Columns: The Benefits Of Consulting Colleagues

Conversations can lead to common-sense solutionsBy Ron CiancuttiLong before business meetings included projections and metrics, the people sitting around a table talked about how things were going. They asked about the families and inquired about the “work family”—the gang that worked together all day. In the park system where I worked, there were separate groups under the parks and rec umbrella, each taking care of different amenities, such as parks, golf courses, nature centers, and marinas. At the quarterly meetings, each park-management faction provided an update, and the banter was light and supportive. We often found we were experiencing similar problems and would discuss what worked for one of us and how it could be applied to fit another employee’s situation.