Walk a Mile in My Shoes
This week one of our staff members had an unplanned day off.
A couple more were already away sick with the lurgy. It meant that I was called on to work in an area that I don’t usually work in. I was covering for one of our warehouse workers, including operating a forklift.
It is relatively easy to overlook the challenges that others face in their day to day jobs, as we become caught up in our own.
When we are asked to step in for someone else suddenly we are forced to see their tasks from their point of view. The demanding question ‘But why can’t you just do this?’ (the thing that I want) becomes ‘Oh, I see that you’ve got this issue and that is why you can’t easily do what I have asked of you’.
Eyes are now open. Empathy ensues. Understanding dawns. Ideas formulate and are discussed. Change is made.
HOW OBVIOUS IS IT?
It is easy to wonder why someone would do things a certain way, when it is clear to you that a different way is better/faster/cheaper/easier. This ‘obvious’ change may actually not be as obvious as you consider it to be. Perhaps the staff member in question does not have the same way of thinking that you do, or does not have access to the information you have, alternatively perhaps they simply do not feel that they have permission to speak up about a problem. They may be just getting through each day and are not committed to the success of the company in the way that you are.
WALT DISNEY’S TEAMWORK
Walt Disney often attributed his success to the many talented individuals on his team:
“The whole thing here is the organisation. Whatever we accomplish belongs to our entire group, a tribute to our combined effort.”
Walt Disney
He was also onto a good thing when he made sure that his managers spent time selling Micky Mouse ears on the ground inside his Disneyland theme parks. There’s a lot to be said for this approach. If the managers are sitting at desks miles from the action, how can they possibly understand the challenges facing the sales staff who walk around the theme park and deal with Disney’s customers daily?
Walt Disney also had an exciting way of communicating his many ideas. His enthusiastic explanations of his next new idea meant that he brought people along with him who were equally as keen. Walt was known for helping to upskill his employees. He often paid for further training and went to great lengths to nurture friendly relationships with his team. In return, his staff members often worked long hours for no pay. They believed in what they were doing and they loved Walt. I hasten to add, I am not advocating this as a sound business practice, I am simply reporting what happened.
Walt loved innovation. He produced Steamboat Willie, the first animation to have a synchronised soundtrack. Another first was when he released ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ in 1937 it was not only Hollywood’s first-ever full length animated film, he also pioneered movie merchandise. For the release of this first animated feature, he had merchandise all ready for sale to coincide with the film’s premiere.
HOW DID WALT STAND OUT AS A LEADER?
Walt stood out as a leader in four distinct ways:
- Innovation
- We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.
- Perseverance
- Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world.
- Risk-Taking
- All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.
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- Implementation – The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.
‘You can design and create, and build the most wonderful place in the world. But it takes people to make the dream a reality.’
Walt Disney
A WORD OF WARNING
Too much of a good thing can sometimes be a bad thing. By that I mean that being empathetic and listening to the way people see things is very different to adopting an ‘I always know best’ attitude. Walt Disney, clearly one of the good guys, appeared to eventually get this part wrong. He ended up as a sort of ‘know it all, seen it all’ kind of boss.
His leadership style changed and became autocratic. This approach saw many people simply fired who disagreed with him. He had a firm vision for his future and did not tolerate opposition. His own unquestionable belief meant that he insisted all those around him supported him absolutely.
This of course meant that he started to miss out on the fabulous innovation from his people that had previously been enjoyed by his company.
‘When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way, implicitly and unquestionable.’
Walt Disney
CHALLENGE YOUR BIAS
Back to the unplanned day off. It may be a good business strategy to plan some ‘swap jobs’ days within your business. Having to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes is a great way to shake your misconceptions around and keep you thinking.