Girl Scout Cookies & People

Girl Scout Cookies are like people

This week’s blog deals with people. Yes, people – those creatures that Madison Avenue markets to, customer service reps talk about and sales people gravitate toward.

It’s been said that it takes all kinds of people to make a world. But, what IF you could figure them out or understand them better?

When building a team, one will need some of all of these people. Their variety in personality enables committee to accomplish tasks, teams to move forward with creativity, and groups to complete projects.

I urge team leaders, CEO’s and committee chairs to not play the “Donald Trump card” and fire any of them. They may be apprentices, but each one adds value to the team.

Since this is the month of March, I thought I would share some thoughts on how people are a lot like Girl Scout Cookies. Yes, you read that correctly. Girl Scout Cookies, those tasty treats that cost a fortune for less than a few dozen. And, why do we buy them? We buy them because the Girl Scouts make money off of them.

So, how are people “like” Girl Scout Cookies? Well there are:

The Do-Si-Do’ers – These folks are the life of the party. When they walk in a room, they always have a joke or a story. Their carefree whimsical view on life enables those who get bogged down in drudgery to have a light break.

The Lemonades – Ahhh, the refreshing servants in life. They make peace, enable gatherings to flow smoothly, and make everyone feel at ease.
The Tagalongs – These people are not leaders, BUT they are great followers. Remember, the world needs followers as much as it needs leaders.
The Trefoils or Shortbread Cookies – These people don’t need all the pizzazz – they stick to the basics and do the basics well.

The Thin Mints – These people are bare bones – no fluff – get the job done. What they may lack in people skills, they more than make up for in focus and task completion.

The Thanks A Lots – These are the gracious people – the ones who always seem to have a compliment. Since we all need to be complimented from time to time, it is wise to hang around (and learn from) these people. Go where you are celebrated.

A leader must step back, look at the wide picture and truly see what each personality brings to the table. A leader must know the task, but also know the people who he or she can help take that task from a concept to a reality.

Have a good week

Ron