The Apathy Cycle

  Communications Management   Innovation   Leadership   ProjectsAtWork  

When a workplace becomes apathetic, new ideas die on the vine. Whether or not senior management cares, project leaders must take responsibility for creating a culture of trust and collaboration around and below them. It starts with supporting those who are willing to stick their necks out on behalf of the project.

Many years ago I had the pleasure of working for a brilliant man. One of many, actually, but this man in particular had some of the best lessons for me in terms of managing people that I've ever learned. He hired me to manage a portfolio of trading applications on an enterprise backbone. I had no experience with that in particular and one day I asked him why he hired me.

“Papa Joe's,” he said. I looked at him askance, remembering a bar I used to hang out at in downtown Singapore. About five years prior he'd visited Singapore and I took him out on the town, as was my way with visitors.

I asked him what that had to do with anything.

He replied, “I was wearing sandals and the rude woman at the door wouldn't let me in, so you kicked up a big fuss on my behalf. You didn't have to do that.”

Rather perplexed by the complete non sequitur, I asked again what on earth that had to do with trading applications.

He said, “Nothing. But I've gone through three vice presidents who haven't had the chops …

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