Had enough? Loyalty tested to the extreme? Prepared to just walk away? Welcome to the world of the two million or 33% of “Dr Who” viewers who are feeling exactly the same about the new series. Why is that? And how can a legendary UK science fiction series offer us lessons in management?
Well, in two ways: the effect of the new ‘boss in the blue box’, and the script he is working to.
It is inevitable that the new Doctor disturbs the equilibrium we have become accustomed to; there’s a changed approach, a different style. Suddenly we have to accommodate a different language, a new set of demands; we’re not immediately sure if this new Doctor is a good guy or a bad guy. He seems a bit grumpy / serious / flighty / abrasive etc. etc. (add and delete as appropriate). And it may be a style that doesn’t sit easily with us. We came to love the way the last guy flew around, madly, fixing things, and saving the Earth for three whole series; we aren’t used to this new, growling, uneven and unpredictable bizarreness. Even his conversation is haphazard.
“I’m sick of listening to you!” Clara shouts - and well she might. We know how she feels.
Now read ‘Manager’ for ‘Doctor’…
Of course, it isn’t all their fault - nor your fault as the new manager. You can only be yourself; you have your own style, the way you communicate. You can’t be the other guy. Nor should you be - or try to be. I hate to say it, but you have to be “authentic” and “genuine”… And the least you can be is aware and conscious of the environment in which you find yourself. In many ways you need to listen more than speak, converse more than command, explain more than dictate - after all, you’re new to this skin and, as we all know, for a Time Lord to function effectively after a regeneration takes a little - well - time…
It is also possible that your ‘script’ (aka Job Description or Objectives) might just be a little different to your predecessor. After all, we are paid to do a specific job. It could be that the emphasis you have been given is different to that of the regime that went before - and in that case, perhaps you can’t help but be different to the old Doctor/manager everyone used to love. [Of course, the whole thing is much easier if they hated the last guy!!]
One of the challenges you might face is if you are expected to - or want to - make a ‘big impact’. For some people, this can be more important than anything else: “hit the ground running”; “show them who’s Boss”; “take no prisoners”… Just be cognisant that there are many ways to achieve all of these things and more without running around like a bull in the proverbial china-shop.
In any new situation - managerial or Time Lord-like - the watchwords should be balance, patience and humility. You can still achieve an awful lot very quickly. And if you get it right, you won’t lose a third of your audience doing so.
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About the author / copyright
Ian Gouge is widely experienced in business-driven Information Technology, culminating in significant achievements majoring on organisational and process change, and with a proven track record in turning around / re-engineering IT functions. He possesses in-depth experience of change, transformation, IT delivery, customer and supplier engagement, and broad International exposure. Also the author of management books on the topics of IT Strategy and Project Management, the impact on IT of e-Business, and the IT Organisation.
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