Angry White Guy Demographics

The profile of your headache.

In your company there is a person who is giving you problems. The song he sings goes like this. We're owned and run by idiots, we make bad product, our customers are clueless, and I'm surrounded by incompetents.

Let me be a mind reader and tell you what he, (yes he), looks like. Mostly male, (not usually female although I know of a couple of cases), is caucasian, between 35 and 45 years of age, has been with your company between 8 and 15 years, doesn't exercise and it shows, seems to favour Super Store clothing, and definately has plateaued. This angry white guy has not made peace his life, middle age has set in, and he begins acting out in your company. Roughly, in my experience, that's the pattern.

At yesterday's seminar 130 people grinned uncomfortably as I told them this story. The short answer for dealing with this person is to remind them that with a paycheque comes the requirement to keep the work moving, and not block it. No matter how cute and devious a method they originate for blocking the work, (silent treatment, hostliity, anti social, bad mouthing the company, etc.) it all goes to the same place, - they are blocking the workflow.

When you get in the way of productivity, no matter how you get there, that's called insubordination which can pave the way for dismissal for cause.

I wouldn't coach or performance manage this person. Take a note from Ceasar Milan, (the dog guy), stop talking and just get into his space. This is an alpha problem.

On a personal note to the angry white guy, - what's the end game here? I'll fill in the blanks. You end up with a red circle around your payroll number with some other guy saying, "we've got to do something about this fool." Sooner or later, you'll be right. Your company is stupid, - how else could they have fired you?

In November our subject is Performance Reviews. You will get blindsided by the simplicity, effectiveness and unconventional approach to getting some accountability in place, and even a paper trail for further action. We'll be full to the rafters. Have been every year so book your seats very early.
Thank you
Wolfgang

p.s. To those of you who attended Sept. 15th at the Planetarium , yes we ended up with 130 managers in the room! Thank you for being there, and thank you for singing happy birthday to me. It's never happened in 14 yrs, you are the first crowd to do that, - and thank you Dann Konkin, Pres. Ampco!
p.s. Always, I do not give legal opinions. Ask your lawyer about your situation before you act on any employee.
p.s. If you're among the few companies who have recieved and booked a guest seat and pull a "no show, " you will be blacklisted for six months from attending any of our seminars. If you must, cancel 24 hrs ahead of time please. We need every seat. Thank you.