Archive for the ‘Managerial Techniques’ Category
How to Allay Job Fears
22March 2009
An article in The Washington Post recently addressed a national job related survey commissioned by my firm, Lynn Taylor Consulting, on how a boss’s closed door can trigger immense job insecurity. The survey showed that one-third of workers these days often gets nervous when they see their manager in private conferences, worrying about possible layoffs.
The telephone survey included 1,000 people, and was conducted by an independent research firm. It also showed that another third worry at least sometimes. A quarter said they rarely or never fear they’re about to be laid off, even when the boss’s door is closed. A quarter of those polled said they think the average worker spends one to two hours a day worrying about personal job concerns such as layoffs, while a fifth believed that such worries consume four or more hours a day.
Overall, 76 percent of employees think about lay-offs when suddenly faced with “the closed door,” and 2.8 hours a day was the average time spent worrying about pink slips. Clearly, managers have a lot of work to do to allay employees’ fears and boost productivity! As the author of “Tame Your Terrible Office TyrantTM,” (John Wiley & Sons, July 2009) and CEO of a consulting firm that trains executives to become more productive and trustworthy managers - these findings make it timely to be aware of the Tame your TOT (Terrible Office Tyrant)TM and Humanize Your WorkplaceTM principles.
If you’re an employee looking for tips on how to advance in your career, or your managers are stuck in the Terrible Twos (!), please visit: www.TameYourTOT.com. For the job concerns press release, click: full press release or comment at my blog.
If you’re a senior manager, and don’t want TOTs running amok in your company (and do want to keep your best talent), visit Lynn Taylor Consulting or my blog. My most basic views are at: www.lynntaylor.com. As for right now, communicate - often. If it helps to buy a $2 door stop to remain “open” to your people and their ideas, that’s a small price to pay! Opening your door literally and figuratively might even keep open the doors of your business.
Reducing Tension During Tough Times: Tip #3
9December 2008
As economic pressures continue to make the workplace tone somber (except for the drumbeat of occasional Terrible Office Tyrant tantrums!), I’ve been sharing ways to minimize friction at work. This week I’d like to offer to you another one of those techniques: collaboration. Knowing that you and your colleagues are all in the same boat, and putting aside differences to work together can make a big difference.
In tough times, there are two common reactions: a gloomy outlook that things will worsen – and a unique bonding experience where co-workers (and even bosses and customers) come together to make lemonade from the lemons that seem to be falling from the sky. It’s natural to have a few doubts and concerns about your job, company, and the economy, but ultimately, you want to make good things happen just like everyone else.
Even though collaboration is “mutual,” it can begin with you. Start by making a mental list of tasks that could benefit you and your team. It could be a new customer initiative, cost-cutting innovation, or a simple team-building project, such as organizing your general workspace. Check in with your boss before you start, and explain that you want to help get everyone into gear and out of the doldrums. Ask for help in defining specific tasks and timetables, and get input on who should participate. Your boss will, in all likelihood, love your initiative and pledge support to your efforts.
Once the project is a go, start recruiting co-workers. If you’re leading the charge, make sure that your goals are clear, and that you’re assigning tasks appropriately. If it’s more of a team effort, be sure to give it your all. You might make planning meetings a brown bag lunch, or an end-of-the-day event with the team’s favorite snacks - but above all, encourage open-minded, participatory and enthusiastic forums.
Remind your peers, “we’re all in this together.” The best way to ensure job security these days is to join as one and help your company make it through these tough times. As someone who cares – and is willing to do something about it, you will benefit in your own way. Meanwhile, those tantrums might even turn into low murmurs as you help boost morale.
Best regards,
Lynn
Communication Secrets: The One-On-One Meeting
2September 2008
One of the secrets of a healthy boss/employee relationship is great communication. I believe that you should meet with your boss regularly to build rapport and address questions directly. However, if you have a contentious relationship with your manager, you might have had mixed results in meetings, especially if your past attempts only dealt with your problems and gripes.
My recommendation: invest in good communication over the long-term. That includes setting up a predictable schedule for meetings, so both of you can be prepared – and neither of you feels blindsided by a surprise meeting. Be organized and prepare a basic agenda to keep the meetings on track and on schedule.
Finally, bring some balance to the meetings. Don’t just bring problems to the meetings. That casts a very dark cloud over every meeting, and your boss may understandably want to avoid regular gloom. Bring some positivity to your pow-wow. Share a status update and discuss your accomplishments since the last meeting. And don’t make it all about you…ask your boss how things are going. You might be able to help her with some of her problems, which might make her a little bit more sunny too.
Best regards,
Lynn
TOT Taming Tips: The Sales TOT
26August 2008
Dear Lynn,
There is a lot of pressure where I work because we have so many quotas. It’s especially rough at the end of the month. My boss goes through these moody periods where he’ll be really nice to get us to sell and then if we don’t make our quotas, he quickly turns into a beast and yells at everyone.
–Alex
Dear Alex,
Sales quotas can bring out the dark side of all of us, but fortunately, you can anticipate and solve these kinds of problems early. Remember, if you are under pressure to make sales, so is your Terrible Office Tyrant, and he’s got to answer to the Super TOT in your organization. That’s a situation that creates stress, self-doubt, and fear. It’s easy to see why that could send him into panic mode every month.
When a TOT is overwhelmed, you can help by breaking the tasks down into smaller, bite-size pieces. Take the monthly quotas and create weekly benchmarks. That gives some early warning if the team is struggling to make your numbers (and create peace of mind if you are on track.)
Encourage your boss to communicate more frequently with Super TOT. Bad news is never fun to share, but if he’s proactive about it, Super TOT will generally handle it better than a last-minute surprise.
Finally, let him know that you understand the pressure he is under. You may also consider gathering support from colleagues. That way you can get your “TOT on Board” with the deeper problem. Your willingness to work hard at your job and show concern will go a long way!
Best regards,
Lynn
Got a TOT? You’re not alone! Dare to share your story at the TOT Blog with other TOT tamers in the making, while Lynn helps you: cope with difficult or childish bosses and office politics, and humanize your workplace™. Post your question for Lynn, and she will try her best to answer it in an upcoming TOT Tamer Advice Column. Be sure to visit the Tame Your TOT site.
Avoiding the Doldrums
21August 2008
Boredom and burnout can be brutal, especially during the slow days of summer when most desks are empty, except yours! If you have been in your current job for a while, it’s especially important to keep things fresh. Set some personal and professional goals to work towards. Think of new projects that you may not have had time to attend to, or a class that would enhance your career. Is there an activity that you and your co-workers could participate in that builds camaraderie or makes work more fun? Take the time to think more strategically about how to add value to your job or work smarter with your boss – maybe even how to reduce tensions when he or she returns from vacation! This slow period won’t last long – so take advantage!
Best regards,
Lynn
