Solutions
I had the opportunity to visit JA BizTown today. It was an enlightening experience. Granted I was working with a bunch of 5th graders, but it also opened my eyes. I was supposed to be facilitating. We started with at staff meeting. I introduced myself, met the group and then had them each open their packets and start reading. I was in the Deseret News office.
Each person did just what I asked them to do, but no more. When the got to a place where they were supposed to get something from another individual on the team, they stopped and waited. This was frustrating to me. I asked them why they weren't doing anything. They told me they were waiting. I asked if they had inquired as to why they had to wait. Nope.
The entire day went this way. They were so focused on, "This is my task, I cannot do anything else." At the end of the day, I asked them how the paper was coming along. They all looked at me blankly like, we have to make a paper. The editor wrote responses to the letters to the editor and printed them instead of putting them in the paper. The report, interviewed several people and printed them instead of giving them to the editor. The photographers took pictures and then stopped. The ad execs, went around and got ads from people, but then stopped. At the last minute they all had to jump in and hope we could get it done. It was interesting.
I started thinking about my own life. Do I communicate effectively? Do I just do my job and let the rest take care of itself? Do I come to the table with problems or do I come to the table with solutions? It has me re-thinking all that I do. I need to improve in many areas. I need to be a part of the solution not the problem. I have to be willing to do what I am assigned. If that requires me working with someone else and helping them complete their tasks so I can complete mine, then I should be doing it. We all need to work at a team. I think this is what the Lord was talking about when he said "Become One" We need to lift those that need lifting and allow ourselves to be lifted when others see they can help us. Sometimes, we have to get someone else to help us lift others.
Where are you? Are you a problem or solution? Are you willing to do what is required to get the job done, or do you point fingers at others when you are not able to complete the tasks on your plate? Think about it.
Each person did just what I asked them to do, but no more. When the got to a place where they were supposed to get something from another individual on the team, they stopped and waited. This was frustrating to me. I asked them why they weren't doing anything. They told me they were waiting. I asked if they had inquired as to why they had to wait. Nope.
The entire day went this way. They were so focused on, "This is my task, I cannot do anything else." At the end of the day, I asked them how the paper was coming along. They all looked at me blankly like, we have to make a paper. The editor wrote responses to the letters to the editor and printed them instead of putting them in the paper. The report, interviewed several people and printed them instead of giving them to the editor. The photographers took pictures and then stopped. The ad execs, went around and got ads from people, but then stopped. At the last minute they all had to jump in and hope we could get it done. It was interesting.
I started thinking about my own life. Do I communicate effectively? Do I just do my job and let the rest take care of itself? Do I come to the table with problems or do I come to the table with solutions? It has me re-thinking all that I do. I need to improve in many areas. I need to be a part of the solution not the problem. I have to be willing to do what I am assigned. If that requires me working with someone else and helping them complete their tasks so I can complete mine, then I should be doing it. We all need to work at a team. I think this is what the Lord was talking about when he said "Become One" We need to lift those that need lifting and allow ourselves to be lifted when others see they can help us. Sometimes, we have to get someone else to help us lift others.
Where are you? Are you a problem or solution? Are you willing to do what is required to get the job done, or do you point fingers at others when you are not able to complete the tasks on your plate? Think about it.
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