Learning to become valuable to your employer and staff

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Villagers Beware!
Most of us have heard the story of Frankenstein. In the
darkness, on a table in a dungeon, lie the remains of
what was once
dead, sewn
together to form
a man. But at the
sound of a crash
of thunder the
creature rises
and comes alive!
This man,
estranged from
what is reality,
grotesque but
somehow peculiarly innocent, ends up defying his
maker and tormenting the innocent, wreaking havoc
wherever he goes.
Depending on which version you read about or watch,
Frankenstein usually ends up cast out of the city by his
own hand or by those he caused pain. Although it is
just a story line that has moved the hearts of those who
enjoy such folklore, it can be a parallel to our real lives
in business.
Take for instance Donna. Working at the same facility
for over fifteen years, she had a camaraderie and
special bond with many of her staff and her patients.
As a Manager, she enjoyed the hours she worked, the
benefits the company provided, but much more than
that she loved that she could mold and create talented
individuals that would catapult her area to a higher
level than that of others in the same field. Year after
year other staff depended on her expertise, skill,
mentoring, guidance, and suggestions. Even her past
Director valued her knowledge, and her elevated level
of integrity, and that she was highly accountable and
trustworthy in all aspects of her life and career.
Donna would say, “It isn’t about me or what I can
accomplish, it is my ability to work shoulder to
shoulder with my staff, leading them to become strong
leaders themselves one day. That is what makes us go
further and be more effective, which will create a
positive culture for our facility, and our patients see
that.”
Although she loved what she did, Donna had a
dilemma, a monster problem of sorts, and his name
was Brad.
Let me pause here and go back to old Frankie. Poor
guy, although created to better the future of mankind,
he displeased his maker to become the exact opposite
Don’t be a frankenstein!
Julie Hammond, 2016

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of what he had hoped to accomplish. Instead of
creating a beacon of goodwill and creativity, his new
creature was ill-equipped and imperfect, creating
destruction, eventually even destroying his creator.
And There’s a Bride Too?!
If creating Frankenstein wasn’t enough, here comes his
new companion and cohort, his Bride, ready to stand
side-by-side with him to take on the world. It isn’t
enough that there was one madman, now there’s a
pair!
So, let’s go back to Donna. Donna was approached by
Brad, a young IT analyst who had applied for the role
of Manager in his Cyber Security department. Brad
wanted to use Donna as a reference; after all, they had
worked together in previous years and he didn’t see
any issues with her feedback. But Donna cringed when
she agreed to his request, knowing that what she had
to say would not be good. After all, Brad was not the
type of person that should be managing anyone.
Working with him on assignments in the past, he was
not truly able to give accurate results, provide sound
analytical calculations, or lead by example. Even worse,
at times he acted like a bully, barking at those who
were too scared to react, even acting with a narcissistic
tone while treating his colleagues like they were
beneath him. How could she provide positive remarks
when most times those working with him feared him?
After reminding her and almost insisting she answer
his reference questions quickly, Donna remembered
Brad’s former boss Marissa. Just like Brad, she too
carried the same traits, but went even further causing
dissension among staff because of her gossip and
hostile comments. They were in fact two of kind,
wreaking havoc among their peers and subordinates.
People were fleeing in droves, only to be replaced by
those with the same characteristics as the both. It
became a madhouse, and eventually after several
complaints, HR had no choice but to terminate this
villain, as her employees had come to call her, and
those who followed in her footsteps.
Although the story line somewhat parallels the analogy
of that of Frankenstein, it is almost common in today’s
business world. The boss defies the culture of the
company and instead acts with his own initiative,
creating an atmosphere that breeds fear instead of
empowerment and diversity. The team becomes
fearful, they begin to meet in groups, gathering
evidence that supports their suspicions, and now there
is anxiety as productivity decreases, and gossip thrives.
Did you forget about Brad? Neither did Donna. She
completed her reference and gave honest answers,
and evidently so did three others. Brad was passed
over for the position, and eventually lost his job
because of his bullying behavior.
A healthy, productive culture is one that is free from
hostility, dominance in the form of ridicule or
manipulation, and one that fosters trust within teams.
It is one of building relationships, celebrating success,
motivating and encouraging one another regardless of
title, and respecting the value each team member
contributes to the overall success and mission of the
organization.
No matter what title you hold, we all have a part to
play, and everyone matters. What are you doing to
promote a healthy environment in your organization?
I can’t, but WE can!

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