Unplugged and seated

In 1993, singer Rod Stewart released a live album called Unplugged...and Seated. The title is a play on the idea that Stewart typically dances and moves about the stage during his concerts, which often conclude with him kicking autographed soccer balls into the audience. Ronnie Wood, who was in The Faces with Stewart, joined him for this live performance.

Wood is perhaps better known as one of the guitarists for the Rolling Stones (alongside Keef), but he also put out solo albums. One year after Unplugged...and Seated, Wood released the album Slide on Live: Plugged in and Standing to promote his studio album Slide on This. The title was a play on Stewart's unplugged album to make it clear that Ronnie isn't "messing around."

"Unplugged and seated" is a great way to describe the many people with whom I work. These are the people who don't respond timely to emails and messages. They are the ones always bringing up problems and never offering solutions. They miss deadlines. You have to keep following up to make sure they are doing what they should be doing. Everyone has an off day on occasion, but these people are consistently checked out or burned out. Some part of it may be due to the holidays, but what's the excuse for people who have been operating this way for several months?

Some people are definitely plugged in. They respond timely to emails and messages. They deliver on what they say they are going to do either ahead or on schedule. They come up with new and better ways to do work. You can imagine them sitting straight-backed in their chair, restless legs shaking up and down as they play the keyboard like a musician plays the piano.

Which one are you: Unplugged and seated or plugged in and standing? I shouldn't have to tell you which one I am.