Ep 31 - Care Enough to Not Judge on a Single Action

Hello and welcome back to episode 31 of Power Up Your Team podcast. 

Sometimes we quickly judge people based on their actions without understanding enough of the background or reason for their behaviors 

So let me give you one example. I felt so embarrassed about this situation that it serves as a reminder 20 years later to not judge people on a single action.

I was leading the implementation of a quality management system for a startup production company with a cross functional project team made up from all functions of the organization. 

Every week we had a team meeting to review status and agree on and assign the actions for the next week.  It was scheduled from 3 to 4 PM. It was still at a time during which everybody was physically present in the facility and nobody was on the phone or on zoom. 

There was one team member, let’s name him Joe for the sake of this podcast,  who always had to leave five minutes before the top of the hour 4 PM. No matter the discussion point, he dropped everything and left. 

I found out that Joe was vanishing every day sharply a few minutes before 4 pm even though the office was open until 5 pm. “Wow” I thought to myself “poor engagement. He really doesn’t care about our project,” He couldn’t possibly run to childcare because I knew he didn’t have any kids.

I mentioned that to his manager at one point in time. Even though we were peers and work friends he told me fairly formally that he approved of Joe leaving early but couldn’t tell me why.  “Ugh – what a joke” I thought to myself and “That’s not fair!” 

Remember episode 13 where I talk creating a fair work environment? Yes, this was still in those times when I thought fairness means treating everyone the exact same way. If Joe is allowed to leave at 4 pm everyone should have the option.  I have grown out of this perspective as I share in that episode.

Grudgingly, I went along leading the team meeting every week with Joe missing out on the action items in every meeting. 

And there finally was that day where I found out – with everyone else – why Joe had left so promptly and early every day. 

Go to www.powerupyourteam.com/31 to find out why Joe was leaving early and why I remember this story to this day!