There were 2-games-in-1 taking place at my 10-year-old daughter’s soccer game: The game on the field involving the ball and girls attempting to impress their parents; and then there were the parents, several of whom were on their cell phones. (I counted 6.) They were attempting to impress their kids by pretending they were paying attention to them.
Score: No one wins. Both kids and parents lose.
This game is played in business, too. Employees prepare diligently for meetings with hopes of delivering value…while teammates stare at smart phones and computer screens, pretending to be paying attention.
Score: No one wins. Both company and customer lose.
While we know we’re better than this, some work cultures perpetuate the pretending game. Here are three questions to support your team:
1) How does your team play the game?
2) How do you define professionalism in this matter?
3) And what’s the professionalism worth?