I am infamous for saying “There are two kinds of people in the world….”

Of course, it’s a gross generalization…but one that I find useful. So let me share one that I recently used.

Often people get frustrated with colleagues and managers because they can’t or won’t change. It seems obvious what needs to get done, but they just don’t do it. Why is that?

Think of the world divided into two kinds of people…the nuclear power plant manager and a Special Forces team lead. The traits that make someone a great nuclear power plant manager would be the ability to follow process, detail orientation, thoroughness. The traits that make a team lead great are the ability to adapt, keep a cool head, communicate under stress, snap judgments, comfort with the unknown.

You wouldn’t want to swap these two….there’s a reason why these traits are good for the role. But what I see in companies is that the more senior you are, the more likely you will find yourself in situations that blur the lines. The power plant manager has to deal with crises where there is no process. The team lead has to follow processes that might feel bureaucratic.

Think about which camp you fall into, and what are the skills you need to develop to broaden your ability to handle the non-BAU situations. It’s not going to feel comfortable, but it will make you more prepared.