Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Power Post - Leave Your Personal Life at the Door

How many times have you heard this phrase?  How many times have you (read here => Isaid this phrase?  Could there possibly be a more ridiculous statement than, "leave your personal life at the door?"  I think not.


Consider what you're actually saying to your employees when you use this line of baloney:


- "Stop thinking and feeling about the most important people in your life"
- "Stop trying to balance your focus on work and the needs of your family and friends"
- "Stop being a real person, and submit to a zombie-like adherence to 'the company's goals"



But wait, it gets better.  Asking employees to leave their personal life at the door also implies that as they walk into your building, a sudden metamorphosis will occur and their ability to remain human will stop.  Their emotional system will shut down and they will stop caring for others (unless the company [read here => you as their supervisor] has told them to "care" for a particular customer.)


Is that the message we really want to send to our employees?


I'd love to hear from you.


No Excuses.






pic courtesy of Synch Health

6 comments:

  1. Isn't it silly that we keep thinking that we have compartments in our lives? It's all wrapped up into one giant ball, and that's what makes people challenging and, at the same time, AWESOME !! Great reminder Jay.

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  2. Well put Jay. While organizations often expect employees to leave the personal stuff at the door, they are sometimes the same companies that expect them to carry a cell phone and be willing to interrupt their personal lives to deal with business matters. Great organizations/managers understand that employees are human beings and trust them to manage and balance their time appropriately.

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  3. I tell others - when we hire them we get the whole person, all of the problems, shortcomings, family issues and all of those things we all carry around with us everyday.

    BUT wouldn't it be great if we could develop say a software program that would help employees check thier problems at the edges of the Company property? :-)

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  4. Steve - I, too find it so interesting that we expect each other to break everything down into little pieces, when in fact we are all one person!

    William - Great perspective that we also count on employees to be available for us when they're home! I know I don't get surprised anymore when I email colleagues late at night, and they respond!

    Dave - We do get the whole person, but I agree that it wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing if a few of the dramatic moments were left outside!

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  5. Jay -Right on target. Robots come with on/off switches, people do not. Love the piece.

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  6. Many thanks Steve...so true about the on/off switch! Excellent!

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