People Are Who They’re Allowed to Be, An Introduction

This article is an introduction to a series of four articles titled “People Are Who They’re Allowed to Be.” The three subsequent articles apply this concept to your company, you as a manager, and to you personally.

“I can’t believe they keep getting away with it!”

It took everything in me to remain professional.

Once again, the coworker that caused the most trouble for everyone else was let off the hook.

Yet again, the efforts of literal dozens of my coworkers were thrown aside from a single word from the boss’s “Golden Employee.”

For the humans out there reading this, you’ve felt this frustration.

At some point in your life, some person has gotten away with whatever “It!” is, and it seems like they can get away with it whenever they want. You leave the encounter feeling frustrated, fuming, and are fed up with their continued behavior.

Perhaps you’ve even tried doing what they do. If you’re like me, the result was that you got in trouble. The offender in question? Repeats it and gets away with it once again! Whether “the offender” is a family member, coworker, or boss, you seem to be held to a different standard.

It’s because you are held to a different standard.

Whether it’s due to the observer-expectancy effect, blatant double standards, or something else, it’s frustrating.

But.

When leaders do this in the workplace, it creates a work imbalance that alienates talent, leads to burnout, and becomes a toxic culture or cancer on your business.

Join me over the next few articles and explore the idea that:

People are who they’re allowed to be.

You will read how the idea that “people are who they’re allowed to be” affects companies, managers, and even you as an individual.

In preparation for this series, honestly contemplate:

What do you allow?

What do you allow at your company?

What persistent pesters keep popping up?

Which employees have “routine behavior” you’re tired of addressing?

What shackles do you place upon yourself as you strive to achieve new things?

And as always, I’d love to talk about this with you. We have the tools to help you navigate this truth and take back control of your company and work-life integration.

Praising the slacker? Punishing the over-achiever? People are who they’re allowed to be. Who are you in this picture?