The Myth of Togetherness

You don't have to get along to work together. There, I said it.

But yet that is the stated goal of most Professional Development courses, providing unrealistic expectations and crushing defeats of well meaning programs. What is essential any stage of a progressive program is continual wins. These provide the momentum necessary to keep the group going. People get along with each other when they are in "winning" situations.

Don't use that as inspiration to start a program. Design things exclusively from the point of view of what is going to benefit the company the most. Once you establish the mission and vision of the company as law, people can start finding their place in the company. Once people start finding their niche, it is up to management to give them something productive to make them feel better about what they are doing. Once they have something they feel better about doing, they will be more productive, as well as focused on the development of the company. Then, when they are more productive in beneficial ways, recognize them for what they are doing.

If you notice, I never mentioned getting along with each other, or having to act as a "team." These are things that are consequences of individual actions towards a common outcome. Most companies go at it from the personal aspect first, then bend the company policy and culture around that. I am saying that the culture and policies have to be strictly enforced by management, then whoever doesn't decide to go along with the company will be outed as the "asshole." You can't let personalities dictate policy- you focus on business necessities, and make your policy one that puts that above and beyond personality issues.

Rest assured, assholes will try to muddy the waters by making personal issues seem greater than they should be in the grand scheme of things. But it is up to you as a leader to remember the real issue, and what should be the focus. Once that is established, there is a fair and logical way to manage your employees, while allowing for a small amount of wiggle room to navigate the hairiest of issues. It is not about being together personally, it is about being together PROFESSIONALLY.

There are so many examples of great bands that have followed this mantra, I don't have the time or the patience to recite them all here. What most of them had in common was this ability to take the internal energy and use it towards completing their professional task. Some of the greatest songs were built because of internal squabbles.

Granted, there are extremes. But what needs to be addressed is employers habit of being scared and intimidated by the power contained in conflict. Use it to produce superior product, and ride the creativity train for as long as possible. Then, when you get to the end of the ride, you can go solo. Most people are so afraid of the inevitable end of a fiery, creative partnership, they are not willing to put themselves in a potentially career defining situation. They would much rather stay in relationship that is built on false hope and unrealistic dreams. We are all unique contributors to the greatest good- let's work towards making our work relationships as explosive as our favorite bands. You just may come up with your company's version of "1984."