Let’s just assume that they care…

Managing juniors can be SO annoying. 

• They don’t do what you want them to do. 
• They miss deadlines and prioritise other people’s work.

It feels maddening. ☺

But be careful about what you make all of that MEAN. 

Our brains are always spinning stories. That’s how we make sense of the world. And in the absence of information, your brain with MAKE IT UP. 

What I hear most often is …. “They just don’t care”.

And it’s hardly ever true. 

In fact, it’s the most UNLIKELY explanation. 

I could give you 10 more likely explanations off the top of my head. 

Perhaps they just have too much work to juggle at one time. Perhaps they feel overwhelmed or afraid to say “no”. Perhaps they misunderstood the task or were afraid to ask questions. Perhaps they chronically underestimate how long things will take.  

I could go on…

Seems HIGHLY unlikely to me, that someone who has dedicated YEARS of their life to getting the education and qualifications they need to be here, and who CHOOSES every day to put themselves in this challenging and competitive environment…. just doesn’t care. 

If you take that assumption off the table…. 

You might just uncover the REAL reason for their behaviour. 

And then you get to be a leader and help them solve it. 

Much more satisfying.