Put on your protective head gear, goggles and ear plugs because Kathy Howe is about to rant. Before I do I should add this disclaimer: what I am going to write about has happened in both my personal and professional lives over the years. This isn’t something that only happens in corporate environments but let me tell you this: if you see yourself in this post:

I think you are an idiot.

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It is probably true for most people that all work and no play makes for one dreary existence. I am an extreme advocate of work/life balance for everyone. This is as important for people without children as it is for people with children. What I’m not prone to state, however, is what YOUR work/life balance should look like.

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A few years ago I was on a large company project where key resources worked in multiple locations throughout the United States. I joined the project when it was in an official state of chaos or in project lingo “status: red”. The entire team was stressed out and the Project Manager and Program Manager were overwhelmed with the size, scope and complexity of the project. They were unsure of how to get things back on track.

I did not enter the scene with any answers for them in fact, I peppered them with a whole lot of questions as I tried to wrap my brain around the size, scope and complexity of the project. Within my first week on the project I was dizzy with the number of directions the Program Manager, Project Manager and now I were being pulled. I realized in that first week that if I didn’t start taking notes I would never be able to get it all straight.

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I am not one to criticize anybodies chosen profession. I suggest that all people do what fulfills them. I am however a person that believes there is a time and a place for everything. So when I say what I am about to say please know that I am trying to be observant of the appropriate time and place for a certain role that exists in our society.

Cowboys.

A fine, fine job indeed. I particularly appreciate the work of cattle ranchers but cowboys belong in saloons and home, home on the range. They do not belong in a corporate environment.

They create an atmosphere of good cowboys and bad cowboys (us against them) . They tend to create a feeling of competitiveness in a place where teamwork should rule the house.

In the end Cowboys in corporate environments generally start showdowns.

This, I think, is bad for business.

Now I’m not saying a little cowboy mentality can’t sometimes be good for business. There are times when someone brave needs to ride in on their horse to save the day. Cowboys are good at that. Cowboys can also think fast on their feet in some circumstances. I mean did you ever see that movie where the city slickers created a stampede with their coffee bean grinder? Those cowboys (the real ones) were on it.

(This reminds me: executives should stay off of ranches).

But I would say nine times out of ten the rigid exterior of a cowboy, the competitive nature and the unplanned risks a cowboy is willing to take, well, none of it belongs in the business world. I am willing to bet we have all had our fair share of cowboy encounters in the workplace. When you think of the cowboy mentality what characteristic comes to mind? Do you have any tricks (hog tying maybe) for dealing with cowboys in the office?

How do you knock cowboys off of horses?