Some operators speak in a way that's overly CYA (cover your ass) as a defensive tactic to prevent getting into trouble if things go wrong. Here's why that doesn't work, and what to do instead.
A pattern I read from the blog's overall work is it's really subtle how we frame and give our updates and communication.
It comes from an underlying mindset (in the end of the day, we own the results as a team).
It's probably worth spending more time writing out the specific phrases and practice using them (almost like learning a new language) because it is hard to do this on the fly
I love this distinction, and definitely see a younger incarnation of myself in it.
In my experience, if an operator moves with a healthy sense of personal dignity, they’ll naturally accept both their gains and their losses, which makes them trustworthy with impactful work and steering feedback
Love this , and perfect timing, I’ve just been trying to wrap my head around what’s so awkward about the way a new DR interacts with me and it’s exactly this. Thank you Wes, gold as always!
Spot on. Very prevalent behavior in East Asian cultures that place emphasis on being deferential to superiors (I understand this firsthand as a Chinese female who has had to unlearn these behaviors over time). For such individuals who might have grown up outside of the US, it can be a huge cultural shift to realize this kind of professional deference tends to solicit a “cringe” response from superiors, rather than seen as
Hi Jenny! Cover Your A** (CYA) is when you take a lot of steps/caution to ensure you don’t get blamed if something goes wrong. I think a “neurotic” behavior might seem a little more emotional or anxious and this CYA behavior is more of a strategy someone uses for self preservation.
A pattern I read from the blog's overall work is it's really subtle how we frame and give our updates and communication.
It comes from an underlying mindset (in the end of the day, we own the results as a team).
It's probably worth spending more time writing out the specific phrases and practice using them (almost like learning a new language) because it is hard to do this on the fly
I love this distinction, and definitely see a younger incarnation of myself in it.
In my experience, if an operator moves with a healthy sense of personal dignity, they’ll naturally accept both their gains and their losses, which makes them trustworthy with impactful work and steering feedback
Love this , and perfect timing, I’ve just been trying to wrap my head around what’s so awkward about the way a new DR interacts with me and it’s exactly this. Thank you Wes, gold as always!
Great examples Wes! I have seen and can relate to them.
Spot on. Very prevalent behavior in East Asian cultures that place emphasis on being deferential to superiors (I understand this firsthand as a Chinese female who has had to unlearn these behaviors over time). For such individuals who might have grown up outside of the US, it can be a huge cultural shift to realize this kind of professional deference tends to solicit a “cringe” response from superiors, rather than seen as
expected
Maybe because English is my second language— but is “Cya vibe” the same as neurotic?
Hi Jenny! Cover Your A** (CYA) is when you take a lot of steps/caution to ensure you don’t get blamed if something goes wrong. I think a “neurotic” behavior might seem a little more emotional or anxious and this CYA behavior is more of a strategy someone uses for self preservation.
Got it. Thank you for clarifying! 🙏🏻