Officer Triage??? This week I am going down a path which might be a little controversial, but heck I been down that path so much, I damn near live there! I am thinking that all organizations have the same symptoms, and I am truly thinking that an officer's time, regardless of rank can only achieve so much in any given time. I have broken our members down in the form of triage to just give some thoughts to how we manage to help the greatest number. Triage is designed to do the greatest good for the many, so maybe the principles of triage apply to leadership. Red tags - Those people who need immediate and prompt intervention before they terminate their career or organizationally die. These people can be saved by a prompt and effective leader setting in front of them the treatment they need in the form of counseling, discipline, coaching or whatever. It is important the leader recognizes this. Like first aid type triage this is fraught with many risks, is very uncomfortable for the person doing the intervening (the officer) and it does not always work, but this is the highest priority of our organizations and they can be saved. Yellow tag - These persons need maintenance. They can be handled successfully at an annual performance evaluation, or during day to day contact with them to make sure they are progressing and getting organizationally well. They do require attention, but you can focus a little less on them if they were stable to begin with! Green Tags - Most of your organization should fall in this category. The shaken up, but walking wounded! Most of your troops will be OK, they need a little direction, and they can be used to help others like the yellow tag folks. Comfort, coach and counsel these folks and they will be fine. Black tags - Some folks would say that you should never give up on anyone, and while I am in general agreement with this I would say that that there can be a time to write off someone for the greater good of the organization. This whole concept came to me many years ago when I was spending an inordinate amount of time on a problem in an organization, and a good friend of mine cam into my office, shut the door, and said, "you know, you are spending all of your time on this one individual and there are many more that need your help, guidance and direction". It was like a great slap in the face. I had been focusing everything I had on a bad apple while the rest of the bunch was going to cider! I am not sure you should or I could give up on anyone but what I am saying is a little time management, and making some decisions about the people we supervise could lead us to some organizational triage that might just do the greatest good for the many. Send your comments, thoughts or items you would like to see published here to info@petelamb.com. or pete@petelamb.com Your opinion matters! (To us anyway) |
