Day 318: New Challenges

With any new situation comes new challenges. McNaughten proves to be one of those challenges. Overall he seems to be emotionally kicked around and degraded so often he’s mostly shut down as a person. As a result he has overwhelming social anxiety that prevents him from making any real progress as a technician. Most people don’t look into it to that degree and see him as a burden to the squad.

I have to admit I see him as a burden and have been treating him accordingly. Grimes pointed out, at my request, that my biggest weakness is that I seem to lone wolf it all the time. Instead of seeking assistance with an issue I automatically assume all outside opinions will be fruitless and bang my head against the issue until solutions fall out. Instead I asked around to everyone in the shop and combined all the slivers of advice into something constructive.

My question was simple, “How I make McNaughton into an asset to the squad?” All the NCOs and lower enlisted I look to for guidance where clueless. Of all people CPT Mathews, the quiet mouse forever silent in the background, was able to give the best advice.

“Get a sheet of paper and make two columns. Have one column list his strengths, the other his weaknesses. Once you are done pick one weakness and make it a strength.”

Holy shit, a constructive solution. When I was done the number of weaknesses far outnumbered his strengths, and I picked out “Does not complete tasks to standard and on time.” as the primary issue to correct.

I think the other shift leads became frustrated and failed due to high expectations that were never met. McNaughton is a simple man and learning new behaviors will take time and patience. I’m going to focus my effort on changing one habit, and one habit alone and accept that it will take however long it takes for that change to occur.