Do you work with dingbats?

When managers tell me they have “dingbats” working in their office, I am surprised because they are the ones that hired the dingbats to begin with.

When hiring, many managers meet someone for an interview and think they know the person based on a few minutes together. They make a major decision to hire after only one interview. (Would you marry someone after the first date? Well, some do. But most would agree it is not a great idea). Remember, anyone can appear normal during an interview. You’re asked silly questions, a pulse is checked, and bingo! You’re hired. After the first day on the job, passion quickly fades to everyday stress and the need to perform.

Here are the five clues that determine whether or not you work with a dingbat:

1. They always have an excuse to not work. They are always trying a new way to avoid the work that affects them throughout each day.
2. They are selfish. They only care about themselves. If they help someone else, it is because it benefits them, too.
3. They blame others for their own mistakes so they can raise their own stock value. These same people go around and start rumors because it helps people not look at them.
4. They have a bad attitude. They are grumpy or seem to have a reason to be in a bad mood. (Worse are the people who are really friendly and upbeat when the manager is around, before their evil twin appears.)
5. They don’t play well with others. Typically dingbats only like other dingbats. So you will rarely see them in groups of people. You may have a small group of them, because once they find each other, they will stick together like glue.

REALITY: You may be that person. Acknowledgment is the first step to getting away from that lifestyle. People see the world as they are and not as it really is. It is very hard to see yourself as a dingbat, but you know if your characteristics are represented in the points above. If you are honest with yourself, you can change.

If you are an employee (and not a dingbat), identify dingbats and avoid them at all costs. It’s important to be aware of them so you can avoid becoming one, too.

If you are a leader, you better do something about them before your own destiny changes. Take action immediately. Be more aware of what’s going on around your office. Pay closer attention to the facts and never make decisions based on emotions or hearsay. Dingbats left alone will create a poison in the office that will spread like the flu.

Dingbats can only survive in a culture with no leadership. Leadership is demonstrated, not talked about. Leadership is taking the right actions every time. If you take the right actions, you’ll get the right results. Don’t blame others, just step up and make things happen. A leader will step up and stop the dingbat by doing and displaying in his or her own actions what is right.

If you are a manager, be a leader. If you are an employee, be a leader. Become the employee everyone wants to hire.

Brian Parsley, author of inspHIREd, is an Audience Captivator. He is the President of TrainOne, Inc. and COO of Charlotte-based BuyGitomer, Inc. in Charlotte, NC. He gives seminars and works with businesses to develop best practices, keep customers loyal, and increase revenue through effective selling skills.

He can be reached by calling 704-333-1112 or emailing brian@trainone.com.