ECCENTRIKâ„¢ WORKING STYLE
What would you get if you combined an emotional vagabond, a dyed-in-the-wool non-conformist and a genius? An outspoken employee garbed in the latest fringe fashion…hoot couture they’d call it, who insults the company president on principle and cares not one whit; who keeps the office in stitches with their barbed wit and comedic brilliance; and who could, given the right inspiration and the VP’s corner office, (and a midi studio), come up with an idea that could place your company on the stock exchange by noon tomorrow. That’s an Eccentrik. But would you hire them?
If traditional is the prevailing odour in your workplace, you’ll likely never meet far less interview an Eccentrik. These individuals know what they don’t want: following dictates of any kind. Be it dress code, traditional business practice, or regular paycheques, it reeks anti-Eccentrik to them. Also, they usually decide well in advance who may or may not read their résume. Eccentrik has been different from birth. They know it and rejoice because of the difference. While other personalities conform to comply, Eccentrik has unshakeable faith in their world-class mind. By the time they leave home, they’ve conformed as much as they will. But, if you think a rebel without a cause dwells within, you’ve another think coming.
These individuals are success driven, goal-oriented, and astute business people. They participate on turf of their own choosing and keep time by their own watches. As they live their personal lives on the tottering edge of eccentricity, they seek cutting edges professionally. Industries, fields, and ventures where success is yet to be proven, rules yet to be written, and environments without cookie-cutter-constraint; are where these individualists excel.
Their heads may be shrouded in clouds of genius but their feet are firmly planted on terra firma. These are not pie-in-the-sky theorists, though pie-in-the-face is not beneath them. They are three-dimensional practical. An idea without form, function, and marketability is an idea wasted. Theirs is a tactile, profit-oriented relationship with creativity.
In its infancy and heyday, Silicon Valley crawled with Eccentriks. They birthed the prototypes that launched everything from speedier chip to orbiting satellite. When NASA began they were the pioneers whose elbows rubbed against theorist and drawing board alike. Advertising, fashion, publishing, the avante of any industry seethes with Eccentrik energy. But of all industries, none have they impacted more than the whimsical, practical world of gadgets.
Whether new or improved, small appliances and handy-dandy gadgetry fascinates. A roll-call of this industry’s inventors would read as a “Who’s Who” of Eccentriks. This depicts the remarkability of them in fact and in deed, but key to the success of this personality is freedom. Their potential only flies when wings are not trimmed or clipped in any way. When they graduate childhood, it is with steely determination to avoid lock-step conformity. Subsequently, many Eccentriks fall through professional cracks due to corporate impatience.
An Eccentrik inspired is a polestar-wonder. Their minds are uniquely sophisticated. Eccentrik sculpts three-dimensional objects inside their head. As others work clay—adding, shaping, removing excess, Eccentriks manipulate form and shape mentally. They do not need to externally sketch and draw; they create internally. More importantly, their creative genius is such that when an idea intrigues or inspires they can throw together a rough prototype or construct a working model from whatever material is on-hand. No matter which side of the table they sit on—whether as buyer or seller—few can perceive the physical potential or spot the weakness of an idea as quickly as they can. Others need eyes to see how things work; Eccentrik needs only think to see and know.
Their desks are quite neat, though shelves may sway under the burden of half-baked/half-burnt ideas, while dones lay neatly stacked on shelf or floor. Their work area may be a showcase of outrageous cartoons, 3-D puzzles, and favourite toys. To the world they may look hopelessly disorganized (and could be at home) but when it comes to work, Eccentrik is anything but. Surrounding themselves with eclectic clutter and acting zany are part and parcel of their off-the-wall genius. Just shut their door before office tours begin.
When Eccentrik is at their desk, they’re working. When focused they’re utterly absorbed. They may not show up till ten and be first out the door at five, but worry not. When Eccentrik’s head lowers, remarkability’s rise portents. These individuals thrive on tight deadlines, often purposely mismanaging time to set up their own challenge. Stretching management’s nerve to breaking adds a extra dollop of rare to their pressured pleasure. As tension of water traps bubble to surface, Eccentrik equates tautness in chest and shortness of breath with elixir of life.
Bonus-incentive remuneration is a financial motivation that Eccentrik finds particularly appealing. They like the intellectual challenge of “reaping by earning” but what they most like is having the wherewithal to afford their expensive and usually lavish after-hour activities. Eccentrik often spends as much as they earn. Offering bonus incentives kills two birds with one stone: it boosts their productivity and boosts the economy. Regardless of monetary incentive though, Eccentrik will up and walk if not sufficiently challenged by the work, or if their efforts aren’t appreciated. They tend to be short-stint career hoppers, citing boredom as the bane of their existence. In actuality, lack of exploration is the most likely and more frequent culprit.
Eccentriks tend to deke themselves out of abundance and recognition, for as long as it takes them to learn that the path to true freedom is depth, not breadth of experience. Financial difficulties are common when Eccentrik flits from flower to flower, rather than delving and drinking deeply of inners most vigorous nectar. Feeling boredom usually means “you’re just starting to get it.” Leaving not only delays failure, it postpones success.
A handful and a god-send, Eccentrik roundly and routinely pooh-pahs conventionality. Their comedic streak may entertain and exasperate; their ability amaze. They are more team contributors than team players. Show them the general direction others are heading and they’ll meet at first juncture, bulging with creative solutions, and a frisbee for play after business is tended.
Because they choose their own work environments carefully, they’re usually professionally compatible with associates and tend to get along well with most everyone. Eccentrik may not socialize with associates; they tend to separate their personal life and the office. They love people and tend not to be judgemental, prejudiced, or discriminating in any human regard. They are, however, decidedly allergic to stuffed shirts, starched views, and brown noses. Though social by nature, Eccentrik usually works alone. Their thinking is original, they solve problems internally and they neither explain, apologize, nor defend their differentness. If not for that spit-in-your-eye difference in thinking and attitude, they wouldn’t be Eccentrik at all.
These individuals are goal and results oriented. As long as the goal is achieved rather quickly, applause is loud and rewards lucratively, they are happy employees. Oddly enough, though they personally stick their necks out in all manner, season, and reason, Eccentrik is not known for risk-taking, professionally. Perhaps it’s because their gift is for internally rearranging physical objects, not abstractions. Success and satisfaction for them usually comes through the concrete realization of their imaginative re-arrangements.
These ones readily become obsessed or scattered by compelling, competing interests that pique their curiosity and vie for their easily distracted attention. Many Eccentriks develop reputations for being unreliable, changing jobs and careers often. Like Kansas summer tornadoes they repeatedly touch down and lift off, not staying long enough to make a name by earning acclaim for their self. Boredom shoulders most of the blame for their inconsistency, but the real culprit is lack: lack of depth, lack of focus, and lack of self-discipline. Management would be wise to give freer rein and greater encouragement to Eccentrik employees. When some Kansas summer storms touch down, they alter landscapes and history as well.
Eccentrik is here to show us there are infinite paths in life and every single one warrants investigation. The workplace just happens to be the classroom where those Eccentrik lessons are observed and learned. Giving that proverbial typewriter to an Eccentrik chimp could very likely produce a laureate novel. That’s precisely the type of challenge on which they thrive. The Internet is where Eccentrik has most recently been gathering and meeting. With them, expect a global warming.
© ANSIR Communications