At work, what type of boss or co-worker is most likely to drive you crazy?

Is it a person whose values most resemble those of the late Mother Theresa, Donald Trump or Star Trek’s Data?

Or would it be a “time is money” kind of boss, a young Goldie Hawn or a dyed-in-the-wool Ottawa bureaucrat?
Whom do you most resemble?

Chances are that if you work in a big enough company, you share work space with all these characters. You just may not recognize them.

It’s the basis of a presentation that Kathy Shworak will give at the upcoming Humour Summit in Calgary, April 1-2. Her talk is lightheartedly titled Is Your Boss a Joke?

Mike Dempster, Business Edge
Consultant Kathy Shworak will present six ‘extreme’ pictures of people in her presentation at the Humour Summit.

A leadership-training and team-building consultant, she will present six “extreme” or embellished pictures of the people who, in general, embody certain common
values.

“I’m exaggerating some of their characteristics, using humour to create some awareness,” says Shworak.

“Sometimes we get into conflict, or are frustrated, with our bosses or team members because our values are different.”

In order to understand those differences and learn to cope, people first must recognize the six groups of workers.

Shworak identifies them as:

* Theoretical (like Data, the android from Star Trek: The Next Generation). This person is passionate about the pursuit of knowledge and truth. He values thinking, research and learning.
* Utilitarian (a “time is money” type of person). This is a practical, efficient, bottom-line results type of guy or gal. If this person can’t see a benefit or reward in an
activity, he or she doesn’t want to be involved.
* Esthetic (think of Goldie Hawn, in the 1960s comedy show Laugh-In). An adult flowerchild who believes in beauty, harmony and the environment. This person wants creativity and self-actualization.
* Social (Mother Theresa). These workers are concerned with bettering society. They give of themselves unselfishly, the type of person who is always organizing charity drives or collecting for a baby shower.
* Individualistic (a CEO-or-Bust Donald Trump type). These people want to achieve power, recognition, position and fame. They want to be in charge and will form alliances to get results. This person is also strongly linked with one of the other groups and will, for example, use power to create strong return on investment, to improve the social structure or the environment.
* Traditional (the bureaucrat who lives for the rules). These people want a system for living that has rules and structure. Part of their philosophy is they want everyone else to do the same.

Shworak stresses that the six groups are presented in their “purest” form. People are complex and most of us share many of the same values. Where we differ is the importance we place on those values.

To illustrate how values play out, Shworak uses herself as an example. At the core she’s a utilitarian/social type of person – a time-is-money individual with a social bent.

In other words, Shworak doesn’t mind working with or helping people as long as it’s not a waste of time.

“I want my return for my time, even if it’s just a thank you. That’s all I need. But if you don’t improve, are a lost cause, I have no time for you. That’s my value system.”

Formerly a manager with the City of Calgary before creating her company, Positive Views (www.positive-views.com), Shworak didn’t always understand the value system.

As a utilitarian type, she couldn’t figure why she was so impatient with some people in meetings. She wanted to see an agenda, wanted a timeline to discuss certain matters and wanted results when the meeting concluded.

“The people who came in and wanted to socialize and meander about drove me bananas,” she laughs. “I’m now mindful that I have less understanding of them, so I have to be more patient of them. Their values aren’t important to me, but they are important to them. I have to validate that, recognize that.”

As a city manager, she remembers an employee who was theoretical in nature, a Data-type character with a thirst for knowledge. The employee worked in a repetitive data-entry type of position.

“Once I recognized that she was theoretical, I was able to shift her into a role where I was able to give her projects that required her to do some research,” Shworak says. “She was in her glory.”

As a person who wants to get things done, Shworak says utilitarians like herself bristle at bureaucrats “who can’t make a decision without taking it up (the chain of command) five levels.”

Nevertheless, she has learned to cope. She offers a few tips:

* First, understand what your values are and how they can conflict with others.
* See the values that you share with these people. Somewhere in your list, you will share some common ground. If you study other people closely enough, it doesn’t take long to figure out their character.
* You may have to reach a point where you agree to
disagree, that sometimes people will clash because
their values are so disparate.
* Change your attitude. Use humour and have a little fun. Think of how you are perceived because of your
values and see the humour in your differences.

Finally, Shworak stresses that people can’t hope to change another person’s values. Values are formed during childhood and acquired through life experiences, she says.

Life-changing events such as having children, divorce, the death of a close friend or relative, or losing a job are the kinds of events that tend to reshape our list of values.

It’s when the Donald Trumps of this world become Mother Theresas and the Datas become Goldie Hawns, then – like Shworak’s presentation – things could be taken as humorous in the extreme.

Note: Shworak and speakers from across Canada will take part in the Humour Summit at Calgary’s Radisson Hotel. Its theme is Humour for Health, Work & Play. For information see www.canadahumour.com or call (403) 203-0075.

(Mike Dempster can be reached at miked@businessedge.ca )