TGIF- Right?

“It’s Friday. Time to go make some stories for Monday.” – author unknown

I’ve had the privilege over the past 30 years or so of my career to manage some teams as a part of my role for various companies that I’ve been a part of. In some instances, there were larger groups with the typical hierarchy of structure in place. In other instances, there were smaller teams of less than 10 members.

Currently I oversee a smaller team. They are nimble, generally very responsive, eager to learn and quick to fix issues (I will write a different post on that topic). They are a “likeable” bunch. On Fridays I will often try to bring in some bagels or donuts, coffee cake or Starbucks. I’ll Slack the team on my way in, take the orders and deliver the goods. My dime, nothing gets turned in to the Finance team. I do it as much for me as I do for them. Here’s why.

1. It communicates a simple “thank you”. As managers, we need to do this, and do it often. People appreciate a “thank you” in whatever way you show it. I understand the concept of company benefits, a regular paycheck, personal time off, etc. but we shouldn’t undervalue the importance of basic human communication. Telling a person that you appreciate them through a simple act of giving or act of kindness is remembered, is felt, and is absorbed into their view of their self worth and role on the team.
2. It puts a positive, “glass half full” perspective on the day. For us here, Fridays aren’t necessarily slower. But they typically cap off the end of the work week, and in Silicon Valley the Friday vibe has a lengthy history. Bringing in a treat, coffee, or even lunch for the team on a Friday is a great way to signify the end of the work week with a non-verbal “high five” of sorts- the message that as a team we made it, we made a difference, and we worked together towards a common set of goals can be a powerful way to build a sense of team, a sense of identity, a sense of purpose.
3. It’s the whole “do unto others” golden rule thing. I won’t get into my particular background or faith- and I understand that people come from many different walks of life. One common thread to most all people is the idea that you treat others in the way you would want to be treated by them. Taking a positive action towards your team members communicates such a value in a simple and acceptable manner. Without pushing an agenda, just taking an action such as a coffee run, or lunch or a small gift card will promote the idea that you’re glad they are a part of the team, thankful for them, etc. As humans, we all benefit from this kind of input.
4. It’s a basic banking concept- you’re making a deposit. We can ask for a lot from our teams at time- and we do- but occasionally we need to put something into the bank so to speak- make a deposit of good will- to keep everyone and everything in balance. I’ve worked for bosses who demanded much but gave very little in return- it doesn’t work well, and it’s easy to chew up people that way. If you don’t care about others (and you may not) then you probably don’t care whether or not you abuse them in the workplace. That’s really too bad- and really bad “karma” by the way- because you may think you’re getting what you need from others, but in reality you’re just short changing yourself, the business and your team and ultimately you’ll pay a hefty premium of the back end of this journey. I’ve left jobs not because I didn’t like the work, or didn’t believe in the vision, but because I couldn’t support the non-ethical, negative, divisive, irresponsible boss or manager that I reported to. People need to not only believe in the work they are doing, but in the leadership they are doing it with.

Well, that’s it for right now. Give some thought to your team, your Fridays and your leadership. What do you communicate as a manager? How do you treat those around you? TGIF!

-Tim