The Path of Least Resistance

I spend a bit of time on airplanes. So, I was surprised by what I observed on a regional jet. Yes, it was holiday travel. Yes, the flight was overbooked. Yes, infrequent and tired travelers were creating challenges for the only stewardess. Still, she saw the small boy, no more than eight, seated in the exit row next to his grandfather. She chose to ignore him, wishing and hoping her safety message stating a person must be over fifteen to sit in the exit row would fix it. Maybe she didn't want the hassle of trying to reseat passengers on an already late flight. Maybe she was tired, too. Who knows?

What I do know is that despite the safety implications of her decision, she chose the path of least resistance that day. And she's not alone. Many people take that path at work. They choose the easier way rather than doing what needs to be done. But, the path of least resistance leads away from winning at working.

You'll be on that path if you turn a blind eye to something you know needs solving but you don't want to address it or "rock the boat;" or you let a mistake pass your desk for someone else to catch and fix because it's too complicated or time-consuming; or you ignore a difficult person or a recurring problem because you don't want to create unpleasantness or deal with conflict; or you pass off a poor performer to another department rather than face the difficult conversation; or you resolve the customer complaint without calling out or solving the bigger issues behind it.

In my thinking, that's the adult equivalent of my son, as a child, pretending he never noticed the toilet paper roll needed replacing. He'd leave a sheet or two on the cardboard tube so he didn't have to be the one to do anything about it. Of course no one in the house was fooled. No one at work is either.

In twenty years of management, I've learned that the difference between doing the right thing and the easy thing significantly differentiates people's performance. We can debate what the right thing to do is at any given time. Sometimes, it might be choosing the more difficult, challenging, time-consuming path or the one that comes with more risk. But like my son and that stewardess, I think most of us know what the right thing is most of the time, and we know when we've chosen the easier way.

In Lee Ann Womack's country hit, "I Hope You Dance," there's a great line that applies as much to work as it does to life: "I hope you'll never fear those mountains in the distance; Never settle for the path of least resistance." You see, if you want to be winning at working, you can't fear the mountains of change, discomfort, conflict, unpleasantness, hard work, or difficult choices.

(c) 2005 Nan S. Russell. All rights reserved.

Sign up to receive Nan's free biweekly eColumn at http://www.winningatworking.com. Nan Russell has spent over twenty years in management, most recently with QVC as a Vice President. She has held leadership positions in Human Resource Development, Communication, Marketing and line Management. Nan has a B.A. from Stanford University and M.A. from the University of Michigan. Currently working on her first book, Winning at Working: 10 Lessons Shared, Nan is a writer, columnist, small business owner, and on-line instructor. Visit http://www.nanrussell.com or contact Nan at info@nanrussell.com.

---

Making Yourself More Relevant To The New Workplace

Being a current job seeker can be quite a challenging... Read More

9 Tips on Creating a Professional Emailed Job Application

With the advent of the Internet, many of us have... Read More

How To Get A Job Writing Speeches

Jobs in speech writing are amongst the most difficult to... Read More

The Fallibility of Psychological Testing

Psychological Testing has become rampant across industries, more so in... Read More

Four Job Interview Mistakes That Can Torpedo Your Chances of Success

What are the worst mistakes job hunters make? It turns... Read More

Making Sure You Get a Good Reference

You've had 3 interviews with a potential employer and they've... Read More

Surviving Corporate Politics Part 2: Keeping Up Appearances

Never a 2nd chance to make a 1st impression, or... Read More

How to Success On The Job from Job Hunting to Keep Your Job and Get Most of Out of It

INTRODUCTIONThis article will prepare you for the difficult task of... Read More

Using The Internet For Job-hunting

The Internet is a very useful tool for job seekers... Read More

Brainteasers: Or, How Many Crazy Interview Questions Does It Take to Get Hired?

You've looked at all the job interview tips and techniques.... Read More

How To Find Writing Work

Are you looking for new writing work? It can be... Read More

Your Self-Image in the Workplace

When communication breaks down in your office or factory and... Read More

Self-Knowledge: The Key To Finding The Right Career Direction

Your career, like any journey, has a beginning, an end... Read More

The 7 Tough Job Interview Questions That Can Make or Break You - and How to Answer Them

Some interview questions are asked so frequently that they've become... Read More

Does Your Career Change Itch or Burn?

Two weeks ago, I received a newsy email from a... Read More

Searching for a Federal Job

Many years ago searching for a federal job was a... Read More

Moving From A Weekend Hobby To Career In The Arts

Building a career as an artist takes hard work. Because... Read More

Fascinating Ways to Make a Living Doing What You Love May Be Closer Than You Think...

You don't have to look very far to find fascinating... Read More

Writing a Resume: To Template or Not To Template?

Are free resume templates a viable answer to preparing a... Read More

Thank-You Notes: Your Thoughtfulness will be Rewarded

I get asked these questions over and over: "Should I... Read More

Relocation Myths and Stereotypes

You've probably been taught not to stereotype people based on... Read More

Stepping Stone Jobs

What we name something matters.It sets a tone that alters... Read More

Do I Have to Provide a Salary History?

Often you see job postings with a request such as... Read More

Get a Raise: How To Ask Your Boss For More Money

How many people do you know who think they deserve... Read More

Old Hiring Foxes vs. The Hedgehogs

You are about to compete for the best people again.... Read More

Career Change - Is Your Career A Good Fit Or Is It Causing Pain?

Do you leap out of bed in the morning looking... Read More

Is A Career a Calling or Choice?

How much of our career path is destiny and how... Read More

What Your Guidance Counselor, Career Counselor, and Own Mother Probably Never Told You...

The alarm clock jars you awake at some insanely... Read More

Career Change: Success Tips

Successful career change is based on first making an honest... Read More

How To Ask For A Pay Rise!

Negotiating a pay rise is not something many people do... Read More

Sample Resume Objectives: What They All Tend To Miss

Sample resume objectives. When a harried and possibly panicked job... Read More

When and How to Say I Just Cant Do It!

We naturally hesitate to tell our boss when we can't... Read More

Settling Successfully Into Your New Job

The euphoria of getting a new job can sometimes be... Read More