How to deal with cagey humans 🐅
A nice workplace requires nice humans.
Whether we're talking about counterparts, clients/customers, consultants, and/or our humans-in-charge….
It's really, REALLY hard to get nice work done if they're being cagey.
What do we mean by cagey? Trust, you'll know it when you see it 👇
Jane is an executive at a company. She's working with another team on a project, and her counterpart seems to slow-walk - everything? Despite her reminders, she's been left off call invites, not shared on documents, and not added to channels where decisions are made. She's debating whether to escalate to her manager or if it's all in her head. 🤔
Jane is a freelancer or consultant for a startup. She needs to collab with another freelancer on a deliverable. On calls, the other person is all smiles and promises - but then won't share files or updates without a LOT of chasing. She wonders whether she should tell the client or if she's just dealing with a supremely disorganised person. 😫
Jane runs a small business and has hired someone to help her design a new logo and graphic. She finishes the project and gets the final files - but she can't edit them. They say to receive an editable file, she has to pay extra. She isn't sure if this is standard behavior or if she should insist on it. 😬
We know - Jane does a lot. Just call her a Jane of all Trades. 😍
Jane works for a services firm. Someone on her team knows all the right people but won't freely share contact details with her clients or make intros, effectively stating, "this is my relationship, and I'm not giving it away." She doesn't want to step on their toes but worries their client will miss out. 🫣
We know - Jane does a lot. Just call her a Jane of all Trades. 😍
In each of these situations, Jane is dealing with a cagey human.
They aren't open, they don't share, or they charge extra (in time or effort or emotional energy) to share.
Whether intentionally or unintentionally, that counterpart is turning what should be a relay race into a ropes course. Less team game, more direct competition.
So what do you do with humans who just don't seem keen to be on your team? Even though that's, you know, the job?
