The Mañana Personality On The Job

Liberté! Egalité! Fraternité!

The motto of the French Revolution is the standard of the mañana personality on the job. Today's workers and managers in a similar way play out this leisurely personality style on the job in ever increasing degrees. It is the one style that most often flies in the face of the "do-or-die" work ethic of an older generation. And it is the most contentious, constant source of embitterment and misunderstanding that divides peer groups.

Carefree personality types play by the rules and fulfill their duties and contractual obligations . . . but . . . once they've put in their time, they will let no individual or group, institution or clique, circumstance or deadline, constraint or exigency deprive them of their relentless pursuit of personal pleasure and happiness.

What's important is not what they enjoy or how they enjoy themselves, but that they enjoy themselves . . . on their own terms and in their own time. They will deliver what is required and expected of them on the job, but no more. And they will oblige others to recognize and respect that limit. They will refuse to be exploited. And they will resist any inconvenience they regard as unfair or over and above their regular duties. They will vigorously defend their fundamental right to do their "own thing" because they are not obsessed with time restrictions and are confident that what needs to be done will get done.

Those with an easygoing personality get on well with co-workers. They break into and create relationships effortlessly. And others appreciate their candor and sincerely enjoy their company. But at times they can be blurrily suspicious and cagily leery of those in authority who, more often than not, perceive them as lazy. But this supposed laziness is not really slothfulness or apathy. Rather, it is the carefree person's dogged determination that large chunks of their time are absolutely their own.

Those with an easygoing personality are never screwballs, insurrectionists or angry, insubordinate individuals. They don't yell and scream or quarrel. They simply say ‘no' to unreasonable requests. They are considerate, talented workers, but they don't take work home, they don't agonize about it after hours, they won't do work that is not their obligation, and they won't do more than what is asked of them to please the boss or to feel better about themselves. They complete the essentials of the job and can take pride in what they do. But they usually don't find their value in life in the workplace, and they will not allow themselves to be browbeaten by someone who does.

The cool, calm and collected individual when pushed to do more or to change their priorities will express their anger indirectly. They'll become grumpy and dour or sulk and procrastinate. But they will avoid a head-on confrontation. It is important for the manager to know that these people are easy targets for pampering and respect.