My friend Matthew Porter nailed it in his post about the challenges of walking the tight rope between fulfilling exactly the request (the rules, the directions) AND taking the request/rules/directions into a pursuit of more creativity. As Matthew put it, the challenge is that the brave pursuit means “to risk complete failure for the chance to overdeliver.” Most people are afraid of failure, so they just never go for it. I get that…failure can be devastating to a person’s self-opinion but also can lead to terrible outcomes. And yet….when you never brave big, what you get is akin to sailing your boat in a washtub…safety but no chance to really see the world, see the big rewards.
Matthew goes further by laying out a way to balance these issues, especially if you are the leader trying to keep a “play it safe” person happy along side a “danger is my middle name” teammate. Check these out:
- There’s a time and place for both rule-followers and shot-takers, just as the walrus and the seal both have irreplaceable roles in the food chain. That said…
- Determine which approach is most often useful to your unique team. If you’re an accounting firm, you probably don’t need a roster full of mavericks – though one may be useful now and then.
- If you’re in a very competitive market category and/or in a creative field, don’t limited your chances for the Big Win by shutting down your visionaries, loud-mouthed though they (we) might be. Conversely, don’t be afraid to remind them they can only bend the rules if the rules are in place to begin with.
- Both tribes can learn to work together IF communication remains Constant, Candid, and Collaborative. Choose to run the risk of over-communicating. When two groups speak different languages, you may find that ‘over’ is actually only ‘just enough.’
- Combining these disparate groups is a process, so be patient – with yourself and with the ‘other side’ – and extend a spirit of grace whenever and wherever possible.
If you’ve read my work previously, then my favorite part of what Matthew wrote is this: “Choose to run the risk of over-communicating.” In today’s world with a million communication options, I think this is no longer an option, nor do I think it a risk. Or, okay, I see it is a risk because some people who really do read what you send them may get ticked off….”how many times are you going to tell me this.” So, to me, I see the greater risk comes from a larger failure because more people don’t read, don’t pay attention, and aren’t aware of what is going on. In that setting, then having a team comprised of risk-takers and play-it-safe people will certainly crumble.
Don’t just play it safe. At the same time, don’t miss delivering what is required, whether it is something for your client, your professor or your spouse. As usual,balance is key.