Want a banana?

Colleagues,

MVP: To avoid taking others’ monkeys, we need to understand why they have the monkey.
 
While leading a book study on stage 3 of The School Leader's Guide to Reclaiming Purpose, someone asked about an employee who will not use the technology to complete a task and always asks for it to be done for her by someone else because she “just can’t understand the technology.”

Part of stage 5 focuses on not taking other people’s monkeys, so here are a couple thoughts:

• Before judging, question whether doing the task is actually a good fit for using the technology. 
• M=V/E. Meaning, the person doesn’t see why she should spend her time on the task, the perceived effort is too high, or both.
• Make sure there is an explicit, written process (standard operating process or SOP).
• Respond to requests with, “Here is where you can find the process for doing that.”
• It can help for people to know how you can better use your time. If you do not have to manually do the task for 20 people, does that give you time to figure out X problem that is driving everyone nuts?
• For someone truly experiencing a technology barrier, they need help to grow. Teach them by modeling, by doing it with them, and then by having them do it.
• In the end, it may actually be easier for you to just do it, and if that is the case then let go of the frustration.
  
  

Cheers!

Frederick