WEBVTT 00:00:18.208 --> 00:00:19.620 Uh... 00:00:21.199 --> 00:00:24.506 Well, this is the perfect little team of misfits, ain't it? 00:00:24.689 --> 00:00:25.917 This is it? 00:00:26.094 --> 00:00:29.085 This is our "fancy new team"? 00:00:29.708 --> 00:00:32.770 None of you have even worked a conference before! 00:00:33.190 --> 00:00:34.134 Great. 00:00:34.195 --> 00:00:35.641 Virgins. 00:00:35.998 --> 00:00:39.106 Stay strong, Neil, it's gonna be a bumpy ride. 00:00:39.870 --> 00:00:41.258 What's so hard? 00:00:41.316 --> 00:00:43.618 We have most of the booth re-design done already. 00:00:43.648 --> 00:00:46.341 Set it up, plant your butts in it for a few days, 00:00:46.367 --> 00:00:47.587 no problems. 00:00:47.790 --> 00:00:50.155 You're Simone, right? 00:00:50.291 --> 00:00:52.557 Sorry if I didn't recognize you right away. 00:00:52.634 --> 00:00:56.454 I have recall issues with people who are only at work once a week. 00:00:57.831 --> 00:00:59.227 Burn! 00:00:59.484 --> 00:01:01.185 What the hell is that supposed to mean? 00:01:01.222 --> 00:01:02.970 Well, what do you think it means? 00:01:03.054 --> 00:01:07.275 - I think it means you can kiss my a... - Ask anybody here 00:01:07.351 --> 00:01:09.018 who was in last week - 00:01:09.043 --> 00:01:10.192 ALL day. 00:01:10.240 --> 00:01:12.296 - Now how many days were you here? - Come on, 00:01:12.329 --> 00:01:13.478 Just ballpark it... 00:01:13.502 --> 00:01:14.557 - let it go. - No... no... no! 00:01:14.586 --> 00:01:16.716 Let's keep this civil, we've got work to do! 00:01:16.752 --> 00:01:17.923 You got a point? 00:01:17.973 --> 00:01:19.230 Make it! 00:01:19.540 --> 00:01:20.207 I'll say it. 00:01:20.231 --> 00:01:21.073 You're never here. 00:01:21.097 --> 00:01:24.053 You get special treatment, and I'm really not sure you're worth it... 00:01:25.257 --> 00:01:27.257 ...if we're... being... honest. 00:01:28.080 --> 00:01:29.875 My first thought was... 00:01:29.919 --> 00:01:31.462 what have I done? 00:01:31.498 --> 00:01:34.825 Five completely competent and, as far as I knew, 00:01:34.849 --> 00:01:38.047 completely sane people had devolved into... 00:01:38.072 --> 00:01:39.221 that. 00:01:39.292 --> 00:01:42.145 Working with them one-on-one was great. 00:01:42.229 --> 00:01:45.006 They all had real areas of strength. 00:01:45.343 --> 00:01:49.076 I thought they would make a great team, which is what this project needed. 00:01:49.149 --> 00:01:50.096 On paper, 00:01:50.120 --> 00:01:51.909 it was a perfect fit. 00:01:53.078 --> 00:01:54.439 When teams break down, 00:01:54.464 --> 00:01:56.581 or never gel in the first place, 00:01:56.605 --> 00:01:58.212 we have to ask ourselves: 00:01:58.362 --> 00:02:00.362 Are there generational factors? 00:02:00.519 --> 00:02:04.160 Are there misperceptions or negative assumptions in play? 00:02:04.357 --> 00:02:06.706 Is the team communicating effectively 00:02:06.731 --> 00:02:09.277 or is it all talk and no understanding? 00:02:09.687 --> 00:02:13.875 Managing generational differences individually can be challenging enough, 00:02:13.900 --> 00:02:16.532 but we also have to be able to address these issues 00:02:16.557 --> 00:02:18.399 when they come up on our teams. 00:02:18.936 --> 00:02:22.464 As managers, we need to take the time to talk through differences, 00:02:22.489 --> 00:02:24.241 clear up misperceptions, 00:02:24.265 --> 00:02:26.647 re-build respect and understanding, 00:02:26.671 --> 00:02:29.760 and take action to prevent problems in the future. 00:02:30.364 --> 00:02:33.387 Wow! When I scheduled a kick-off meeting, 00:02:33.412 --> 00:02:35.882 I didn't think there'd be actual kicking. 