Despite my best efforts to encourage employees to think, question, and recommend change, on any given day, I know there are people on my team doing tasks they know are stupid.
Stupid work includes…
- reinforcing policies without thinking
- making decisions that lose customers
- generating reports no one uses
- focusing on trivial matters when the sky is falling around them
- _______ I’ll stop here to let you fill in the blank.
- If you find that cathartic here’s a few more blanks___________, ___________.
Bottom line, If it feels stupid it probably is.
Forest Gump said “stupid is as stupid does.” But I know the truth. Stupid is as stupid leads.
Why Do People Do Stupid Work?
- fear
- politics
- uncertainty
- overload
- indecision
- it’s not their job
- they don’t want to step on anyone’s toes
- it’s always been done that way
- they think I want it done that way
- their boss thinks I want it done that way
- their boss’s boss’s boss, thinks my boss wants it done that way.
And so the stupidity continues.
Lead for S.M.A.R.T.
Encourage your team to think beyond their silos, understand the big picture, and question the status quo. Help them to make S.M.A.R.T. choices.
Speak up
If something feels stupid, it probably is. Say something.
get More information
Ask questions. Understand the context. Reach across silos.
accept Accountability
Own the problem. Work to find a solution.
Reprioritize
Determine what’s important. Do that first.
and Try another approach.
Consider alternatives, ask for ideas, try something new.
I think stupid mistakes are also often made in the absence of clear vision. You’ve got to cast, recast, and recast the vision over and over and over and over. Also, I’d add a lack of core values to guide decisions in reaching for the vision is a big cause of stupid at work.
Great post, and you know I’m a sucker for acronyms.
Eric, thanks so much. You inspire me to look for acronyms 😉
They work. I’ve only read it once and I remember all five letters!
Sometimes the team player lacks confidence.
This can be a behavioral issue.
Or, it could be the leader sending mixed signals. This is a leader lacking confidence.
Common denominator here.
Steve, Thanks so much. Building confidence is such so vital! And… not easy.
Often times the ability to challenge a process or a organizational norm you dont agree with is more a function of the culture your in. If people feel as though they can challenge what they don’t understand and cant support 2 things occur in my opinion:
1) They are less likely to do things simply because “thats they way we have always done it”.
2 ) Once they believe the what they are doing is correct they can passionately contribute to the objectives.
Matt, So great to have you join the conversation. I agree culture has a substantial impact and can make it scary to speak up. I also find that sometimes the culture has evolved but people have scar tissue, and stay scared even though the new environment is more gentle.
Karin
Thank you for the post, thats an insightful list. Glad to note you have ‘fear’ on top. If I may I would like to add some additional factors that usually lead to not so smart work.
a. Lack of ownership
b. Low internal standards
c. Zero passion
d. Lack of pride in the work they do
e. No eye for detail
Would love to hear your views
I see sometimes that leaders are always wanting to be seen as adding value to the business, and never taking away anything that has always been provided. A “stupid report” may be generated because it’s a security blanket for the leader. It’s sort of like oxygen. When you have enough of it, you don’t think about it, but when it’s gone, now the sky is falling.
John, what an excellent point. Love the analogy of a security blanket.
Hi Karin, Thanks for this article that’s put in very simple & easily understandable terms..