Sometimes we refer to our work colleagues as our ‘work family’ and certainly for us in the Mandt System, as a small company of dispersed folks with many relationships extending over decades this can certainly sometimes feel the case. Our acquaintances are those folks that we serve and support. In many cases the acquaintanceship has grown over the years to become more of a Partner, Advocate, or Champion. These are all good words that capture the relationship we want to have with the people we serve and support.
So the question I am posing is: why do we sometimes show a more supportive attitude to those acquaintances or individuals we support than we do to our colleagues or ‘work family’? I suspect the answer lies somewhere in the idea that in ‘the work family’, you know the strengths and weaknesses of individuals so you engage differently than you ever would with an acquaintance.
I want to challenge this practice and suggest that the idea that we can speak differently in the ‘work family’ is somewhat mistaken. Whilst the relationship is of course deeper, formed over time and shaped by many factors, the concepts of building people up, being supportive, looking for solutions etc. should never be jettisoned due to the relationship being established and longer term.
Lets this week revisit some of our ‘work family’ relationships and try and substitute the, ‘that’s your problem or job to sort out’, with ‘how can I assist or partner with you to resolve this’? or ‘if you’re feeling overwhelmed you should learn to say no’ with ‘I know you have a ton on your plate, is there anything from your normal routine that I can help with or cover for you’?
We teach these and other concepts related to the whole idea of “Dignity & Respect” as a cornerstone to the Mandt System program. Let’s also make it a cornerstone of our ‘work family’ relationships. Contact us via email at [email protected] to learn more.
Simon Kemp – SVP Business Development
