A challenge at work for many people is reaching the unresponsive. How do to deal with those who don't repond to our encouragement, guideance and requests (even threats!!). A story in the news today offers us a challenge - is their outward communication a true reflection of their inner thoughts and feelings?
BBC News repostrs this facinating story about an unfortunate road accident victim, who despite suffering brain damage and being in a 'vegative state' - has demonstrated brain activity "indistinguishable from a healthy patient".
She was diagnosed as being in a vegetative state, which meant even when she was awake, she was unresponsive.
While her brain was being mapped, the researchers asked her to imagine simple tasks, such as walking around her home and playing tennis.
What a WOW!!
There is a disconnection between what's going on inside and what's happening outside. Although in this sad case we have no way of knowing how 'aware' the victim is - it does raise an interesting point for those of us frustrated by unresponsive people.
Even though they don't show it... they might be getting it but their outward actions do not match their inner intentions and abailities.
This is not new, St. Paul expressed something similar 2000 years ago:
"My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time. It happens so regularly that it's predictable."
So, be encouraged - it's not that they don't get it, it may be just that they do BUT are unable to repond. That then opens up a whole new set of options for us. We can leave our frustrations at the door and consider new ways to help people express what's really going on inside their heads.
unconventional & effective - caught being excellent
Yesterday, I came across a fantastic example of someone going about their work in an apparently quiet and dilligent way and suddenly being noticed. The unusual thing was the methods she employed the carry out her task and the interest she created.
It made me think about how we need to find a balance between establishing standard processes (one size fits all) and allowing individuals to creatively get on with their jobs using all the skills and talents they bring with them.
So what was the story?
During BBC flagship evening news programme "Newsnight", she was observed collecting cups and mugs in the background. Peter Barron, editor of Newsnight, takes up the story;
The interview was about the parlous state of the NHS's computer systems involving the troubled company iSoft.
It was a good story, but it wasn't that which interested the press pack. Ms Flint was doing her interview down the line from a camera in the BBC Sheffield newsroom. As she spoke a woman wove casually past in the background, as people often do in newsroom shots. She was carrying a full tray of teas. Not unusual. Balanced on her head.
In the blog, Peter Barron discusses his surprise that it was this background thing that attracted heaps of press enquiries; many more than the 'bigger' domestic and international issues covered by the programme that evening.
I'm altogether more interested in taking flights of fancy and wondering what would have happened if Nana Amoatin (the wonderful 'tray on head' lady) worked in a different company - would her initiative have been accepted or condemned?
It made me consider how we can release people to be the best they can be...
How often do we contrain people with process and proceedures?
"I'm sorry Ms Amoatin, you must hold the tray in your hands - it's dangerous up there"
"Although you are skilled, others aren't and they might be encouraged do it like you. So you had better conform"
"I know that's how you used to do it, but we do it more conventionally here"
More power to you Nana Amoatin - continue to be unconventional and effecive. More power to you un-named cleaning supervisor at BBC Radio Sheffield offices - continue to allow your people to be excellent and effective.
