Are you appreciating the skills of the people you work alongside most frequently?
We turn today to the book of Sports Night, Season 1, Episode 10. In this scene, TV anchor Casey is being produced by a sub producer (Sally), and his longtime producer Dana is questioning the trust he has put in her.
Dana: You approved Sally’s rundown?
Casey: Yeah.
Dana: You approved it?
Casey: Yes.
Dana: Just like that, it was approved?
Casey: Well, I didn’t hold any confirmation hearings or anything like that.
Dana: No, you just approved it without even looking at it.
Casey: Well, I never need to approve your rundowns!
Dana: Thaaaat’s right!
Sometimes, longtime working relationships can become so circumspect, so fluid and efficient, that you can fail to see the acumen that a colleague brings with them. Or at the very least, you take it for granted, and begin to assume that that level of expertise is the normal level.
Casey has stopped seeing all that Dana brings to her work, because they have been close work colleagues for years. Later, she says:
Dana: I have worked very hard over the years to learn what you like and what you don’t like. What works for you and what doesn’t. And it’s very discouraging to learn it turns out you’ve been taking it for granted.
In my experience, everyone is predisposed to slowly stop noticing the expertise we’re around every day. Also in my experience, women are especially likely to be underappreciated in the workplace for the things they do well. It becomes noticed or expected, or worse, male colleagues without the same acumen are treated as if they do have it.
We can all do a better job of regularly stepping back and reflecting on our closest colleagues, and what it is they do well. Truly appreciating people for their skills is a powerful tool for connection and collaboration, and for making people feel true belonging.