Reference for a Colleague!

Should I give it to him now or wait until he asks?

J is a stand out member of the  team, never letting anything or anybody get in the way of his achieving his professional goals.   He especially enjoys interacting with "the big boss", ideally hourly or more frequently if desired, with a view to keeping the top man across all aspects of the team's activities.  He is especially helpful to his peers, offering frequent and regular feedback, never failing to highlight areas for improvement.  He often takes the opportunity to engage the boss in this feedback, thereby ensuring his colleagues also get plenty of boss face-time. 

J's eagerness to help doesn't just end here!  NO!  Recognising one of his peers is new to the role and not yet had any opportunity to shape the team or adapt strategic direction to suit changing business needs, he is happy to step in and personally manage that team too.  He recognises the need to circumnavigate management to ensure his 'professional' goals are achieved.  Motivation is an area of special interest, guiding teams and explaining how he could personally reduce a weeks work to 20 minutes but only if he was doing it himself.

AND! His good will and obliging nature just keeps on coming, it extends across all departments as he makes a special effort to highlight those little opportunities that have been missed, especially those where he knows his peers haven't yet seen the benefits, but with his help, surely soon will.

As to team work, well .... he leaves one speechless.  There is nothing he likes more than a gathering around the water cooler, especially with the more junior members of the team.  An opportunity for him to influence them to become future followers, when he attains his full potential of course, thus ensuring a reverent and loyal following... as well as support for his philosophy throughout the business and down through the years.

If J has one failing it is that he spreads himself a little too thin... not always leaving enough time to focus on his own team.  Due to his unmatched enthusiasm to assist others, he has been known to lose sight of the responsibilities of his own role and department.  That said, with appropriate direction from his manager, this minor failing could be overcome.

[Go on... I betcha... you know him don't you?]

Feb 2011 - Reflections on My New Job!

Life is not boring.... that's for sure...

As I complete my first 2 years in a new job I can reflect that it has been quite an experience.... After many year's as a Manager in the IT business, week 1 set the scene.  My first Friday night was a late one, due to a computer virus of all things [of course I added value... I ordered the pizza].  In two years I have lived through cyber war, data centre migrations, office relocation's and now flood.... Need I go on?

My resume is going to need a lot of work if I ever do get bored...