Archive for the ‘Managerial Techniques’ Category
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
TOT Taming Tips: The Absentee Boss
14July 2008
Dear Lynn,
My manager, who is the director of our software support team, has started to check out of her job. She will walk past my desk, and say “I’m going to let you handle support today.” Then, she either goes in her office and surfs the Internet – or just leaves. I do want to take on more responsibilities but not like this. I don’t feel like I can learn or succeed when she ignores me. How can I ask for more help?
–Tracey
Dear Tracey,
It sounds like your boss may have put herself into a private Time Out! Although it feels like the burden is on you, it’s really not. If she’s avoiding work or certain responsibilities, she might be caught up in her own world of escape - which unfortunately is unproductive, not to mention frustrating for you!
Address this problem ASAP, for your sake, and your co-workers and customers’ sakes. Request a meeting with your boss to discuss projects, but plan to discuss the current situation as well. Your calm but concerned tone will send a clear signal to her that you are willing to help. Keep the conversation positive and focus on the fact that you like your job and want to improve at it. Suggest that you have regular meetings at a comfortable interval, so you’re both on the same page.
If you’re at a point where your boss is in “terminal Time Out” and won’t meet with you at all, that’s a different matter altogether. That signals a more serious problem that warrants an appeal for increasingly direct action. Start with e-mail queries, increase your attempts for personal “drop-in” visits to her office, and ultimately, appeal to HR for help. Of course, you’d be wise to update your resume and peruse your favorite job board sites, and pursue other exit options.
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.
TOT Taming Tips: The World Won’t End
18June 2008
Dear Lynn,
I was just promoted to executive manager at a large hotel last October. Sometimes I need to be away from the hotel for meetings or to travel to our other sister locations. My employees get scared if they can’t reach me and feel that the world will collapse if I’m not around. How can I show them that they can handle responsibility without me?
–Michael
Dear Michael,
First of all, I want to commend you for taking a proactive approach. You are demonstrating excellent leadership and management skills by trusting your employees while you are away and encouraging them to be more self-sufficient. Now let’s explore why they are possibly reacting to your absence. Since you are trying to “TOT-proof” your own department, we need to look at all areas!
The first area is training. Confident employees know how to do their job well whether or not you are there. If you have not trained them thoroughly, they may feel scared of the mistakes they could make, or worse, your reaction to their mistakes. Secondly, it could be that you have demonstrated irrational fears or neediness yourself, and they are following your lead. The last possibility is that they simply want to do a good job for you and not disappoint you. Explore all of these ideas. Ask them straight-up what you can do to alleviate their fear. Tell them that you share the same goal of having a successful organization and you want to be the best manager possible. Good luck!
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.
Managing Up: Staying One Step Ahead
11June 2008
A few days ago, I wrote about how good communication can help you Manage Up to improve life with a childish boss. Once you’ve established a good rapport, you can take the next step of learning to anticipate your boss’s needs.
Many of a manager’s negative behaviors stem from feeling out of control or insecure. You can address this by striving to help her feel grounded and confident. If you’ve ever felt your boss’s behavior was predictable, take advantage of your ability to forecast storms and take preemptive action. Evaluate upcoming deadlines and offer to make a priority list of projects that can be moved ahead. If she has an extremely heavy workload, offer your support and praise her for her accomplishments. When her boss is scheduled for a visit, help her get the office and the team in tip-top form. You can be a calming, positive influence on her, and ideally, you’ll be rewarded for being such an essential team member.
Visit the Tame Your TOT™ site.
