Blake Patty #2

In my last post I mentioned how I chose my dad as my mentor as I write these posts. I have since talked with my dad and we have had some valuable discussions what it means to approach management in his missional context and as a Patty with similar strengths and weaknesses that we share.

     One of the things that came up in our discussion was a certain characteristic of mine that comes up when I work. As the semester whines down there are several group projects that were coming to a close. One in particular was a duo group presentation. My partner in this presentation got sick the weekend before our presentation was due so I offered to finish the last bits of our project on my own. I soon realized how very slow I was at completing what needed to get done on my own in comparison with in comparsion to when I was working with this other student. It was very evident that I lacked the ability to stay focused on the task at hand. I kept getting distracted by adjusting small details in the PowerPoint like making sure the graphs were just the way I wanted them or making sure the wording was just right. I realize that I do this kind of thing in many areas of my life. For example, when writing a paper I rarely go back and edit my writing because I end up doing the editing while writing which slows the process down a ton. I typically approach things from a micromanaging perspective right off the bat, rather than simply focusing on accomplishing the task then going back and dealing with details. This is just how I naturally approach situations.

     I brought this up in our meeting because I knew my dad had a similar approach to work and I wanted to know how he was still able to do his management position justice without always getting stuck in the constant micromanaging dilemma. He first explained that he really saw this slow yet in-depth processing of information as a strength and something that can really be utilized in management. This tendency often leads him to quickly notice areas for improvement and how to best solve the problem. He can often partner along with people who have a more entrepreneur way of thinking by observing their plan and knowing how to add to it or adjust it so that it can really come to completion. He made sure to add that sometime there is just no getting around needing to get things done. For a while, my dad lead the branch of our organization in Slovenia. He filled this role well, yet it often required a more futuristic way of thinking than he was really comfortable with. The time came for a new member of the team to fill the role and my dad become the regional manager for all the southern eastern European countries where the organization operates. Not only does the new Slovene director fit the role in many ways my dad was lacking, but my dad’s new role really allows for him to use his prevailing way of thinking as a counselor and advisor to many country team leaders.

     It will be really important for me to realize this fact about me wherever I may go in the future. I should always seek to put myself in situations where my approach to problem solving can really be utilized while also seeking to be around people who can fill roles in the areas that I am lacking.