The “InsertNameHere” Problem

Every company, group or team has one. It’s usually a person, but sometimes a process, but the issue is the same. They cause problems.

Not normal problems, like breaking machinery or poor work, but problems like challenging authority, refusal to follow arcane rules and a general unwillingness to participate in inefficient or pointless work.

But you keep them around because they are good. Seth Godin calls them heretics. You might call them assholes. You’d like not to need them, but you really would love to be them.

How are these people to be handled? Simple: give them something worthwhile to do. Don’t try to make them conform, you’re better off cutting them loose.

Stop bitching about these people. Stop shying away from their challenges. Stop disparaging them. You don’t understand them.

They’re not like you and don’t even know how to be.

Use them. Follow them. Learn from the mistakes they make and improve whatever you do.

But don’t fight them. It’s a waste. The problem is never the problem.

Your reaction to it is. ((Credit Tom Peters))