The Workplace Coach

If you are a parent then you know what I’m talking about.  You have dedicated yourself to protecting your offspring, providing everything they need and want (far more than you ever had growing up), keeping them safe from harm, from cyber bullying, from people being mean to them or saying hurtful things. Our kids have grown up in an age where every kid gets a prize, and you are all winners, and there is nothing you cannot do and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

We have bred a generation that has rarely heard the word no, and if they did then it most certainly wasn’t with raised voice. There would have been inevitable disappointments along the way for our young ones but we quickly made up for that by making them feel better about themselves with the latest iphone or xBox or Playstation. They have been coddled all the way through school and possibly university and now they are finally ready to enter the workforce. 

The chances are that in their first real job they will be working for someone who came up a very different way, who has different experiences and a different mindset as to how the workplace works.  They might be working alongside someone of a different generation, someone who thinks that the only way to get ahead is through hard work, doing your time, and if you have to step on the other guy to move up the ladder then so be it.

“Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place, and I don’t care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward; how much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done!”  – Rocky Balboa.

I’ve done my fair share of workplace investigations, mediations and interventions.  I see a lot of bullying and harassment claims, which turn out not to be bullying and harassment. Many of these are from younger people in the workforce who suddenly realise that for some reason their colleague Michael, or their boss Sally, just doesn’t like them and is being less than supportive or enthusiastic about their abilities or potential than they would like. These young people aren’t used to this and they are totally unprepared for it.

So what can we do to help our kids?  As parents we can prepare them as best we can for it, and then coach them through it when it does happen.  And it will happen.  

“Now if you know what you’re worth, then go out and get what you’re worth, but you gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody. Cowards do that and that ain’t you. You’re better than that.” – also Rocky Balboa

As managers and leaders in the workplace, we must ensure that our team behaviours are where they should be, that we act swiftly when we observe or become aware of people acting inappropriately, or out of alignment with expectations.  We have to focus attention and effort on building the collective responsibility in the team, the esprit de corps, rather than encouraging individual achievement.  It’s not rocket science but it does take time, commitment and consistency.

We are always here to help.

The Workplace Coach