January 25, 2011

Smile, People are Watching

By now we have all heard about the Chicago Bears quarterback, Jay Cutler, and his injury in the second half against the Packers. Early critics have villified Cutler for not being tough, giving up on his team or even faking an injury because he wasn't playing good.

I will not go down any of those paths. I just want to say that Jay Cutler is his own worst enemy.

If you are a supervisor of staff for any significant period of time, you will have a Jay Cutler on your team. That is someone who is very talented, above average performer, probably opinionated about a wide variety of issues and also somewhat likeable by their peers. Yet they give off no warm fuzzies. They don't speak or engage with peers, supervisors, vendors, members or associates. Their body language screams, "I DO NOT WANT TO BE HERE!"

How do you supervise that? They perform and produce results but on the flip side they generate no excitement or loyalty. Everyone around them visibly cringes from their negative energy.

They will tell you in a coaching session, "Hey, I moved you from point A to B just like you asked." "My interceptions are down and touchdowns up." "I have won more this year than last year."

But I will challenge you that the issue is bigger than that. The Jay Cutler's of the world can hold you hostage. They can keep you in a false sense of success. In actuality they only will keep you mired in the muck of mediocrity.

I am not saying that we all need to walk around high fiving everyone or being "Miss Mary Sunshine." What I am saying is that you need to throw off some positive energy. If that is not in your DNA then you need to take up golf or tennis. You need to find the job that allows you to work from home. You need to find a job that doesn't require your skills to blend with others on the team.

Jay, next time your hurt, either go to the lockerroom and watch from the training room or pick up a headset or clipboard and help the next guy. Become a coach or a cheer leader.

Somebody tell the poor guy to smile everyonce in awhile. Smile Jay, smile!

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