Coordinating others

There is a big range of possibilities when you talk about a person in a position of being a chief: chief, boss, manager, supervisor, overseer, etc.

But a few publications and articles talk about the fine art of being a coordinator. You see, I have been that for much of my life.

Its concept does not fit into the boss’ idea, neither as a manager, and yet, bosses and managers have a lot to learn from being a coordinator.

It implicates many aspects that may be useful while managing others:

• A coordinator does not own the task and yet he or she is fully committed. That gives them an advantage as they can work with passion, but without attachment to procedures and results.
• The main people in the team are the rest of the team. The coordinator is like the empty space in a bicycle wheel – very important, but that is not why you buy a wheel...
• Coordinators will stimulate creativity, innovation and disruption, and they will use those moments to accelerate any process.
• Rules and regulations will be talked and will be uphold, but people will always come first. If a person breaks them, a coordinator will talk and together they will find a solution.
• Coordinators are measure for more than a task success: her or his people’s satisfaction will be equally important.
• The relation between a coordinator and the stakeholders is one of respect and humility.

Respect and regard

All human beings at some point want to be respected. It is part of who we are to look for appreciation, acceptance, regard and respect, even honor.

But in a world where everyone seems to think they can say whatever they think about anybody, respect has become an underrated value.

It has become part of an old tradition, something from the time when everybody trusts on each other. That made an age when economy was based more on values than prices and stocks.

However, in my experience guiding teams in many companies and non-profit organizations, respect and regard still play an important part.

Let’s take the interesting example of an international flight, in which the system has failed. About 400 passengers had to be checked-in without the basic help from computers… Yes, made by hand boarding passes and luggage tags.

And yet… with respect, calm and regard for each passenger, the ground crew was able to embark everybody. Each person who complains was talked separately, in low voice and in a nice way. By the way, the flight did leave around 2 hours later, just to arrive a few minutes before it time; and the luggage arrive very promptly too.

Values are more than nice words, they are part of what we all need to overcome crisis in any situation.

How to deal with people who are very difficult?

Yes, that guy who pushes your button… It is that lady who is always creating problems for you… Your kids who can’t obey any orientation, or your partner who avoid talking about deeper subjects.

World is full of difficult people around you, after all, you are a very easy guy or gal, right?

In the past, we humans used to live in tribes, so we would be surrounded by similar people, following similar instructions and beliefs. Nowadays, as world population is 80% in the cities, this is not happening anymore and so it becomes an interesting challenge.

With the rise of social network, ironically people are becoming less and less social, at least in presence, being able to filter people and to be with those they want. Are we recreating our old tribes?

But for those people who are very difficult and you have to deal with, here are a few tips.

• Develop empathy. Reflect on the other’s life and understand their point of view.
• Cultivate respect and regard. In your heart, start to respect more and more people regardless of what they are.
• Find common grounds. When a problem comes, go to the common ground, subjects you and others agree and love.
• Don’t avoid conflict. Learn how to deal with it in a positive way, with both sides winning.
• If you know their weak spot, avoid it. It is part of the respect towards another person…
• If they know your weak spot, strengthen it. Do a course or go to a coach and fix that as much as possible.
• Create excuses to be with them. That will prevent you to look for refuge in the bat cave.
• Maybe you are the difficult one… If you are too surrounded by difficult people, that is a strong possibility. Reflect and find a friend whom you trust, and ask him or her about it.

This will make your work more productive and your social life much more enjoyable!

Acknowledging your specialties

Many years ago, there was the praise of the "all-round" one, that is, the person who could do anything at any time. These people were valued by companies and communities and they created friends wherever they went.

Much later and a few years back, the new trend was of those who were specialized. Experts in their subject, in a very complex society, these people were hunted by companies that would pay them lots of money for whatever they could do.

Well, what is happening today exactly? As a continuation of specialization, companies and communities are valuing individuals' specialties. Let's understand that and the impact on our economy and society in general.

Although the all-rounder could do anything, quality was missing and quantity was favored. Specialists raised the quality keeping quantity. But that is not enough.

There is a moment when people start to have doubts in this wave of consumerism. After all, whatever you purchase, whatever service you get, normally you want that because of some need to be satisfied, or you could say to experience some kind of happiness out of it. But that happiness is hardly eternal... after a while, no matter how wonderful was whatever you have got, you would want more and something different.

People nowadays need more than just objects or moments of experience. They need someone who can get in touch with them. We all need friends who understand us and who help us really with our needs.

So, many years in the future, this new trend will be all over the place. People won't pay much attention to the color of their cell phone or the brand of the car, as they will pay attention to the people who help them. There will be a bond in business that was never ever imagined. This will be possible because people will work from the heart, based on what they really love to do and they are good at it, that thing that makes them so special on others' eyes.

Today... well, today that is being built by you, when you talk to your client, student or the citizen who looks for your help with dignity and respect. It starts with you when you give others more than what they ask for. It starts with you when you give others the love from your heart, your mercy and compassion. Your sincerity and friendship.

It starts when you recognize your own specialty. Believe it or not, there is something only you can do in the way you do, and that is the special power present in whatever you do in life.

Perhaps, the other trend will take some time to start, but the impact in the economy will be great enough to start a new age where humans become the focus of our civilization again.