The Cousin Maude
Cousin Maude is awesome around the office. She is a ‘hoot’ as people used to say, funny and brash as the day is long, but smart as a whip at the same time, which means her brand of humor is usually mixed with enough truth that it will cut to the bone of whomever its target may be. Cousin Maude is not part of your direct team, but you work with her cross-functionally, so you see her often enough and love when she is part of a project that you are on, knowing the next few weeks will be not only productive, but will include a lot of laughs and fun along the way. She has been around a good long time, knows everyone, and because she is so close with the executive team, and was seemingly here ‘from the beginning’, there is no one off-limits when she decides to dig in on anyone in sometimes brutal(but hysterical!) fashion.
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The George Jefferson
George does not work in your company, but his office is right next door, and you share a common parking lot and some of the facilities in your office park. If there is an issue, like someone from your organization parking in one of his parking spots, George will come in, chest pumped, and start giving it to your team’s person in charge. You love when this happens, because no one in your office can treat ‘the boss’ with such disdain and blustery disrespect. The George is a great guy actually, and you have come to know him because you both have little regard for the person in charge of your organization, so you take every chance you get to rile up The George, hoping it prompts one his patented ‘drive by’ visits that come and go like a rant-filled tornado. By your assessment, and that of most people, ‘The Boss’ has never won a single argument or debate with George, who always has the last word, and eventually, when he has punched himself out and turns to leave, ‘The Boss’ says nothing, simply happy that it is over and all too willing to take the loss.
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The Edith Bunker
The Edith is a joy to be around, and your classic ‘Worker Bee’. She never leaves an assignment undone or incomplete. She believes in hard work, knows her role, and goes about it diligently to keep everyone happy, and maintain the status quo. The Edith will never be the all-star, never move ahead, and displays no high-level leadership skill, yet is a leader amongst her peers for her work ethic and model of consistency the inspires others to follow suit. Comfortable in her skin, and in her role, she is as genuine as anyone you have ever met. She never joins the gossip, the drama, and is probably the only person you have never heard say a bad word about anyone, ever. She looks to make the team and the office a positive place to be, hoping that it continues like this forever, or at least until she elects to retire. By all indications, it is from her present role that she will retire, and she will ride off into the sunset leaving a trail of great relationships, stellar reputation, and a legacy of love, kindness and hard work that will give you and all leaders that model employee to refer to whenever you bring new people into your organization.
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The Michael Stivic – ‘The Meathead’
The Meathead is a good guy, and clearly a very bright and thoughtful person in your organization. He is a deep thinker, and produces very good ideas that are often adopted and that he will see through to the end to bring his vision to life. He can be a lot of work, as he will often, in the course of the day or project, infuse his thoughts and opinions that are not always focus on the matter or task at hand. Thankfully, you see that it comes from a good place, as The Meathead is earnest, honest, and speaks from the heart. You can’t help but love him, but at the end of a day or week spent with Meathead does leave you somewhat exhausted having sat through one too many Op-Ed pieces he likes to share that come close to pulling your project off-track. Overall, you do like working with Meathead, because he can be funny, is highly intelligent, and in spite of his communication skills and overly passionate diatribes, you know that the projects you share and lead with Meathead will be successful and well-received by those in charge.
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The Archie Bunker
When you look up the term ‘Old School’ in the dictionary, you will find a picture of Archie prominently displayed next to it. The Archie has been around forever it seems, knows the business and as he winds down his career, still has much to offer. His institutional knowledge of the industry and ability to inspire people to do good work and make something of themselves is clear and valued by all. Archie has never risen to the heights of many others, including those he has brought on board, trained, and mentored in this business. He is okay with that because it is clear that this work is his job, and not his life. He is as family-oriented as anyone you’ve ever met, and the only reason he works at all. His goal is to maintain the life he has at home, and this job is his means to that end. Only due to his long tenure and standing in the company is he allowed the often inappropriate comments and opinions that he will freely share with anyone within ear shot. He believes he is ‘telling you like it is’ when he shares his thoughts that clearly come from his upbringing of a society and culture that evolved to a more enlightened space decades ago. While causing most to shudder or at least raise an eyebrow, The Archie is lovable, warm, and appreciated for the kindness and good-hearted intention he consistently exudes. You hope that as the world evolves, and Archie remains stuck in the past, that he can move into retirement without getting himself into too much trouble due to his stubbornness and often backwards thinking. But you trust that even he has the awareness to know when enough is enough and has the self-control to ‘dummy up’ just a hair before he has gone too far.
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