AND not OR

In our ever-polarized world, we’re often presented with two options.

THIS or THAT.

On social media, we’re bombarded with two options because it’s a tactic to elicit engagement.

Should you work hard or smart?!
Should you hire based on skill or character?!
Should people work from home or return to the office?!

False dilemmas like these entice us to quickly pick a side.

IRL, rather than getting sucked into making a choice, replace “OR” with “AND.”

This way, you can have the best of both:

• Work hard or smart? Reframe as working effectively and efficiently.

• Hire based on skill or character? Determine which specific skills and aspects of character are deal breakers vs. nice to haves to get the most important of both.

 Or maybe, you can find an even better option:

• WFH or Office? Often, the choice between WFH and RTO is hybrid – but it’s only the start.  The “x days per week in the office” approach is perceived as a compromise by senior leaders but is experienced as a return to the office mandate by employees.

  Better options involve the flexibility to make good choices about where work gets done based on a variety of factors (type of task, level of interaction required, level of experience, employee needs, business needs, and geographic distribution, etc.).

Before you choose a door, challenge yourself to find a way to enter both.

And check around the corner to see if there’s a better side entrance.

Melissa Janis builds management capabilities to create a workplace that's better for your employees and better for your bottom line.