wooden puzzle.

If you walk into most Barnes & Noble bookstores, you'll find a section along the side by the magazines where they sell games. There are maps, Lego sets, role playing and board games, and an entire section dedicated to puzzles of all shapes and sizes. Some claim to be ancient from the ends of the earth, promising entertainment that has stumped generations.

My particular favorites are the interlocking three-dimensional objects that come apart or fit together by one means only. There are very few rules to these, each one is entirely unique in construction. They are made up of wood, metal, plastic... anything the creators felt would best suit to frustrate and bend your mind.

At work, each individual brings their own background, experiences, emotions, relational abilities and goals to the table. The challenge never gets easier. Our job as managers and leaders is to find out what motivates those we work alongside.

The only way to truly unlock those carefully guarded sections of each human's chemistry is to listen, ask the right questions, and watch to see what those around us respond the best to, then find ways to replicate that in the workplace. 

There is a time to assign tasks, bark orders, and make a list of "you will accomplish by". But that comes easy for many people who are good at their jobs.

What isn't so easy is remembering that everyone in the room isn't the same Rubik's cube with an algorithm of left and right wrist twists to win the game.

No, there isn't a single "How To" book that tells you how to solve each two and three-dimensional puzzle in the world. But there is usually a set of hints in the instruction booklet you get with each one. That's what we as leaders and managers need to be listening to, looking out for, and reading in each person we work with.

We just need to take the time and make sure that happens.

one of the crew.

He walked up to our shop showroom one day and knocked on the door. No one knocks on the showroom door; it's a showroom, people just walk in.
"I just lost my job I had for 5 years, so I'm goin' door-to-door looking for work."
We hired him that day, and there isn't a person in the shop he hasn't encouraged or made laugh at least a dozen times since.
He takes immense pride in every piece of furniture he builds and recently challenged one of our shop managers to break the crew up into two teams instead of just a bunch of individuals working on their own projects.
This took what was already a great work environment and made it excellent both in culture and productivity. Suddenly people were finding motivation in their team and problem solving together, driven to solve problems quickly by their team lead. It was a huge win for both the company and the employees.

One afternoon he came into my office and sat down heavily. "Boss, I need to apologize."
I was surprised, I hadn't seen him yet that day.
"I had a crappy attitude and I feel like you shouldn't pay me for this morning. I wasn't at my best and I want to ask your forgiveness." Dumbfounded and immediately choked up, I found myself completely without a reply.

I consider hiring him one of the best business decisions our company ever made. Every day he shows up to work he will not just build into the people he works with, but construct beautiful dining furniture.