DON'T HIRE COMPUTERS!

This is especially to CEOs but if you are an employee or an aspiring CEO reading this, you are buying yourself an advantage.

I have observed and studied the workplace for some time now and I have observed that most of the people in organizations are not any better than a computer. Before you smile about that statement, give me some paragraphs to tell you what a computer truly is.

Researchers have proved that the capacity of the human brain is the number one plus eight long pages of zeros! If your mental capacity is this infinite, why are you performing so poorly? Or why are your members of staff performing so below par? If you agree with me, you will acknowledge the fact that computers were manufactured by humans. And you will agree too that only a fraction of the human brain’s capacity was replicated into the computer.

What disqualifies a computer from getting hired?

•  Computers can’t think! It is incontestable to say that computers don’t think, or better still can’t think! Why? Because they just cannot, as well as animals cannot.
• Computers lack initiative. Computers function only with the input of a human mind. Computers cannot initiate processes on their own; they are created to process instructions that have been given to them. Same goes with many workplace people. 
•  Computers are not proactive. They stay “booted” idly waiting for the boss to dish the next instruction to them. If you are boss intending to shed your work load yet hire a computer, you have successfully added some bigger responsibility to the already burdensome work load you have.
• Computers are not resourceful. You cannot successfully delegate if you always delegate to a computer because you will have to come back for the report before you can get it; and better be sure that the instructions you gave are accurate. They never take a second look at what lies before them neither do they seek better ways of executing their tasks. It’s not their fault; they just aren’t wired to do so.

If you upgrade a computer, you increase their efficiency not their effectiveness. They only get better at being ineffective not better. The only way to convert a computer is to execute a total overhaul. That is change the motherboard! You need to overhaul their prevailing mindset into what makes an effective worker. This is what we call Mental Revolution; and it comes best through Coaching.

Coaching takes time to work out and it can be quite challenging especially when the “computer” in question doesn’t see any reasons why he should change. And mind you, it costs quite some. If you think your computers are inseparable from you, employ coaching. But ensure that subsequent hiring efforts do not land you more computers.

My best advice to you is: don’t hire computers!

I'll like to have your feedback.  Please leave a comment below or send me an email to adelekeadeosun@gmail.com

Adeleke David Adeosun

 (Mr. Effectiveness)

GLADIATORS IN THE WORKPLACE

If you have seen the movie, Gladiators, you will notice that every time Maximus stepped into the arena, it was another defining moment of his life. It wasn't exactly about the feat of retaining his title as the reigning champion as much as it was about surviving for yet another fight.

It is saddening that the equivalent holds true in most workplace today. It is not uncommon to find workers in an establishment engaged in stiff competition marked by rivalry and hatred for one another. This is the underlying mindset behind Office Politicking.

I found it necessary to address this menace today while I was reading Life@Work by John C. Maxwell, Thomas Addington and Stephen Graves.

The most subtle danger posed to workplace effectiveness is a negative mindset of the essence of being skilful. For the most part, many perceive skill as a weapon of destruction and dominance. It is employed to outsmart others and maintain the lead in the race for the title of "King of the Hill".

Let me say here: Work is not a competition! It is not a struggle for dominance. It is not a contest for survival and supremacy. It is not a tool for breasting the tape in the race up the corporate ladder. As long as it is viewed in that light, you will waste your energies doing the wrong thing; that way you can never be effective. Work is not a competition in search of the winner. It is not supposed to be a lack of competition because the competition should be against your previous best.

David Sarnoff quipped, "Competition brings out the best in products and the worst in people." And it is very true; especially when the competition is directed outward to others.



If you have listened to my audio training program on Exceptional Effectiveness, you will clearly understand this in the part where I addressed the Motive parameter under our Effectiveness Model.

You need to make a shift!

GLADIATOR        ----------------------->>>>>>>               BENEFACTOR

"Talent for talent's sake is a bauble and a show. Talent working with joy in the cause of universal  truth lifts the possessor to new power as a benefactor." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Your goal in the workplace among other critically important ones is to:

1. Excel not surpass
2. Perform not win
3. Be a marvel not a threat
4. Be a genius not a rival
5. Be a benefactor not an oppressor

I have said over the years that you should strive to be your best not the best. And I have not changed my mind about that. You ought to become the genius who with a minimum of technical equipment and a maximum of craftsmanship can make something of wonder out of very little. This is just a perfect way of rewriting my definition of Effectiveness: Ability to achieve more significant results win a shorter time