You know that one. Hes the one in the office who puts out all the great ideas then steps out of the way while you do the work, but comes back just in time to tell you how you did it all wrong. His interest gravitates only to Power and Recognition. He isnt interested in doing the work, actually participating in the project, or actively becoming involved in the accomplishment. He only wants the glory of suggestion and the recognition of completion. Over the past several years one particular person has instigated several projects in a group I actively participate in. This person shows up suggests a project and disappears for the next several meetings, appearing often enough to rip apart most anything thats been accomplished toward the completion of any article, find fault with any work done on the project, and disappear again until the next round of complaints and judgmental condemnations are ready. Unfortunately, there are those members of the group who desire accomplishment enough to go the extra mile and attempt to complete the projects in the face of this sorry individual who desires only the glory. Those members willingly commit their time and effort to the project and work hard to gain acceptable results, while inadvertently complying with the demanding coworker with the bad attitude. There is a solution. When the power hungry recognition monster rears its head on that occasional appearance, if the rest of the members suggest that person get started on the project and agree to jump in and do their part after the original project is well started, the power disappears. That person looses the control factor and becomes just another peon in the group. The project in question is either activated by the instigator, or dies on the table. The power monger must either get into the project or let it die the unnatural death of neglect. So, the next time someone in your office or group comes up with an incredible opportunity to accomplish something and you know for a fact they arent going to actively participate in the completion of the project, bow out gracefully by suggesting they get it started and offer to jump in with your part when the project is actively ongoing. Otherwise let their own neglect of their project kill it. |
