Do
you remember the game of “Operation” growing up? The game buzzed
and the patient’s nose lit up in red alert if your surgical procedure went off
track using tweezers. As a child, one
thing that I always found most appealing about the game was the “funny bone”.
Naturally,
I assumed everyone had a funny bone.
Okay, maybe it wasn’t in the right arm (humerus) – but I was certain that everyone had a sense of humor
and loved to laugh. I was wrong.
One
of the most intriguing instruments we use in our consulting practice today is
the CDR Drivers & Rewards Assessment that identifies 10 facets of intrinsic
motivation or deeply imbedded life
interests. One’s need, or
appreciation, for Amusement & Hedonism is one of these facets measured on a
scale of 0% to 100%. Amusement & Hedonism measures
one’s needs for fun, personal indulgence, a zest for good times, and an overall
philosophy of enjoying life to the fullest.
People with high scores seek a fun work environment, are usually light
hearted or even jolly, may relish entertaining, maximize their vacation time,
tend to be less formal, and enjoy other fun-loving types.”
People with low scores
prefer a serious work environment. Their
sober approach can be effective when the tasks at hand are extremely precise or
engrossing or when there is no room for interruption of thought or
progress. Surgeons, auditors,
inspectors, and judges are examples of those who benefit from having a serious,
poker face determination. Frequently,
rule enforcers and stewards of standards benefit from the straight-faced or solemn
demeanor.
From a
leadership and work culture perspective, the gap between having a high or low
Amusement & Hedonism score matters greatly.
For example,
in the financial and banking sector, successful leaders and professionals alike
tend to have very low Amusement & Hedonism scores on average. Their organizations tend to be more formal,
button down, no nonsense and quite serious about the business at hand. In fact, they can be quite task focused so
that if you worked there and told a funny joke or story, this would not be a
welcomed intrusion into the workspace.
Occasionally, you may encounter individuals with a dry, Bob Newhart sense of humor, but you
would be hard pressed to find a fun loving jokester on display.
We had a
corporate banking client in NYC who decided to go to casual business dress code
rather than keeping the full dark suit attire.
This new dress code policy only lasted one week! It made everyone too uncomfortable because it
didn’t connect with the low Amusement & Hedonism scores or their need for a
formal work atmosphere. Additionally,
going casual was out of kilter with their client’s expectations of a “banker.”
I once
worked with a Director of Training & Development of a mid-west energy
company, Ed, who had a very low score and his company, too, went to casual
business dress. I noticed during a visit
that the men were wearing golf shirts and khaki slacks. Ed was not going with
the flow. He was wearing a long sleeved,
stiffly starched plaid shirt, buttoned to the top, and it was over 90 degrees outside. I asked him where his golf shirt was and he
replied sternly, “Nancy it took me three weeks just to take my tie off!” He really was not comfortable with the
change.
Another VP
of Leadership Development at a major medical device corporate headquarters in
New Jersey scolded one of our senior consultants, Kim, who was onsite for
laughing and talking with a couple employees in a fun spirited way by the water
cooler near her office.
So
culturally, the Drivers & Reward needs of the employees and leaders become
the living values and social environment and are the welcomed code of behaviors.
Note: Image of Operation Game used with written permission by Hasbro.
Women Image courtesy of Ambro at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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