3 ways to terrorize a new collaborator

This scene from the film “The Story of Luke” made ​​me smile. At the same time I must admit that I felt a “sadistic” thrill at the thought of being able to treat my co-worker in the same way as Zack does (maybe my co-workers are organizing a riot after reading this post :-D).

Well, the truth is that after 20 years of “human resources management” I can say I have seen every Tom, Dick and Harry, even worse than Luke, who in the scene is terrified of having to perform a “task” that no one told him about: delivering the mail and also picking up the mail to be sent.

So, has Zack done well? Maybe that is how you have to “train” your workers? In my opinion, it is without doubt a recipe for definite “failure”:

1. He shouts andbelittlesthe person to make him feel useless
2. He gives instructions in an approximate manner, so that the person feels confused and does not know how it will be evaluated
3. He omits useful information needed to perform a good job

In contrast, here is what works for me during the “insertion” phase of a new employee:

1. I often point out progress (you’ve reached “x” in “y” time)
2. I connect the meaning of the task to a larger “meaning” (What you are doing is useful to the entire company because …)
3. I define in detail what must be done and the criteria by which performance will be evaluated

This is enough to make him feel safe, and learn about the group and its activities. In this safety net, usually “pros” and “cons” of a person come out, leaving me the time to evaluate the right strategy for his training.

Zack’s behaviour is the result (fantasies that are not too far placed from reality) of the complexity in which companies move today. Too much thinking about the “piece”, forced into the vortex of operations that to think about “nonsense”: training, co-working, promoting new talent. I as a businessman apologize and confess: the young, the new recruits, the runaway brains will save this country.

The sooner we realise it, the better.

* In the film, Luke suffers from autism and I consider autistic people to be superior in mind, and particularly acute and brilliant in many disciplines.