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By
Ed Rigsbee, CSP (526
words) To
whom was this task assigned? You say it was assigned to me? If so, why are
you meddling in a task assigned to me? This is a nice way of saying to a
colleague, “get out of my rice bowl.” And you are thinking,
“That’s what I should say to Jim or Jane.” However, you remain
silent. If
the above scenario rings true for you; might I suggest that you answer
this next question? What’s the price for not speaking up? Yes, what’s
the personal, professional, and organizational price for not speaking up? “But,”
you say, “I don’t want to hurt anybody’s feelings.” Gosh, you
think it is okay for them to put their nose in your business but it is not
okay for you to suggest to them that they keep it out? How’s the logic
of this working for you? For me, it’s not. Conservatively,
many organizations suffer from 20% productivity losses due to redundant
efforts and organizational sabotage. With the above number, you can easily
monetize the cost of another person getting into your rice bowl. Do these
offenders deserve to squander that much of your company’s resources? I
don’t think so. What’s
the personal price you pay for letting others get into your rice bowl? A.
Immobilization; getting nothing else done because of your anger. B.
Resentment; starting to take your frustrations out on others. These
prices are simply too high for any reasonable person. Since you are a
reasonable person, what are you going to do? No,
going postal is not the answer. The answer is that you are going to learn
how to stand up for yourself and be willing to tell others to get out of
your rice bowl. You’ll be so much happier and more productive once you
do. You start with admitting that you’ve been weak. People at work call
you Matt, and walk all over you. That’s the past, not the future. 1.
Say this to yourself, “I’m done
taking dirt from one hole and putting it into another, then another, and
another.” Excellent! How did that fell? You say it felt good? It’s
going to feel even better when you stand up to Jim or Jane and politely
tell them to stay out of your rice bowl. Spinning your wheels is just no
fun. 2.
Now say, “We’re done
squandering resources around here.” Yes, when people in an organization
are unwittingly conducting redundant activity—resources are truly being
squandered. Adding insult to injury; too much opportunity has been lost. 3.
Say, “The days of lost
productivity are gone.” Rice bowl invaders are saboteurs of all things
good in an organization. You want to do better, you want to improve your
situation, and you want the madness to stop. “But,”
you say, “Jim or Jane will yell at me if I tell them to get out of my
rice bowl.” I guarantee you this, if you do nothing; they will continue
to walk all over you. However, if you repeat the three affirmations listed
above, several times a day for just one week; your self-talk will
change—for the better. It’s now up to you… Copyright
© 2008 Ed Rigsbee #
# # # # Ed Rigsbee has been fumbling, bumbling, and stumbling his way through the organizational mazes of for-profits and non-profits for over four decades. For the last two decades, Ed has been an observer, researcher, and teacher; helping organizations of all sizes to build successful internal and external collaborative relationships. Ed travels internationally to deliver keynote presentations and workshops on profitable alliance relationships. In addition to serving as the president of Rigsbee Research Consulting Group, Ed also serves as the executive director of a public charity (501 c 3). Ed has authored three books and over 1,500 articles helping organizations to take full advantage of their potential. |
