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What Weather Are You?
In the last four weeks, I’ve been to two weddings — more, I think, than in the last fifteen years! I’m happy to report that both were lots of fun, deeply meaningful, very moving — and very different.
And for both of them, the weather was unseasonably hot. In mid-May, I went north to Oregon and “brought with me” temperatures pushing 100. And now in early June, I ventured east to North Carolina, and “brought with me” heat over 100.
Of course, I had nothing to do with it really, although my friends north and east are accusing me of bringing the weather from southern California (where during that time it’s been in the low 70s!). But it did get me thinking about other sorts of weather — specifically, the personal weather people bring to the political climate of the companies where they work.
You know what I mean, because you’ve experienced it.
There are people who are consistently upbeat, looking to the future, sunnily oblivious to issues. There are those who are more skeptical, identifying risks, finding loopholes, freezing out others’ ideas.
Some are challengers, appearing thunderously angry, pushing back. The more sensitive seldom voice their opinions, instead providing insights into others’ thoughts and seeming to blow hot and cold depending on prevailing opinion.
Each of these types of people-weather has an impact on the overall climate in the organization — whether that’s a meeting, a team working on a project, a department shooting for a goal, a company reaching for success. And each of them is important in its own way — and, of course, has its own pitfalls.
Sunny Optimists
These folks inspire others, have great ideas, create an energetic sense of what’s possible.
However, optimists are often viewed as being a little flakey and lacking in follow-up.
If you’re an optimist and an idea-generator, surround yourself with people who can reality-check your ideas and who will help keep projects on track when you start losing interest.
If you work with an optimist, have patience with what may look to you like lack of focus.
Chilly Doubters
Any project or objective of significance needs risk management, and the cautious skeptics bring a certain cold reality to bear, quickly pointing out what might go wrong and where plans aren’t sufficiently detailed.
The challenge for doubters is to be viewed as constructive rather than as a complainer.
If you’re a doubter, try to find ideas for fixing the problems you identify; the optimists are a great resource for this. Engage with others to help you communicate not only your doubts, but also your passion for making things successful.
If you work with doubters, remember that they make great risk managers!
Stormy Challengers
Thundering debate and discussion can create discomfort. Nonetheless, the challengers help surface opinions that otherwise might remain unspoken and therefore unaddressed.
However, challengers are often viewed as argumentative and intimidating.
If you love challenging others’ ideas, be sure you’re being helpful, not just a devil’s advocate; your goal is to make the ideas bigger and better, not to shoot them down. Take note of others’ reactions to you, and know when to soften your tone and word choices.
If you work with a challenger, know that mostly they’re not trying to steamroll you, even when it feels like it. Consider pushing back if they get too overwhelming.
Hot-and-cold Interpreters
The undecided have their role to play. Their ability to perceive the winds of prevailing thought allows them to serve as weathervanes, pointing to possibly-unspoken opinion and even consensus. Their sensitivity to others’ opinions gives them a valuable ability to translate between opposing forces who otherwise might not find a way to communicate.
Interpreters need to be careful of appearing wishy-washy and indecisive, especially as they rise in the ranks of management.
If you find yourself easily understanding everyone’s point of view, remember that “understanding” doesn’t mean the same thing as “agreement.” When you feel spun around by others’ opinions, ask them to back off, or step away from the discussion.
And if you work with an interpreter, engage with him or her to help you understand what other people are thinking and feeling about important issues.
So — what weather are you?
We’re often quick to identify others’ methods (usually when we disagree with them), but we may not be so clear on our own. And it’s worth noticing when you find yourself in significant disagreement with someone’s approach. That disagreement probably means you lack skills in that area — whether it’s sunny optimism, chilly doubtfulness, stormy challenge and debate, or the interpretive weathervane. Remember that in one way or another, all types of weather have something to contribute to the corporate climate and the group’s ability to get things done.
“Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces up, and snow is exhilarating; there is no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.” John Ruskin, 1819 - 1900, English art critic, author, poet, artist, and social critic.
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