Talking To Data
A few years ago, I attended the Edmonton Comic Expo; I was in line to get a photo with Brent Spiner, the actor who famously played the role of Lt. Cmdr. Data from Star Trek the Next Generation. I was pretty excited to meet him in person. If you're a fan and you've been to conventions like this, you probably know how this works. You find a celebrity you'd like to connect with, pay their fee, wait in line and when it's your turn, you can ask your question or take a picture.
Fans of Star Trek come in all shapes and sizes, but many of us like to ask the actors questions like, "Where are the bathrooms on the Enterprise?" or "did the Enterprise-D ever have a compliment of quantum torpedos?" and even questions like "Who would win in a fight, Data or C-3PO?" These are my people, and I love them! The actors for these shows are never surprised by these questions and have a set of canned but polite responses. Responses that they have provided thousands of times to thousands of fans.
As much as I wanted to know if the Enterprise-E had its version of "ten-forward," the lounge featured on the television show, I decided to go a different route. I assumed he might welcome a change in topic. Also, I already know who would win in a fight between C-3PO and Data. So when I reached the front of the line, I leaned away from my instincts as a geek, and I asked him about an independent film project he had worked on that was not related to his work on Star Trek. His smile widened, and his eyes lit up with joy that I believe was genuine. He got up from his table, and we had a good chat. I didn't get a canned answer, but I did get to enjoy a quality interaction. Being given an open opportunity to talk about something other than life on the Enterprise added value to his afternoon.
I've thought a lot about this over the years, and it's a reminder that creating space for someone to be more than their primary label can go a long way in making them feel welcome. One of the things I've learned over the years as a leader is that I'm better at my job when I've made space for people to explore and talk about things they're excited about outside of work. Yes, if you work with me, I want you to work hard, but I also want you to have a life.
Data himself was the most efficient crew member, but he painted, played music, spent time on the holodeck, and had a cat named spot. My team may not have time for a list like that, but for what it's worth, I care about who they are beyond their uniform.
If you're a leader, "Make it so."