This website uses cookies

This website uses cookies. The essential and functional cookies are necessary for the proper functioning of the website and cannot be refused. Other cookies are used for statistical purposes (analytical cookies) and are set only after you have made a choice. More information about cookies.
Blog overview

Bad behavior pays!

Harley Lovegrove
3 responses

Once upon a time there was a poorly run IT department that always screwed up everything. The team was constantly under pressure and regularly had to work many hours of overtime. No matter what they did, even the basic things had a habit of going wrong. Now you might think that this was an unhappy and de-motivated department but you would be wrong.

Sure there were some people who were frequently frustrated by the lack of processes and discipline but by and large most people left for home feeling that their presence was appreciated and that without them things would have been so much worse.

Meanwhile on the other side of town there was a well run IT department that used to have similar problems, so they introduced a project and change management methodology to improve things.  They structured their projects in such a way that even the toughest challenges were met with a calm sense of confidence and reliability.  Day to day operations were conducted so smoothly you would hardly know they were there. In fact their excellent performance became so normal that the executive management of the company very quickly saw it as normal.  After all, the entire IT department was simply doing its job to the standards expected. So consequently they no longer received thanks and praise and overtime bonuses.  There were no late night pizzas, no special “thank you for saving our asses again” parties and no extra end of year bonuses for ‘effort beyond the normal call of duty’.

Now tell me honestly, for which of the two IT departments would you prefer to work?

Have a good week,

Harley
Written by

Harley Lovegrove

Harley is a dynamic 'we can do this' kind of person with a successful track record of working for a wide variety of companies in all kinds of sectors. From very small family run businesses right through to giant multi-nationals. Over the last thirty five years Harley has built a reputation for inspiring those around him to rout out and tackle the core problems facing their organizations. Armed with a wide range of pragmatic tools that he has developed over the years, Harley is able to help his clients bring about long-term, sustainable solutions, while having fun at the same time. Harley is a motivational 'people person' who is nonetheless tough on efficiency and delivery. Apart from being well known for his highly entertaining and motivational speeches, Harley is also a blogger and author of four books; 'The Change Manager's Handbook', 'Transition', 'Inspirational Leadership’ and ‘Making a Difference’.

3 responses

Leave a response
  1. V Koen Vriesacker -
    I think the question here needs to be: which of the two departments will still have (internal) customers in the future. Nice if you can deliver good services and results in a chaotic way: Fun for everyone... But it becomes tricky when things go wrong. Who's to blame? Who will stay motivated if they constantly have to deal with unhappy customers? No pizza can beat the feeling of unhappiness when all your really hard efforts evaporate due to 'bad behavior' of others. The truth is, as always, in the middle I suppose? Apart from that, thanks for the nice article. You always target a unconventional angle on an interesting subject! Greetings, Koen
  2. B Be. -
    I would also say the right mix is a mix of both of these visions and at the end I consider you're also responsible for marketing your results and showing the organisation how and why they matter. I can't accept the fire-fighting hero like way of doing things, this is ultimately removing all sense of responsibility and accountability in the organisation and that can never be good.
  3. J Jez -
    "Now tell me honestly, for which of the two IT departments would you prefer to work?" Second one. No brainer. I come in, do the job, and go home at the end of the day. I'm well managed, I work with people who are competent and professional, get paid a fair amount for the work I do, and maintain a healthy life-work balance. "by and large most people left for home feeling that their presence was appreciated" should be: "by and large most people kept their traps shut for fear of rocking the boat and sticking their necks out for target practice as the next scapegoat" It depends on which angle you see it from.

Leave a response

*Required fields