Have you Exploited your Project Team Today?
Wait a minute, Exploit your Project Team? You are probably thinking - He can't be serious. That's a horrible, evil thing to do, right?
You probably also have visions of unfair wages, an evil boss, overworked and under-appreciated staff, things like that. Unfortunately, that does happen - but it is not what I am talking about.
You really should exploit your team - and a trip to the toy store made me come to view this as a viable management approach.
Wisdom from the Toy Store
While shopping for a birthday present for one of my children, I came across the following toy that you first assemble, and then play with:"Exploiter"? My initial reaction was to take offense at the words on the box. My second reaction was to take a photo. Translated instructions from a foreign country are often quite humorous, but it is less common to have the label or name of a product be so obviously "wrong". It was one of those you-have-to-see-it-to-believe-it moments.
I paced around the store, agitated, thinking about what a poor message this was giving to our children - nobody wants to be exploited, and if you exploit someone, you are obviously a bad person - right?
Listen to the podcast or read the full article on Gazza's Corner Blog.