00:02:36.013 --> 00:02:38.693 I was outside that door for less than a minute, 00:02:38.718 --> 00:02:41.703 but I could tell we had three major problems: 00:02:41.853 --> 00:02:45.146 Tim and Lily were questioning Simone's work ethic 00:02:45.296 --> 00:02:48.683 and thinking she was getting special treatment. 00:02:48.820 --> 00:02:52.084 Simone was feeling discounted and defensive 00:02:52.109 --> 00:02:54.837 because no one seemed to be on her side. 00:02:55.237 --> 00:02:57.461 And as far as I knew Neil, 00:02:57.670 --> 00:03:00.317 he was completely offended by the language. 00:03:01.127 --> 00:03:03.127 Is everybody okay? 00:03:04.064 --> 00:03:05.034 Okay... 00:03:05.145 --> 00:03:08.360 I'm going to take responsibility for part of this 00:03:08.385 --> 00:03:09.302 because... 00:03:09.332 --> 00:03:12.827 I obviously missed something pretty big here. 00:03:13.011 --> 00:03:15.011 So, let's all take a deep breath 00:03:15.035 --> 00:03:17.035 and help me get this on the table - 00:03:17.125 --> 00:03:18.910 so we can clear it up. 00:03:19.100 --> 00:03:20.303 I'll start... 00:03:20.413 --> 00:03:22.282 I don't like the language. 00:03:22.965 --> 00:03:23.872 What?... 00:03:23.915 --> 00:03:24.917 English? 00:03:25.049 --> 00:03:28.491 Some people are entirely too comfortable with 00:03:28.515 --> 00:03:32.481 F-bombs, and cursing and name calling and... 00:03:33.105 --> 00:03:34.428 I think it's... 00:03:34.479 --> 00:03:35.985 unprofessional. 00:03:36.510 --> 00:03:38.428 It's not like I never... ya know... 00:03:38.452 --> 00:03:40.940 curse, but not in mixed company. 00:03:41.246 --> 00:03:43.336 And you never know who's around a corner 00:03:43.360 --> 00:03:46.015 or... or a cube wall. It's just... 00:03:46.877 --> 00:03:48.314 it's not right. 00:03:48.524 --> 00:03:49.953 And honestly, 00:03:50.943 --> 00:03:53.213 I don't know when it became acceptable. 00:03:53.383 --> 00:03:55.748 We're talking about me again, aren't we? 00:03:55.938 --> 00:03:57.938 Not exclusively. 00:03:58.121 --> 00:03:59.721 People know who they are. 00:04:00.058 --> 00:04:03.329 What's the big deal? It's how I express myself. 00:04:03.393 --> 00:04:04.695 I don't have to like it. 00:04:05.065 --> 00:04:06.294 That's valid, 00:04:06.318 --> 00:04:08.494 and that's an issue. 00:04:08.611 --> 00:04:10.156 I agree with Neil. 00:04:10.222 --> 00:04:14.078 I think it offends a lot of people; it's unprofessional; 00:04:14.213 --> 00:04:16.602 and it's against our policy, 00:04:16.813 --> 00:04:19.651 so no swearing and no name calling. 00:04:19.739 --> 00:04:21.116 Thank you, Neil. 00:04:21.300 --> 00:04:22.547 Anything else? 00:04:22.571 --> 00:04:24.066 Yah. I'll go. Um... 00:04:24.116 --> 00:04:26.812 I don't appreciate people here questioning my work ethic 00:04:26.836 --> 00:04:31.429 just because I have a flexible schedule, and THEY hold down a chair all day. 00:04:31.512 --> 00:04:34.108 No. Rubber is flexible. 00:04:34.132 --> 00:04:35.334 Your schedule... 00:04:35.365 --> 00:04:38.201 - is non-existent. - Oh, please... 00:04:38.244 --> 00:04:40.013 I work over 20 hours a week... 00:04:40.038 --> 00:04:40.889 from home 00:04:40.914 --> 00:04:43.028 every hour approved by Hakim. 00:04:43.092 --> 00:04:44.437 I am not a slacker. 00:04:44.461 --> 00:04:46.212 I am not Hakim's pet. 00:04:46.283 --> 00:04:47.768 Stop labelling me. 00:04:47.877 --> 00:04:48.698 Hold on. 00:04:48.920 --> 00:04:49.906 Hold on. 00:04:50.227 --> 00:04:53.854 Everyone's schedule affects the well-being of the department. 00:04:54.059 --> 00:04:55.901 You know, when we adopted it, 00:04:55.926 --> 00:04:56.947 I said... 00:04:56.971 --> 00:05:00.714 I'm willing to talk to anyone about a flexible schedule. 