socks

i.hate.socks.

Let's just get that out of the way. The reasons will not be foreign to you: they lose themselves, unmatch themselves, rip themselves, and they fall down. Constantly. I believe wholeheartedly that socks are a necessary evil. However, for the sake of fairness, I will not ask you to agree that they are 'evil'; let's compromise and call them a "necessary nuisance" (NN).

NNs are, by definition, bothersome 'things' or tasks that cannot be avoided. Just as I have never found a decent alternative to socks (though this video has given me some ideas), I have also not found acceptable alternatives to many of my NNs here at work: timecards, PDPs, databases, administration, paperwork, etc.; passwords, login IDs, timeouts, VPNs, etc.; clutter, random long emails, phone calls, customers, etc. (I think you get my point). So what is a person to do when faced regularly with thorny 'stuff' that is unavoidable?

Thankfully, we already have a coping mechanism built in; we learn it from our first days on this earth. Dealing with NNs is not really the issue; all of us do it, with or without complaint. Acknowledging them, however, that is the key.

Take some time this week to do just that; let your team know that you know NNs exist, that you are aware of them, and that you think they suck, too. Genuine empathy can break down walls that no amount of logic can touch. This is not misery-loves-company, however; this is leading by example. If you acknowledge, instead of ignore, NNs, and if you handle, not complain about, them, your team will follow. Your team will follow.

There is peace in true empathy; there is peace in acknowledging nuisances; and there is peace in strong leadership. And if all else fails, come to work wearing only one sock and see how many of your team members understand you better.

shanti,
mjh