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The not-so-perfect workplace solution

Suppose you decide that you want a pet. You know exactly what you want. You want your pet to bark, wag its tail, get excited when it sees you, and search for sticks when you throw it across the yard.

You have already decided to name your pet Fido.

Since you are also a person of action, you immediately head to a pet store. Before the sun goes down today, you’re going to bring home a new pet. You have made a decision; it is time to implement the decision.

When you walk into the pet store, the owner greets you and you quickly let him know you want a pet that will bark, wag its tail, and search for sticks. The owner seems doubtful.

“Are you sure you wouldn’t be interested in a fluffy, calm, meowing pet looking for a ball of yarn?” she asks.

“Absolutely not,” you reply. “I know what I want and I think it should be obvious to you that I want a dog and I want it right now!”

“Well then,” the owner replies, “we have a little problem. We don’t have dogs at the moment. We hope to have some soon, and I’ll be happy to call you when we do. Of course, if you’re flexible, you might consider a cat. We have a great selection of cats and we can get you a very good deal.It may take some training but maybe you can teach one of these cats to bark, tail wag, and fetch sticks.Most people think that cats They are very intelligent animals and you seem to be the type of person who is very good at making people or pets do what you want.”

“You have a very good point. I see no reason why I can’t have a cat and teach it how to be a dog. Give me the cat and I’ll train it.”

As the store owner writes the sale, she asks, “What are you going to name your pet?” “Fido,” you say.

How do you think Fido’s training is going to go? What are the chances that Fido will bark, wag his tail, and search for sticks? This may seem like a peculiar story, but similar dramas are enacted over and over again in the workplace by perfectly normal human beings.

I believe in training. It’s what I do for a living.

However, the fact is that some people are totally unsuited to the job they are asked to do. Spontaneous and enterprising people are asked to take on jobs that require a high level of detail, introverts are asked to take on jobs that require an outgoing personality, dominant people are asked to take on of jobs that require an accommodating personality style, and so on. etc.

In effect, cats are asked to act like dogs. Here’s a simple piece of advice: Don’t do that!

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