as part of my time at University, but I was feeling a bit rusty and I wanted to do the best job possible.
So on a late into the evening I begun working and as I struggled to make sense of the data I had an idea.
There is a guy in our office who is intelligent on a completely different level. Just listening to him astounds you and he does a job that is beneath his skills. It is his obvious lack of motivation that stops him being in a higher position.
I knew he used to work in analytics so he was the guy I had to speak to.
As I approached I noticed he had the office communicator on and his e-mail open with a conversation that was obviously not work related. He greeted me in a friendly manner and as I asked for his help, he said sure and sat down.
I explained my task and instantly I saw something different in him – his eyes lit up and he started going over my rather uninspiring looking graphs. Next he pulled a pen out and started circling sections – he began explaining his workings and talking about various things
“Do you know what a bell curve is?” he said in a manner that did not patronise and made me feel like I was intellectually on his level.
“I vaguely remember, but could you just be clear for me?”
Patiently he continued to explain his logic and answer any questions I had. I explained what I had been doing and he complemented me when I did things correctly and pointed me in the right direction if I had not.
Just as I went back to my desk to act on his advice he said
“When you’re done, come back and we’ll go over it”
Thanks I said, suddenly feeling a lot more confident and optimistic about the task.
The Lesson
From this experience I realised the importance of making people feel needed. We all like to share what we know and I even gave him a break from his regular daily tasks.
Because we sit at other ends of the office we don’t always get time to chat, so it was good to establish a connection through some work I was doing.
Next time I need help with something I will think – who is passionate about subject?
Until next time
James
Perfect Manifesto 