00:05:00.853 --> 00:05:04.003 Simone's just the first one to come to me with a proposal, 00:05:04.373 --> 00:05:07.662 so if feelings or situations have changed, 00:05:07.687 --> 00:05:08.744 let me know. 00:05:08.893 --> 00:05:09.985 Okay... 00:05:10.288 --> 00:05:12.797 Simone's working on a data-basing project 00:05:12.821 --> 00:05:15.877 that pulls from the resources we use every day. 00:05:15.940 --> 00:05:17.640 Since she is doing it at night 00:05:17.730 --> 00:05:19.415 and not bogging us down, 00:05:19.439 --> 00:05:21.272 that helps everybody 00:05:21.296 --> 00:05:23.894 who is here during the day more effective. 00:05:24.326 --> 00:05:29.765 So her schedule DOES affect all of us, but it's a positive overall. 00:05:30.695 --> 00:05:31.787 I didn't know that. 00:05:31.811 --> 00:05:33.449 It just seemed a little weird, you know? 00:05:33.543 --> 00:05:35.606 I know you just miss my pretty face. 00:05:35.998 --> 00:05:39.215 I'll do better at communicating schedules so we can avoid 00:05:39.239 --> 00:05:41.712 misunderstandings in the future. 00:05:41.980 --> 00:05:45.557 And you all can help by communicating with me 00:05:45.643 --> 00:05:47.436 and with each other 00:05:47.499 --> 00:05:49.720 when you have a question or a problem. 00:05:49.908 --> 00:05:51.443 Look around this table. 00:05:51.870 --> 00:05:54.467 We're definitely not all the same. 00:05:54.531 --> 00:05:58.509 We have a lot of different talents and perspectives in play here. 00:05:58.874 --> 00:06:02.441 I've worked with each of you individually and you're great. 00:06:02.509 --> 00:06:03.476 But, 00:06:03.797 --> 00:06:05.680 from what I've just seen, 00:06:05.797 --> 00:06:06.601 as a group 00:06:06.634 --> 00:06:08.716 we have a lot of work to do. 00:06:09.072 --> 00:06:11.773 I want us to be just as good as a group... 00:06:11.797 --> 00:06:13.904 and that takes communication. 00:06:14.100 --> 00:06:15.221 Oh... Yah... 00:06:15.245 --> 00:06:17.745 and we're ALL obviously so good at that. 00:06:17.838 --> 00:06:20.132 Well... that's the "work" thing I mentioned. 00:06:20.445 --> 00:06:23.119 Good communication starts with respect. 00:06:23.273 --> 00:06:26.911 We have to make time to discuss our issues, 00:06:26.935 --> 00:06:29.697 explore our differences respectfully 00:06:30.288 --> 00:06:33.145 and take responsibility to work things out. 00:06:33.280 --> 00:06:35.345 It's kind of like what we're doing now. 00:06:36.639 --> 00:06:38.639 Well, it's easier than yelling at each other. 00:06:38.699 --> 00:06:40.176 Exactly. 00:06:40.719 --> 00:06:41.525 Look. 00:06:41.615 --> 00:06:44.233 This group hasn't worked together before, 00:06:44.399 --> 00:06:46.672 and that takes some getting used to. 00:06:46.873 --> 00:06:48.524 We just need to remember 00:06:48.548 --> 00:06:51.285 that we all have an important part of the puzzle, 00:06:51.375 --> 00:06:53.947 so let's respect each other's work 00:06:53.984 --> 00:06:57.034 and ask for and give help if it's needed. 00:06:57.333 --> 00:06:58.305 Agreed? 00:06:58.373 --> 00:07:00.304 Yeah. Okay. Sure. Yeah. 00:07:00.554 --> 00:07:04.206 Now we're slated to kick off the planning. So... 00:07:04.258 --> 00:07:06.692 let's start with logistics? 00:07:07.284 --> 00:07:08.897 When I walked in that door, 00:07:08.930 --> 00:07:11.270 I wasn't sure how it would play out. 00:07:11.436 --> 00:07:14.847 I realized that I had been adjusting to their styles. 00:07:15.080 --> 00:07:16.530 That's what I do. 00:07:16.565 --> 00:07:19.625 But they needed my help getting to the same spot. 00:07:20.056 --> 00:07:22.789 Their differences were derailing the team. 00:07:22.849 --> 00:07:25.365 And, it's my job to see that, 00:07:25.425 --> 00:07:27.425 that doesn't happen.