Working With Fools

More on Alignment

So, I wonder why many managers and supervisors such as those to who I report just plain don't get what seems to me to be a common sense fact -  it's not good to stick people with assignments that are not aligned to their interests and skills.

In my case, the data head responsibilities I have were forced on me in a sneaky way.  One day about 18 months ago, Ms. Gruff came to me and asked, "How would you like to help out with  _____".  I replied "yes" because, at the time I trusted Gruff, and took what she asked me at face value.  I thought she was truthfully asking me to work on an occasional basis performing those sorts of assignments.  Instead, the following week, I found myself in a meeting with Gruff and a fellow coworker, in which they were permanently transferring ALL of such responsibilities to me!

Needless to say, my trust level in Gruff plummeted to near zero and I have been miserable ever since over having responsibilities for an area of the business in which I have no interest whatsoever, performing work which are 180 degrees out of alignment compared to my personality and skills.  And, to add insult to injury, I've made it clear to Gruff and her boss of my feelings about this situation.  I've told them on more than one occasion that I do not like this type of work, that I feel like a fish out of water when dealing with folks at other companies who have these responsibilities.

Sadly, Gruff and her boss just don't get it.  When I first voiced my feelings to Ms. Gruff's boss, he replied by attempting to explain (convince) to me why I should enjoy the data intensive work.  I practically burst out laughing and got a confused look from him.  When he asked why I found humor in his reply, I bluntly said, "Do you realize how ridiculous this is?  You've just tried to convince me that I should like this kind of work!  It's ridiculous because I should not have to be convinced to like something; if I like it, I would not need convincing".  The concealed grin I saw on Gruff's boss'  face indicated  he  understood how silly it was to try to convince me I should like the work.  That incident was about a year ago.  Have things changed?  Unfortunately for me, NO -  my primary duties remain the data intensive crap I'm neither good at or enjoy, depsote the fact there are others in the department who would better fit and gladly accept the responsibilities.

Out of Alignment - When Folks Work On The Wrong Stuff

This topic came to me on my drive home from work today.  As with all my other posts, it comes from my personal experience and, as with many other topics on which I blog, is based on experiences I am currently struggling with.

Most folks (I believe) would accept without argument that people have strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes.  This applies to the work people do.  Some people like to write, others do not; some hate to crunch numbers or do presentations, while others love such tasks.  Certain people are great marketers and others are best at accounting.  You get it; pretty easy and fundamental... right?

For me, I am not a data head.  Instead, I'm creative and expressive.  Well, guess what?  Yep, the primary responsibilities assigned to me at the present time (beginning about 18 months ago) are involve data intensive projects dealing with other data heads at other companies.  Yuck, I hate it!  Now that you know my feelings, do you think I strive to do a good job at an assignment involving work I'd care not to perform.  If you guessed "no", you're correct!

Now, I'm not dumb - I'm not saying all of us can be fortunate enough to always have assignments and responsibilities we adore!  Hey, this is life.  But, when management has an opportunity to align work to the skills and interests of the workers, don't you agree they should do so?

In my case, my management has failed to make such an alignment.  And, both I and the organization are suffering (unnecessarily) as a result.